The Center for Freedom and Justice is currently running its annual summer camp, hosting 150 youths aged from 8 to 14 in the Beit Ummar area. This camp aims to provide an enriching environment where children from diverse backgrounds can gather, learn, and grow through a range of structured activities. The initiative seeks to offer young people a safe space to explore their cultural roots, build relationships, and develop skills that will benefit them both personally and socially. The camp provides an alternative to the limited options available in the area and fills a critical gap in the community’s resources for youth engagement.

The community of Beit Ummar faces major challenges, including limited access to recreational and developmental programs for young people. This lack of resources often leaves children without opportunities to engage in creative or physical activities outside of school. The camp addresses this gap by offering a comprehensive program designed to foster a sense of identity, belonging, and personal development among the youth. The participants, coming from different social and economic backgrounds, are given the opportunity to engage in activities that nurture their individual talents and promote a culture of nonviolence and cooperation within the community.

To address the needs of the local youth, the Center for Freedom and Justice has developed a well-rounded summer camp program that includes both cultural and developmental activities. The camp incorporates a variety of disciplines—ranging from the arts to sports and nonviolence education—allowing participants to learn new skills while engaging with their peers. The program is carefully designed to help in personal growth, leadership, and social responsibility, with the ultimate goal of empowering the next generation to contribute positively to their community.

The summer camp offers a rich and diverse set of activities, each designed to engage the youth in meaningful ways:

1. Traditional Palestinian Dance (Dabke): This activity serves as both a cultural experience and a physical exercise. Through Dabke, the kids learn about their heritage while developing coordination, rhythm, and teamwork. The dance sessions promote a deep sense of cultural pride and group cohesion, allowing the kids to express their identity through movement.
2. Arts and Crafts: The arts and crafts workshops provide the campers with an opportunity to explore their creativity. Using local materials, the children engage in hands-on projects that teach them practical skills such as painting, drawing, and crafting. These workshops also foster problem-solving abilities and encourage self-expression, giving kids a sense of accomplishment when they complete their projects.
3. Drama and Music: Drama sessions help the campers develop their communication and emotional expression skills. Through role-playing and improvisation, they learn how to work together, build confidence, and express their thoughts in creative ways. Music activities, on the other hand, allow the youth to connect with cultural rhythms and melodies, fostering emotional intelligence and creativity.
4. Sports: Physical activities such as soccer, volleyball, and group games are central to the camp's program. These activities promote physical health and teach important values like teamwork, discipline, and fair play. The sports component is designed to build strength, coordination, and resilience, while also offering a space for fun and social interaction.
5. Kites: Kites are engaging activity that adds a unique feel to summer camp, as they provide endless fun and offer numerous educational benefits. Children can express their creativity by designing and decorating their own kites, enhance their motor skills as they learn to coordinate their movements while flying their kites. Also, it creates teamwork through group competitions, promoting friendship and collaboration. By enjoying the outdoors and connecting with nature, children gain a deeper appreciation for the environment.
6. Nonviolence Training: In a region where conflict is often a part of daily life, teaching nonviolence is essential. The camp incorporates training sessions that educate the youth on peaceful conflict resolution, communication, and empathy. Through these sessions, the kids learn strategies to manage disagreements without resorting to aggression, making a culture of peace and mutual understanding.

Each of these activities is designed to meet the developmental needs of the kids, providing them with a complete experience that nurtures their physical, emotional, and intellectual growth. The wide range of activities ensures that every child, regardless of their interests, can find something that resonates with them, helping them develop a sense of purpose and belonging.

The camp has seen remarkable success in engaging the youth in meaningful activities that enhance their personal skills, creating a strong sense of community. The participants have shown increased confidence, creativity, and leadership abilities as a result of their involvement. The camp has also succeeded in creating a space where young people can learn about their heritage while also developing skills for their future, such as teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution.

The social impact of the summer camp extends beyond the individual participants. The program has brought together children from various backgrounds, helping to build bridges between different social groups and create a sense of unity within the community. By providing a safe space for expression and interaction, the camp has contributed to the social cohesion of Beit Ummar, instilling values of cooperation, respect, and nonviolence among the younger generation. The camp's focus on cultural activities has also helped strengthen the participants' connection to their heritage, ensuring that traditional practices are passed down to the next generation.

The camp's economic impact can be observed through the creation of temporary job opportunities for local staff and instructors who lead the activities. In addition, the camp's use of local resources such as materials for arts and crafts, the facilities of Beit Ummer and other facilities, helps stimulate the local economy. By involving community members in the organization and execution of the camp, the initiative supports the economic well-being of Beit Ummar, offering both short-term employment and long-term benefits through skill-building and capacity development.

The Center for Freedom and Justice’s summer camp is an inspiring example of how community-based programs can empower youth and promote positive change. Through a carefully curated program of cultural, educational, and recreational activities, the camp has achieved significant social and economic impacts. It has successfully provided the youth of Beit Ummar with an environment where they can learn, grow, and express themselves, while also fostering community unity and supporting local livelihoods. This initiative demonstrates the powerful role that youth programs can play in creating lasting social change and building stronger, more resilient communities.