APLA Launches the “Stories of Sustainable Development” Initiative in Palestine in Cooperation with ESCWA and the Ministry of Education

APLA, in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the Ministry of Education, launched the “Stories of Sustainable Development in Palestine” initiative — a pioneering step toward linking education with local development and strengthening the presence of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the school environment. The initiative is being implemented in Palestine as a pilot phase within a broader regional ESCWA program carried out across several Arab countries.

This initiative reflects APLA’s central role in leading national SDG localization efforts through partnerships that employ educational and cultural tools to embed community awareness around participation, responsibility, and sustainability. Targeting students aged 8–16, the initiative uses illustrated stories and creative activities inspired by the “ESCWA Tales” book — a collection of five illustrated story sets addressing environmental and social issues. These stories are translated into student-led projects and initiatives implemented within schools and local communities.

In her remarks, Eng. Ohood Enaia, APLA’s Programs and Policies Director, described the initiative as “a comprehensive framework to shape the awareness of the new generation about development issues through storytelling, art, and teamwork — linking schools to their local surroundings and turning education into a driver for building more conscious and empowered communities.” She added that APLA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, will continue working to expand the initiative to additional schools in the future.

The initiative’s introductory meeting, held online, was attended by Mr. Hamed Abu Mokho, Director General of Student Activities at the Ministry of Education, who emphasized the project’s importance as a pilot phase for participating schools, commending the alignment between the ESCWA Tales and Palestinian educational values.

From ESCWA, Ms. Wafa Al-Bazri and Ms. Jinan Moussa presented the project’s goals and implementation mechanisms across the Arab region, sharing experiences from participating countries and highlighting ESCWA’s role in supporting the localization of the 2030 Agenda through education.

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