Strengthening the Culture of Al-Ouna: Palestinian Youth Forum and BADIL Continue Their Initiative to Support Olive Farmers with a Volunteer Day in Battir

As a continuation of the series of volunteer activities launched by the initiative to support Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest season, the Palestinian Youth Forum and BADIL, in cooperation with Battir Sports Club in the village of Battir (Bethlehem Governorate), organized a field volunteer day on November 6, 2026. The voluntary day included the participation of 60 male and female volunteers, under the initiative's ongoing slogan: "Just as the olive tree gives to you, it expects from you."

The village of Battir—a World Heritage site renowned for its historic agricultural terraces—witnessed a remarkable youth presence that brought a spirit of mutual aid and field solidarity. Volunteers were distributed across threatened agricultural lands to assist farmers and their families in harvesting olives, mitigating the burdens placed on their shoulders amid the security risks, challenges, and restrictions surrounding the area.

This second volunteer day came to reaffirm the determination of Palestinian youth to overcome various obstacles, chief among them the severing of road connections and the abundance of military checkpoints hindering freedom of movement and travel between towns and cities. Participants successfully reached the lands of Battir to emphasize that popular and field presence serves as the first line of defense to protect the land and support the steadfastness of farmers in their fields.

This field station embodies the practical continuation of the Palestinian Youth Forum and BADIL’s efforts to revive the concept of 'Al-Ouna' (traditional Palestinian collective solidarity and mutual aid) as an integral part of national identity, oral heritage, and volunteerism based on uncompensated cooperation and collective action. The olive harvest season goes beyond being merely an agricultural and economic event; it represents the backbone of collective memory and cultural resilience, through which younger generations renew their commitment to connecting with and protecting the land.

Organizers of the initiative stressed that the success of the Sinjil and Battir stations demonstrates the active role of youth in translating values of belonging into tangible actions and practices that make a real impact in reinforcing the resilience of the Palestinian farmer. They confirmed that the forum will continue to execute its field and educational activities and programs to ground the culture of collective action and solidarity across various strategic locations and towns.