Association of Palestinian Local Authorities followed up on the implementation of activities under the “Stories of Sustainable Development in Palestine” initiative at Yatta Girls Secondary School in the city of Yatta. The initiative was launched by APLA in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and in cooperation with Yatta Municipality, through the preparation of a school space to be developed as an educational garden serving the objectives of the initiative.
The first component of the follow-up focused on students’ direct engagement with the initiative’s content within the school. Students implemented an awareness activity by placing visual stickers representing the Sustainable Development Goals along the school stairways, aiming to integrate these goals into the students’ daily school environment. This step was designed to turn the SDGs into a constant visual reference that accompanies students’ movement throughout the school, reinforcing messages related to environmental protection, development, and social justice in a simple and accessible way.
The second component concentrated on the practical dimension of the initiative within the school setting. In cooperation with Yatta Municipality, APLA’s team inspected the designated area to be rehabilitated as an educational school garden under the project. This intervention links theoretical awareness with tangible on-the-ground activities, transforming part of the school into a living learning space that reflects sustainability principles in spatial use and planning, and allows students to see the initiative’s impact through visible change in their school environment.
The follow-up visit also included reviewing a documentary video produced by the school team, showcasing the different stages of implementing the initiative’s activities. These ranged from awareness campaigns through the school radio, social media posts, and the cultural club, to the production of short educational videos on environmental issues, climate change, heritage preservation, and sustainable development in both Arabic and English. The activities also included reading and discussion sessions based on ESCWA’s Stories publications, as well as competitions that encouraged students to transform the themes of the stories into creative texts and slogans reflecting their understanding of the issues addressed.
At the conclusion of the visit, APLA provided the school with the fourth and fifth issues of ESCWA Stories, targeting upper-grade students as the initiative’s core educational tools. These publications present sustainable development issues in the Arab region through a narrative and pedagogical approach that complements classroom learning and school-based activities.
This intervention at Yatta Girls Secondary School forms part of a broader track led by APLA, aimed at linking the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals with the educational environment and strengthening the role of schools as key partners in building long-term community awareness on local development and sustainability. This is pursued through integrated partnerships that bring together local authorities, educational institutions, and regional supporting organizations.