Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency organized, on August 6 in the Holy City, Al-Quds Forum for Palestinian Women and Youth, as part of its Silver Jubilee activities marking the 25th anniversary of its establishment, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of Al-Quds Committee.
On this occasion, the Agency’s Managing Director, Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui, affirmed that the forum was an opportunity to strengthen exchanges with all the stakeholders of Al-Quds society and address any problems responsibly and thoughtfully, to enable the Agency to fulfill its missions in the service of the Holy City and its institutions, per the instructions of His Majesty the King.
Echarkaoui also added that the Agency is following its working methodology based on field action advocated by the Sovereign, despite the difficulties and challenges imposed by limited funding.
For his part, the Head of the Supreme Islamic Council of Al-Quds, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, praised the Agency’s qualitative contribution to Al-Quds, calling on Arab and Islamic countries to follow the Agency’s model to meet the financial needs of Al-Quds institutions and strengthen their resilience.
Sheikh Ekrima Sabri also praised the important role played by the Agency, which is affiliated with Al-Quds Committee, in supporting the resistance of the city’s inhabitants and their institutions, stressing that the Agency’s projects help to alleviate the Palestinians’ daily struggles.
In a similar context, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia, Atallah Hanna, praised the achievements of Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency in the Holy City over the past 25 years, calling on Arab countries to support the resistance of the inhabitants of Al-Quds.
Hanna also commended the women of Al-Quds for their active role in preserving the city’s identity and raising Palestinian generations capable of protecting the Holy City and its Arab and Islamic holy sites.
Similarly, the Advisor on Jerusalem Portfolio at the President’s Office, Ahmad Rwaidy, extended the greetings of the Palestinian authorities to the Forum’s organizers, praising the Agency’s efforts and initiatives since its establishment on behalf of the inhabitants and institutions of Al-Quds.
The Forum was also marked by the screening of a documentary on the initiatives and achievements of Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency since its establishment in 1998.
The conclave featured two seminars under the themes “Women’s Empowerment and Youth Capacity Building” and “Prospects for Community Identity Consolidation and Wealth Creation.”
On this occasion, the participants drafted several recommendations related to strengthening the Maqdissis’ resilience by establishing long-term development plans.
Participants in the Forum also called for support for the efforts of institutions operating in the Holy City to boost their presence in cooperation with local and foreign donor institutions.
In addition, participants urged the Agency and other donors to support the programs and projects in Al-Quds, particularly those that generate new employment opportunities for women and youth through vocational training that enables them to set up their projects.
The forum also featured exhibitions of Palestinian handicrafts, with the participation of women and youth associations based in Al-Quds, in addition to products subsidized by the Agency as part of its program to support human development projects.