In the old alleyways of Qalandia Al-Balad, in the Jerusalem District, this was more than a visit to a historic place. It was a journey through time, reconnecting young people with Palestine’s living memory through place, people, traditional dress, and storytelling.

As part of the “Journey Through Time” initiative, Sharek Youth Forum, in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Qalandia Al-Balad Village Council, Riwaq, and Al-Urjuwan Embroidery, organized a youth heritage tour through the heart of the old village. The initiative aimed to strengthen young people’s connection to Palestinian identity and heritage while rediscovering the stories preserved within its historic homes and alleyways.

The journey began among Qalandia’s old streets and historic houses, where participants explored the village’s history and its social and architectural heritage, listening to stories rooted in the place and passed down through generations.

One of the most distinctive parts of the journey was the Palestinian traditional dress. Accompanied by Canaanite heritage expert Imtiaz Abu Awad, participants explored the details of traditional Palestinian attire and learned about the meanings embedded in its embroidery, colors, and patterns, reflecting the rich cultural and geographic diversity of Palestinian cities, villages, and regions.

The presentation of the traditional dresses was not simply a display. Each young woman became the storyteller of her own dress, explaining the Palestinian region it represented and describing its distinctive patterns, embroidery, and details. In this way, every dress became a small map of Palestine, carrying within its threads the memory of place and the stories of Palestinian women and generations past.

The initiative also included a tour through the old quarters of Qalandia, introducing participants to the village’s architectural and cultural heritage in an experience that brought together learning, observation, storytelling, and direct engagement with Palestinian heritage.

For Sharek Youth Forum, “Journey Through Time” goes beyond being a heritage activity. It is a space for reconnecting younger generations with their history and cultural environment, while strengthening their role in preserving Palestinian memory and carrying it forward.

We will continue to highlight and celebrate Palestinian identity and heritage, creating spaces for young people to discover the stories of their cities, villages, and communities. Heritage is not simply something inherited from the past; it is a living memory that we carry forward and through which we continue to tell the story of Palestine.

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