Sharek Youth Forum is committed to preserving Palestinian cultural and religious heritage while creating meaningful pathways for youth participation and community-led development. Through the Reviving and Operating Maqam Al-Nabi Musa project—implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs and UNDP, and funded by the European Union—Sharek supported the restoration and activation of one of Palestine’s most significant heritage sites.

This project was not only about rehabilitation. Sharek’s role centered on restoring the Maqam and developing a community-based operating model to ensure the site becomes a living space—active, welcoming, and sustainable. The result was a renewed Maqam that is not only preserved, but also reconnected to people’s everyday cultural experience.

From Restoration to Community Operation

Sharek contributed to:

• Rehabilitation and restoration works to improve the site’s condition and readiness for visitors
• Community-based operational planning, ensuring the Maqam becomes a place with ongoing activity and local ownership
• Youth engagement in the overall vision, involving young people in shaping how the site should operate, serve visitors, and reflect Palestinian identity

Activating the Site: Income-Generating Services and Visitor Experience

Following restoration, the project moved into implementation of an operational approach that brought the Maqam back to life. This included:

• Supporting youth and community members to launch small income-generating projects inside the Maqam that provide services for visitors
• Operating the restaurant and the traditional oven located at the Maqam, ensuring visitor needs are met while creating local livelihoods
• Strengthening the overall visitor experience through basic services and improved readiness of the site

Preserving the Narrative: Interpretation and Cultural Identity

To ensure the Maqam tells its story accurately and respectfully, the project also focused on presenting the correct historical and religious narrative through:

• Developing and installing interpretive signage that communicates the site’s story and significance
• Establishing and equipping an Information / Interpretation Center, enabling visitors to learn about the Maqam’s religious and historical narrative
• Coordinating this component in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Ministry of Culture, alongside the Ministry of Awqaf

A Living Heritage Site Led by Community and Youth

Reviving Maqam Al-Nabi Musa demonstrates how heritage preservation can go hand-in-hand with youth leadership and community-based livelihoods. By combining restoration, youth engagement, and sustainable operations, the project helped transform the Maqam into a site that is preserved, active, and rooted in local ownership—connecting history to the present and supporting a future where culture is protected and lived.