Taawon Convenes its 2025 Annual Forum in Amman, Charting Renewed Pathways Toward Sustainable Impact
Amman — 6 December 2025
Taawon convened its 2025 Annual Forum in Amman under the theme “Renewed Pathways Toward Sustainable Impact.” Members from the Association, the Board of Directors, the executive team, and external partners and specialists joined the gathering at the InterContinental Hotel, with additional participation via Zoom. The Forum provided a collaborative space for dialogue, collective reflection, and the exchange of ideas that can strengthen Taawon’s programs and translate insights into sustainable, community-driven impact.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Nabil Qaddumi, Chairman of the Board, welcomed participants and reaffirmed Taawon’s commitment to activating meaningful youth participation as a source of renewal and innovation. He emphasized the importance of expanding the Endowment Fund as a foundation for institutional sustainability, and highlighted the progress made through international outreach efforts held in London, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Manama. Dr. Qaddumi also commended the positive contributions of Taawon’s task forces in advancing community innovation, institutional performance, communications, culture, youth engagement, and resource development. He concluded by reflecting on the challenging conditions facing Palestinian communities and the essential role of cultural memory in sustaining resilience and continuity.
The Forum opened with an analytical reading of the Palestinian institutional landscape, led by Ines Abdel Razek, who highlighted resilience, alliances, and narrative-building as core components guiding organizational action in a shifting context. Her remarks reinforced the importance of shared tools, stronger coordination, and program alignment with evolving field realities.
Participants then reviewed Taawon’s achievements in 2025 and explored the institution’s strategic directions and roadmap for 2026–2028. A visual presentation summarized major programmatic accomplishments, followed by focused presentations from Taawon’s task forces on specialized visions for advancing institutional work across sectors.
The Communications and Media Unit presented a video illustrating its 2025 achievements and the strengthened institutional narrative that continues to elevate the visibility and impact of Taawon’s work.
The Community Innovation Unit announced a three-year strategic partnership with BuildPalestine to launch a joint initiative supporting social innovation and creative entrepreneurship. The program will accompany young innovators from early-stage ideation through incubation and empowerment, aiming to transform promising social-impact ideas into sustainable community projects.
In her remarks, Lama Amr, Executive Director and Co-founder of BuildPalestine, underscored the ability of social entrepreneurship to provide practical responses to daily challenges. She described the partnership with Taawon as a pivotal step in building a stronger social innovation ecosystem in Palestine and empowering emerging youth-led initiatives. These discussions laid the groundwork for translating recommendations into actionable program initiatives, supported by specialized workshops and monitoring mechanisms to ensure measurable and sustainable impact.
The Forum also presented new strategic directions, including Gaza Deserves and Jerusalem 2030, which represent key programmatic priorities for the coming phase. A detailed presentation was delivered on a new initiative aiming to rebuild the rehabilitation system for individuals with disabilities and limb loss. Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah, who contributed to shaping the initiative, outlined its core components, while Dr. Richard Davidson emphasized the essential role of psychosocial support and mental wellbeing in community recovery.
Updates were also shared on the work of Taawon’s sister organizations in the United Kingdom and the United States, and their central role in building partnerships, mobilizing funding, and supporting program implementation.
Salim Labbad, Board Member of Taawon UK, noted the significant progress made this year in strengthening governance and operational systems, which has enhanced the office’s ability to build strategic relationships, attract sustainable funding, and expand engagement with partners and supporters of Palestine.
Dr. Nasser Barghouthi, Chair of Friends of Taawon USA, highlighted the office’s work in donor outreach, capacity building, and cultivating technical partnerships. Despite being newly established, the US office has rapidly built effective networks and foundational structures that expand opportunities for funding and strategic collaboration in support of Taawon’s programs.
The Forum concluded with a performance by comedian and activist Amer Zahr, bringing a warm and human close to a day dedicated to shared reflection and collective purpose.
Participants agreed on a set of forward-looking priorities for the coming period. These include advancing the implementation of Taawon’s 2026–2028 strategic roadmap, strengthening sustainable financing through expanded support for the Endowment Fund and new funding mechanisms, and transitioning the strategic Gaza and Jerusalem documents into actionable program phases supported by broader outreach and communication. Discussions also emphasized the importance of deeper integration of psychosocial, health, and technological components across reconstruction and community support programs, and reinforcing collaboration with local and international institutions to achieve wider and more sustainable impact.
With renewed clarity and commitment, the 2025 Annual Forum reaffirmed Taawon’s dedication to advancing sustainable, community-centered development and standing alongside Palestinian communities as they work toward resilience, dignity, and a more secure future.
