Lina Al-Khatib is a young woman from Palestine who has actively participated in several YW4A initiatives, including the World YWCA RiseUp! Transformative Leadership training and advocacy work. The programme profoundly impacted Lina, deepening her commitment to advocating for Palestinian women and young girls.
She shares,
“I found an opportunity to deepen my commitment to women’s rights, especially the struggles faced by Palestinian women. The training I received helped me understand the importance of listening, effective communication, and collective leadership. It also encouraged me to explore the realities of Palestinian women, further strengthening my resolve to work towards change.”
Her participation in the training, opened her mind to new research tools that she used to develop a powerful thesis for her graduation from Birzeit University titled, The Impact of Patriarchal Practices on Women’s Mental Health. The research focused on how societal norms shape the mental well-being of women, and Lina transformed this thesis into an initiative to raise awareness in her community about the significance of empowering women and young girls.
In addition to her academic work, Lina faced a personal challenge that further tested her strength and resolve. During a visit to Nablus for work, Lina felt a deep pride in her achievements and shared her feelings by posting a picture of herself.
In response, her uncle sent a message implying that she was seeking attention. He claimed,
“Here she is posting her picture for the world to see.”
This comment affected Lina deeply. When her father learned about the message, he immediately stood by her side, offering his unwavering support. However, Lina didn’t wait for others to defend her.
She confronted her uncle directly, affirming,
“I am a valuable person, and I deserve respect and recognition.”
Lina’s story affirms that YW4A’s holistic approach—combining leadership training, advocacy, and addressing structural barriers—empowers young women to navigate personal and societal challenges, amplify their voices, and contribute meaningfully to gender justice.
Lina’s story illustrates several critical lessons in line with the YW4A programme of facilitating young women’s awareness, agency, and advocacy skills:
Lina’s participation in the RiseUp! Transformative Leadership training demonstrates how equipping young women with skills such as listening, effective communication, and collective leadership can inspire them to advocate for themselves and others. Her ability to translate these learnings into impactful actions highlights the power of leadership development.
Lina’s story affirms that YW4A’s holistic approach—combining leadership training, advocacy, and addressing structural barriers—empowers young women to navigate personal and societal challenges, amplify their voices, and contribute meaningfully to gender justice.
By using the research tools acquired through the programme, Lina was able to address issues affecting Palestinian women, particularly mental health impacts of patriarchal practices. This underscores the importance of creating platforms for young women to explore and address their unique challenges, which is central to YW4A’s goals of promoting evidence-based advocacy.
The unwavering support from Lina’s father shows the critical role of allies in the fight for gender justice. This aligns with YW4A’s focus on engaging supportive networks, including families and communities, to create enabling environments for young women’s leadership.
Lastly, Lina’s journey from academic research to community initiatives highlights the programme’s aim to ensure young women gain knowledge and actively apply it to drive change in their contexts.
