2008 Programs and Events
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Focuses on Palestinian Youth during Visit
From watching the rehearsal of a youth orchestra made up of youth from a Palestinian refugee camp to discussing undergraduate programs with professors of Islamic Studies, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs James K. Glassman took every opportunity to engage with Palestinian youth and community leaders on issues of mutual interest during his visit to the Palestinian Territories on November 16, 17. The Under Secretary underscored continued U.S. commitment to the peace process and highlighted the role of the U.S. Palestinian Partnership in building the foundations for a future Palestinian state. (More photos)
Under Secretary Glassman's visit focused on U.S. outreach to Palestinian youth. He met with many participants in U.S. Consulate General Jerusalem funded activities, such as students engaged in the U.S. government-funded English language enrichment program, ACCESS and students participating in the Palestinian non-governmental-organization, Al-Nayzak's Young Researchers' project, He also made visits to a US government-funded training session for "Emerging Filmmakers" conducted by the U.S. organization Howcast, where recent graduates from Palestinian universities made their own how-to videos, and to Al Kamandjati, where he met young musicians involved in forming a Palestinian Youth Orchestra, a project supported by the U.S. Consulate.
While in Ramallah, Under Secretary Glassman toured the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Culture's International book fair, where the U.S. Consulate booth was busy giving away books and other publications, and sat for an interview with the popular youth television show "Ali Soutik".
As a cap to his visit, Under Secretary Glassman participated in the inauguration of the new Youth Resource Development Center in the village of Beita near the West Bank city of Nablus. The Under Secretary was joined by Palestinian Authority Minister for Youth and Sports Abu Daqqa, Consul General Jake Walles, U.S. Palestinian Partnership (UPP) co-chairs Jean Case and Ziad Asali and local youth in celebrating the opening. Under Secretary Glassman chatted with the local youth, who demonstrated their new technical skills by confe rencing in fellow students from Hebron and Jerusalem. The center is the first of four youth development and resource centers funded by USAID, in partnership with UPP and the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Youth and Sports.