Nagham Al-Zein: How Yalla Change Became a Turning Point
Amidst genocide, displacement, and harsh conditions, the stories of young Gazans determined to create change continue to emerge. Among them is 22-year-old Nagham Al-Zein, whose memory holds the trauma of seven forced displacements, yet whose heart holds a fierce resolve that led her to complete two years of study during the genocide and graduate, an achievement she credits to sheer determination.
Despite everything she endured, Nagham never abandoned her dream of community work. Her journey began just before the genocide with the Social Development Forum when she applied for the fifth season of “Yalla Change.” She was accepted, but the outbreak of genocide delayed the start of her journey.
A Foundation in the Field
Her first practical opportunity came through an education project launched by SDF, where she joined the “Together for Hope” network, just before enrolling in the “Integrity School” programme for 2025.
My training began with the Together For Hope network, and right after that, I started the Integrity School. It was the first time I was introduced to the concepts and principles of humanitarian work. We had lived through many wars and hardships, but I had never truly understood the real meaning of humanitarian action before.
Nagham Al-Zein
She describes her experience in the “Integrity School” as a pivotal moment: “It taught me how to uphold standards and principles in any field work.” This led to her selection as a facilitator at the SDF Youth Summit. “It was an incredible experience. Though it lasted only four days, the outcome was immensely rewarding.”
The Path to a Professional Career
It was through SDF that Nagham first discovered the field of community accountability. This exposure ignited her curiosity, driving her to explore and build skills in various related areas. She acquired foundational knowledge in monitoring & evaluation principles, which ultimately led to a job opportunity with an international organization.
Nagham believes this career shift would not have been possible without her early exposure to accountability concepts through SDF’s training. “My knowledge of monitoring & evaluation came from SDF,” she states. “That opened a door to professional life for me, a career path I am actively walking today.”
Yalla Change: A Transformative Shift
Nagham describes joining the sixth season of “Yalla Change” program as her most significant turning point: “I had always wanted to understand what advocacy truly meant, what are fact sheets, and what’s the difference between lobbying and advocacy? I used to think every problem needed a new initiative, but I learned there are other, powerful ways to create impact.”
The program provides young participants with advanced training in life skills, protection, active citizenship, community impact, and both community-based and digital advocacy. Implemented in partnership with the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), it brought together 60 young men and women from the West Bank and Gaza.
Our society is in a fragile state, and we need people who know how to amplify their voices effectively. For me, advocacy was the beginning of a whole series of causes where we need to make ourselves heard.
Nagham Al-Zein, Participation in the Yalla Change 6 program
The training introduced her to pivotal concepts, including “Human-Centered Design,” which strengthened her belief in the necessity of being among people, listening to them, understanding their needs, and immersing oneself in their reality.
“We have to go into the field and listen,” she emphasizes. “Not everything can be solved by fusing our own minds. We need data, interviews, and surveys to solve a real problem for the community, not just for ourselves.”
An Environment to Nurture Youth and Build Capacity
Nagham sees SDF as a serious and secure haven for youth, especially during the most difficult times. “Thankfully, there are institutions like SDF that can support young people even in harsh conditions,” she says. “They don’t just focus on relief, but also on our capacities and skills.”
She also highlights the SDF’s transparency in all its programs and services. “Every program and service is clear and open to everyone,” she adds. “Their selection criteria for participants are fair and transparent, and the distribution of services is just, because they truly understand the number of young people in the region.”
A Path Forward, Built for the Future
Today, Nagham is preparing for advocacy sessions and initiatives as part of the sixth season of Yalla Change, excited to dive into discussions and collaborative work with her peers. The trainees have recently embarked on an “Initiatives Challenge,” which has already generated several projects that the youth will now implement on the ground.
I’m excited about the issues we’ll raise, the outcomes of our training, and the collaboration between groups. The Yalla Change team is incredible, and we are determined to produce a result that serves both us and our community.
Nagham Al-Zein, Participation in the Yalla Change 6 program
Nagham’s story is not an isolated case; it is the essence of the Yalla Change program. It represents a generation creating change in spite of genocide, transforming knowledge into careers, ideas into tools for impact, and hope into a blueprint for action.
