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Youth Local Councils and Lana Abu-Hijleh win the 2017 McNulty Prize

Youth Local Councils are exporting a model of civic engagement that is critically needed around the world. While faith in democracy itself may be declining, here, young people are choosing involvement over disengagement.

Madeleine Albright, Former US Secretary of State & Chair, McNulty Prize Jury

The McNulty Foundation and the Aspen Institute today announced Lana Abu-Hijleh and the Youth Local Councils as the recipient of the tenth annual John P. McNulty Prize. Ms. Abu-Hijleh is being honored for pioneering a program that engages over 25,000 youth in the West Bank, and has expanded to Honduras and Ukraine. Through voluntary bodies of elected youth, the Youth Local Councils enable young people to practice leadership and good governance, receive hundreds of hours of training, and propose, plan and execute community projects.

The challenges that young people face are not unique to Palestine. The Youth Local Councils have given them the hope they need to invest in their own countries and communities, and not turn to despair, violence or any other form of extremism.

Lana Abu-Hijleh

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