Al Qadirat: an innovative project to empower young Palestinian journalists

The aim of the project has been to strengthen the journalistic skills and abilities of young Palestinian women journalists and graduates aged between 22 and 25 from the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. The intensive training and mentoring programme have enabled them to produce gender-sensitive media content while developing their ability to access professional opportunities.

The Al Qadirat project was launched in October 2023 and rolled out as part of the Nisaa Media Incubator projects. Nisaa Media Incubator supports start-ups and media organisations by offering innovative and sustainable solutions. Since September 2022, the Nisaa Media Incubator's mission has been to promote and develop the careers of young women journalists by providing tools and training, and to transform young media projects into sustainable, flourishing initiatives. 
The Incubator also fosters innovative ideas and supports existing start-ups by offering fast-track services.

The Al Qadirat project has enabled 25 young Palestinian women journalists to develop their skills through various training modules, including

• Six training sessions on covering women's issues in wartime, led by Mais Kat, a trainer specialising in digital media, crisis management and gender-sensitive reporting.
• Six training sessions on fact-checking in wartime, led by Kayed Ma'ari, a specialist in reputational management and public relations, and an expert in strategic communications and crisis management.
• Mental health support, led by Louy-Fawadleh, a social work and psychological counsellor with over 20 years' experience in the field of mental health.

The programme also included six months of one-to-one mentoring, with five mentors experienced in journalism and women's rights, who guided the participants in producing gender-sensitive media content. 
The result was 28 pieces of media content published on the Nisaa FM website and its social media platforms.

Despite the challenges encountered, mainly due to the war in Gaza and the difficult security conditions in the West Bank, the project succeeded in achieving its objectives and exceeded expectations, contributing to the training and empowerment of these young journalists.

Testimonials from the trainees

Thikra Thabatah : “I learnt a lot through the Al Qadirat programme, which boosted my network of women journalists and gave me a better understanding of social issues, particularly those affecting women. Al Qadirat offered me a job opportunity in the media sector.”
Silvia Al-Faroukh : “The project came at a crucial time, when the war in Gaza was beginning and I was being forcibly displaced. It was a great source of moral and psychological support, enabling me to broaden my horizons despite the ongoing war.”
Zain Jaradat : “The project was an extremely rewarding experience, which gave me a lot of knowledge in the media field.”

Al Qadirat has also created a secure space and a networking platform, enabling women journalists to connect, share their experiences and continue to produce media content. The project has also provided a basis for creating a sustainability plan for the development of the Incubator, thus ensuring ongoing support for young Palestinian journalists