Building Capabilities of Youth Through Participatory Oral History Project: The South Hebron Hills, a Palestinian Case Study

participatory oral history
participatory video (PV)

This study examines the impact of a participatory oral history project, "On Our Land," on Palestinian youth in the South Hebron Hills, exploring how it fosters their political and social capabilities. The project engaged 30 youth researchers (ages 18–28) in recording over 100 hours of intergenerational oral histories to preserve intangible cultural heritage threatened by Israeli occupation. The findings reveal that participatory research not only enabled youth to connect with their land and cultural heritage but also empowered them to challenge epistemic and structural injustices.

The project established a local advisory group consisting of the mayors, activists, and heads of the communities in the South Hebron Hills.

The project recruited and selected the youth researchers for the project based on a transparent process by identifying youth members from different villages and hamlets in the South Hebron Hills. Mayors and local key activist advised throughout this process.

The local councils helped distribute information sheets about the project to different villages. 60 youths applied. Through an interview process by the members of the project team from the UK, the local advisory committee, 30 youth researchers were selected based on criteria such as “their availability to attend training, willingness and interest to learn about cultural heritage, and knowledge about the area” (p. 121).

One of the core aims of the recruitment was to ensure not only a gender balance but also that there were youth researchers represented from all villages and communities from the area” (p. 121).

The youth researchers also had opportunities to train and take workshops on oral history methodology, interviewing techniques, videography, advocacy, and presentation skills.

A theory of change that runs throughout the paper is the belief that by recording oral histories of their communities and elders, Palestinian youths from the South Hebron Hills are “creating and transmitting knowledge: redressing epistemic inequalities” and that “in this way is a powerful way to counter act the Israeli narrative of a land without a people for a people without a land” (p. 132).

Oral history interviews
Participatory videos
Archival records

The first kind of knowledge mobilization was within the Palestinian youths to strengthen their political capabilities by generating their own knowledge of their cultural heritage.

“The youth researchers attended seminars and events in universities and museums in the UK, and a photography exhibition in London sharing their photos and work, as well as showing the film produced as part of the research to different national and international audiences.” (Soliman et al., 2022, p. 129)

Here are two comments documented in the article shared by youth who participated in the research:

“I was not very interested in culture. I never really thought about researching my heritage, documenting, or presenting it in an exhibition. Our community never really talked about heritage. Now that has changed. Now as soon as I hear someone reference to the past, I think about interviewing them and learning more [...]14” (Soliman et al., 2022, p. 130)

“The project opened my eyes to new understanding of the importance of cultural heritage and not to allow our history to be erased ... The documentation is a very effective and powerful way to show and present our history and heritage.9” (Soliman et al., 2022, p. 127)

“The youth researchers became the experts on this knowledge which they created; as one reflected: “Now I know how important this is for my country, for South Hebron and how important it is to protect it. I am from the youth in this area, so I have to work to save my cultural heritage”.5” (Soliman et al., 2022, p. 122)

“Another youth researcher highlighted how they have understood how important it is to document your history to show that you have the right to live on this land: All the communities have the right to document their heritage. My comments are for the youth from those communities: “Care about being a researcher for your community. You must document your ancestors and their lives here in this village before the occupation. You have the right, and you must prove that the occupation does not have the right to be here – they want to displace you. Defend your rights about being here by giving evidence that documents your heritage”.12” (Soliman et al., 2022, p. 128)

Social Science
Education