New Initiative Launched in Umm al-Fahm to Engage Residents in Neighborhood Planning

Last week, the "Our Councils Hear Us" project was launched in Umm al-Fahm, a city in northern Israel. Spearheaded by local council member, social activist, and artist Adham Jabarin, the initiative is a partnership with the Equality Center and the "Siraj" project of the "Lawyers for Proper Governance" association. Supported by the European Union, the project aims to involve residents in identifying their neighborhoods' needs and translating them into actionable plans and initiatives.

The project's activities commenced with a working meeting attended by Umm al-Fahm Mayor Dr. Samir Mahamid. The discussion focused on the needs of the Abu Laham neighborhood, the project's starting point, and the roles of the municipality, elected officials, and civil society organizations in addressing these needs.

Following the meeting, participants toured the "Miftan Masarat" vocational school in the neighborhood. They explored its facilities, departments, and programs, learned about its needs and challenges, and discussed ways to support its educational and vocational work and its community role.

Future stages will include field visits, surveys, focus groups, and listening sessions involving neighborhood residents, including women and youth, alongside volunteers, civil society representatives, and elected officials. Based on the outcomes, the project will develop a professional report on the neighborhood's needs, a local action plan, and a community initiative to be presented to the municipality and supporting bodies for adoption, development, and funding.

The Equality Center will provide professional guidance, including community planning, needs assessment coordination, action plan development, and outreach to potential partners for support and initiative sustainability. The "Our Councils Hear Us" initiative is part of the "Siraj" project, which aims to empower Arab local authority members to develop initiatives that enhance local governance and community participation. The project seeks to expand the role of municipal council members from addressing individual concerns to leading dialogue and joint planning with residents and civil society. This initiative, supported by the EU, aims to create practical tools for community participation and strengthen cooperation between residents, elected officials, and local institutions, with the goal of establishing a model for collaboration that can be expanded to other neighborhoods in Umm al-Fahm and other Arab local authorities.