GENARRATION: Amplifying Palestinian Youth Voices Against Occupation

GENARRATION is a response to the erasure of Palestinian identity and the continued silencing of Jerusalem’s youth under Israeli occupation. This project empowers young Palestinians to reclaim their narrative and bring global attention to their lived reality of resilience. In Jerusalem, where Israel’s unlawful occupation imposes daily restrictions on movement, expression, and basic rights, GENARRATION aims to counter mainstream misrepresentations by amplifying young voices.

At a time when social media serves as a critical tool for activism and advocacy, GENARRATION uses digital storytelling to expose the harsh realities of life under occupation. Through videos, photography, and personal narratives, young Palestinians are breaking through the media’s one-sided portrayals. Sara, one of the GENARRATION creators, shares, “Jerusalem is my guiding star. My goal is to highlight our rich history and showcase the beauty of Jerusalem through my lens and art.” For Sara and others in GENARRATION, storytelling isn’t just a form of expression, it’s an act of resistance.

Empowering Youth to Tell Their Own Stories

GENARRATION was created to counter the erasure and censorship faced by Palestinians, particularly the youth of Jerusalem, who experience constant threats to their identity and heritage under occupation. The project gives these young voices the tools and skills needed to amplify their lived experiences on their own terms. With mentorship, workshops, and collaborative partnerships across Palestine, Europe, and Latin America, GENARRATION helps youth tell stories that challenge stereotypes and show the resilience of Palestinians under occupation.

This project also confronts the global media’s complicity in perpetuating narratives that often ignore or misrepresent the Palestinian struggle for justice. By supporting Palestinian youth in producing their own content, GENARRATION brings international attention to the realities of life in occupied Jerusalem – from arbitrary detentions to the threats posed to Palestinian cultural heritage. Bayan, a creator of GENARRATION highlights the project’s significance: “Being part of this project is important to me because it allows me to acquire the necessary tools to amplify the voices and experiences of Palestinian women, including my own.”

Through these stories, GENARRATION does more than document life in Jerusalem – it builds a global youth solidarity movement, calling for justice and an end to the occupation. By partnering with young creators and activists across borders, GENARRATION is fostering a network that stands united in the struggle for Palestinian rights and liberation.

GENARRATION invites you to listen, learn, and stand with Jerusalem’s youth in their pursuit of a future free from occupation and erasure, by following them on social media.

This article was prepared in collaboration with the GENARRATION team as part of our ongoing collaboration. It marks the first installment of our two-part series, highlighting the inspiring work of the project and its mission to empower communities through digital storytelling. Stay tuned for next week’s post, an exclusive interviews with two incredible content creators from the GENARRATION team, diving deeper into their stories, challenges, and hopes for the future.

Learn More About GENARRATION Project Here!