With the screening of 5 documentary films made by 20 youngsters from Bethlehem District, the International Center of Bethlehem celebrated the ending of an intensive training program in Documentary Film-making titled "Youth a-LIVE: Empowering Youth Through Media".

Funded by US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Educational Development Center (EDC) / Ruwwad program for youth empowerment, the 6-week training program was supervised by highly qualified Palestinian teachers and professionals from Bethlehem, who taught the different areas of filmmaking; including producing, directing, operating camera, lighting, sound, and video editing. 

This project provided the opportunity for twenty unemployed young men and women from the Bethlehem Governorate between the ages of 18 to 25 the opportunity to acquire new skills and knowledge in the media field, which will increase drastically their chances of employability, but also teaches them to use media as a tool to identify and communicate the issues deemed significant for them and for the youth in general to the decision makers, to the local community and to the outside world.

The project included youth from different parts of the Bethlehem Governorate, including youth from towns, rural areas, and refugee camps, who are among the most marginalized in the society, as well as youth from socially and economically underserved groups. The project was a great chance for those marginalized youth from the Bethlehem villages and the refugee camps, who are living in closed communities and nowadays even more so as their limits are becoming even greater because of the Separation Wall and the road blocks, to break through these barriers.

By the end of the program, the youth proudly and joyfully participated in a closing ceremony where their films were screened to a local audience exceeding 300 people.

Below is a brief translation describing each of the 5 short documentary films made by the students, expressing their issues and concerns.

1. "The black spot": The film deals with the psychological pressure that faces Palestinian students in the Tawjihi, from the society, the school, and their parents alike. The film also criticizes the Palestinian school education system that does not allow time and opportunities for students to develop their personalities and knowledge, and kills creativity and critical thinking.

2. "All Metal":  The film presents Palestinian champions in body building, who do not receive enough support and encouragement from the authorities, and who are facing challenges to continue among the difficult current conditions socially, economically, and politically of closures, occupation, unemployment, and lack of opportunities. 

3. "Where to": The films tackles the issue of unemployment, especially among university graduates, who have difficulties finding jobs or are forced to work in fields not requiring university degrees, and therefore feel inefficiency in the society and  uselessness of education.

4. "Tarboosh & Keber": The film portrays parts of the life of a Palestinian female artist who has studies art and teaches art. As such, the film criticizes the society's view of arts and art education and emphasizes the importance of appreciating art works and talents. 

5. "Homeland": The film tackles the issue of youth immigration out of Palestine, looking for better education and employment opportunities, and a better life. The film portrays three different points of view of three young men, and eventually points out the importance of staying in their homeland to benefit and build their country.