Public Achievement in Gaza: We Care, We Can

Sarah Salipa, Public Achievement Coach in Gaza’s 7th PA Cycle

“And in the end it is not the years in your life that count. It is the life in your years,” said Abraham Lincoln.

In 2005, I had the chance to start a new life with new thoughts, beliefs, and achievements. This was when I participated in the Public Achievement program. I was a member of the “Best Group” and learned many things through my first experience in the program. PA made me believe in the ability of youth to make change in their societies and taught me how to be a good citizen: caring about society issues, serving my community, and building good relationships with others.

I will never forget my experience as a participant in the program because it was my first step towards creating a better future for me and for my community as well. So 2005 is one of the years that count in my life.

My belief in the program ideas and objectives pushed me toward joining it again, so in 2010 I decided to continue what I have started in 2005 and applied for the program again and was accepted, this time as a coach.

Being a coach has taught me how to be responsible and how to think about others. The PA program has given me great experiences in life and my character has changed to a better one, my thoughts have developed and now I have a broader view of life. The program is also proving that youth are citizens of today and they are able to make change and create strategies to improve their society. It is also giving them the chance to let their voices be heard. In addition, the program makes me realize how holy the human truly is. To make someone happy is a thing to be proud of –  to help a family, to leave a mark!

I believe that generations learn from each other and PA made that obvious by teaching me about society and its issues. Now I convey what I have learned to my group to make them creative, smart, and strong speakers.

We have to stop talking about changing and start this in action. PA is giving us the way to be the change which society needs. And that will be our mission from now on. Because we care, we can.

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