Meet Ghina Bilalo, a 14-year-old from Askar refugee camp in Nablus. Ghena is very shy and unsocial; she doesn’t even leave her camp often; it is like her comfort zone on site, where she is familiar with almost everyone and everything. After a few I-SERVE training sessions, she was able to break this rigid life routine. She said, “For the first time in my life, I took public transportation on my own to reach Nablus’s city center from the camp.” ” Yes, the training has influenced me on both levels, personally and socially.” Currently, Ghina has not only gained new friends and developed her skills, but she has also managed to leap out of her comfort zone. Her communication skills are now better than ever, as well as her self-esteem. She said that now she takes the lead, asking her teachers if she can participate and present in front of her classmates. Furthermore, Ghina says that she was comfortable and found an inclusive atmosphere with the other participants throughout the training. Ghina’s understanding of various basic terms such as strategic planning, decision-making, and community serving has improved in a way that allows her to apply these skills in her daily life, starting from school to the larger community. After the training, Ghina has taken a step forward in her community, as she is getting to know it better. She is learning about the Palestinian society’s challenges and concerns in order to become an active member who works on presenting solutions and implementing various initiatives that have either a short-term or long-term impact in the community.
