The Dr. Haydar Abdul Shafi Center for Culture and Development signs agreement with the General Union of Cultural Centers to implement an initiative aimed at enhancing youth political participation. The General Union of Cultural Centers holds a signing ceremony to support initiatives for ten cultural institutions. The General Union of Cultural Centers organized a signing ceremony to support initiatives for ten cultural institutions among its members, which received grants for the "Cultural Incubators in Gaza Strip" project funded by the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA). Mr. Yasser Darwish, the Union's president, welcomed the attendees and representatives of partner institutions, emphasizing the significance of the Cultural Incubators project as part of the Union's main efforts to support and develop the cultural scene in the Gaza Strip. He noted that the Union established an independent judging committee comprising activists and experts in the cultural and artistic fields and civil society institution management. The committee made every possible effort to select the best ten initiatives, considering their alignment with the objectives of the Cultural Incubators project, as well as the involvement of institutions in reaching the target audience, and the effectiveness of the initiatives' results in serving women and youth and defending their rights. The idea is to establish cultural forums and incubators that regularly engage in cultural activities. Mr. Darwish expressed profound gratitude to the strategic partner, the Norwegian People's Aid, for their continuous support to the Union. He also thanked the cultural institutions that will receive cultural grants this year through the initiatives they presented to enhance local culture and raise awareness of women and youth's political participation. Mr. Azzam Al-Saqqa, the Programs Director at the Norwegian People's Aid, stated that the Norwegian People's Aid is committed to the rights of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination. He emphasized that the strategic partnership with the General Union of Cultural Centers has been ongoing for years and continues to achieve many accomplishments in preserving Palestinian cultural and national identity. He affirmed that all these achievements are the result of cooperation and collaboration with institutions under the umbrella of the General Union of Cultural Centers. Al-Saqqa clarified that the Norwegian People's Aid attaches great importance to cultural incubators and the Palestinian cultural scene, believing firmly that culture is one of the most important tools for social and political change. He added that the partnership with the Union is based on a strategic understanding of this role. It is worth mentioning that the Union announced in a press release the victory of ten cultural institutions among its members with cultural and artistic initiatives, with each institution receiving a grant as part of the "Cultural Incubators in Gaza Strip" project in partnership with the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA).