Community outreach and volunteer initiatives that promote hygiene, nutrition, family planning, physical activity, and healthy living.
Introduction
Palestine Ahliya University (PAU) continues to deliver community-centered health outreach programs and initiatives aimed at improving health and well-being among students, young people, and members of the surrounding community. Through its specialized centers, academic faculties, student-led initiatives, and partnerships with healthcare and community organizations, the University promotes health education, disease prevention, mental health awareness, healthy nutrition, reproductive health, and emergency preparedness.
These initiatives extend beyond the University campus, providing opportunities for local community members, particularly young people and vulnerable groups, to access health information, counseling, preventive services, and educational activities. Through continuous awareness campaigns, volunteer engagement, and practical training, PAU seeks to foster healthier lifestyles, strengthen community resilience, and contribute to improved public health outcomes.
1. Youth Health Center “Sadeek Al-Shabab”
The Youth Health Center “Sadeek Al-Shabab” at Palestine Ahliya University is a comprehensive, youth-friendly model that provides health, psychological, and social services in a safe, confidential, and accessible environment. The Center supports students and young community members by offering medical care, counseling, awareness programs, and preventive services, while ensuring the inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
The Center is open to all youth, both within and outside the University, without discrimination, and is staffed by trained professionals who deliver services with privacy and professionalism.
Its key services include:
- Individual and group psychological and social counseling.
- Gender-based violence awareness.
- Addiction and smoking prevention awareness.
- Medical consultations, treatment, and health education.
- Referrals to specialized healthcare institutions.
- Nutritional counseling and healthy lifestyle guidance.
- Reproductive and sexual health education and awareness.
- Career guidance and counseling.
Through these services, the Center provides an accessible community resource that addresses the diverse health and social needs of young people and encourages informed decisions regarding their physical and mental well-being.
2. Mental Health and Psychological Support Initiatives
Palestine Ahliya University continues to promote mental health and emotional well-being through awareness activities and supportive initiatives implemented under its Mental and Reproductive Health Program.
One of these initiatives was the inauguration of the Psychological Relief Tent on campus, designed to provide students with an interactive space that encourages emotional expression, social interaction, and psychological well-being.
The initiative included student-led discussions, educational activities, and recreational events such as table tennis, chess, tug of war, and expressive drawing. It also encouraged students to actively participate in identifying their needs and proposing activities that support their mental and emotional health.
Implemented in collaboration with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the initiative reflects the University’s holistic approach to health promotion, recognizing the importance of integrating physical, psychological, and social well-being.
3. Community Health Awareness and Breast Cancer Prevention – Pink October 2026
In October 2026, Palestine Ahliya University organized a series of health awareness activities to mark Pink October, the international month dedicated to breast cancer awareness.
The activities were organized in partnership with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society and Burj Alluqluq Social Center Society, with funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The initiative aimed to strengthen awareness of breast cancer prevention and early detection, encourage healthy lifestyles, and highlight the importance of psychological and social support for individuals facing health challenges.
Activities included:
- A specialized panel discussion addressing breast cancer awareness, early detection, and preventive healthcare.
- Educational sessions on healthy nutrition and its role in maintaining overall health.
- Discussions on the psychological and social dimensions of health and the importance of emotional support.
- Interactive health awareness stations organized by university students in collaboration with the Youth-Friendly Health Center and the relevant academic faculties.
- Educational activities encouraging students to adopt healthy daily habits and share reliable health information with their peers and communities.
Through these activities, PAU encouraged active student engagement and volunteer participation in health promotion, while extending health education beyond traditional academic settings.
4. Youth-Friendly Health Space (YFHS) Emergency Preparedness Program
In January 2025, Palestine Ahliya University launched the Youth-Friendly Health Space (YFHS) Emergency Preparedness Program, an initiative designed to strengthen students’ practical skills and their ability to respond effectively to medical and other emergencies.
The program provides accredited training in basic and advanced first aid, civil defense procedures, emergency evacuation, fire response, and psychological first aid. It is implemented in cooperation with specialized partners, including the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, the Paramedics Syndicate, Palestinian Civil Defense, the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and UNFPA.
The program combines theoretical learning with practical training, enabling students to acquire essential emergency response skills and contribute to creating a safer and more resilient university and surrounding community.
Key achievements during the program’s first year include:
- Reaching nearly 500 students through emergency preparedness and first aid training.
- Establishing a student-led First Aid Team consisting of 16 active members.
- Providing structured basic and advanced first aid training, alongside civil defense and psychological first aid activities.
- Recording more than 36 actual emergency interventions by trained students during 2025.
- Increasing the percentage of surveyed students who felt psychologically and practically prepared to respond to emergencies from 6% before training to 73% after training.
The program reflects PAU’s commitment to empowering young people with practical health and safety skills and preparing them to serve as active contributors to community well-being, particularly in emergency situations.
5. Student Engagement and Volunteer Participation in Health Promotion
PAU encourages students to take an active role in promoting health and well-being through volunteer activities, awareness campaigns, and practical educational initiatives.
Through the Youth-Friendly Health Center and its academic faculties, students participate in organizing interactive health awareness stations, educational discussions, and community-oriented activities addressing disease prevention, breast cancer awareness, healthy nutrition, mental health, and emergency preparedness.
These initiatives provide students with opportunities to apply their academic knowledge in practical settings, develop communication and leadership skills, and contribute to spreading reliable health information among their peers and the wider community.
By integrating student participation into its outreach activities, the University strengthens the connection between academic learning, social responsibility, and community health promotion.
Contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 3
Through its health outreach programs and community-based initiatives, Palestine Ahliya University contributes to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being by promoting preventive healthcare, improving health awareness, supporting mental and reproductive health, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and strengthening emergency preparedness.
The University’s initiatives particularly contribute to disease prevention and health promotion, mental health support, access to reproductive health information, and the development of community-level emergency response capacities.
By engaging students, academic staff, healthcare professionals, community organizations, and local residents, PAU continues to extend its health-related activities beyond the campus and support the development of healthier, more informed, and more resilient communities.