Spark for Innovation and Creativity

National Network
Palestine
Address

Remal
Gaza- Palestine
Palestinian Territories

Telephone
0567779900
E-Mail
spark@circlesofinnovation.info
E-Mail (2)
h.heyam22@gmail.com
E-Mail (3)
heyam@circlesofinnovation.info
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
2018
Fields of Activity
  1. Youth and education
General Information

Spark for Innovation & Creativity (SPARK) is an independent Palestinian, not-for-profit developmental organization working in the fields of entrepreneurship and digital transformation, culture, and education, founded on 2018 and registered in January 2019. Spark fosters creativity and innovation to generate value in our community, to be a thriving, successful community in which all people have the tools to launch new ideas and to create innovative work opportunities. Spark was established by a group of passionate individuals who believe in the importance of having institutions that work with and for young people in a supportive and innovative atmosphere. We, at Spark, take most of the responsibility of funding our projects and assets to maintain sustainability - believing that people are the agents of change. However, we were able to win three mini-grants until now from different institutions in Gaza and the West Bank. Our partners: Dalia Community Association, the General Union of Cultural Centers, Atfaluna Association for the Deaf. Fields of work: culture and arts, science and technology.

Mission and Objectives

Mission SPARK is an innovation hub that provides Palestinian Youth (from both sexes) with inspiring, innovative and motivational environments in order to enhance their creativity and distinguish. We at SPARK adopt a participatory learning approach (PLA) in order to ensure actual involvement for youth in the decision-making process. We believe that youth is an essential actor within the Palestinian community development. Strategic Goals: • To recruiting the power of creativity and cultural diversity for social welfare and civil society. • To supporting creativity based on investment in culture, education, innovation and technology, and enhancing work-based learning and development, in a way that serves increasing job opportunities, employment and income generation. • To develop and make available cultural output to a wider public and to encourage it to become more active and responsive.

Main Projects / Activities

List of Projects and Activities carried out by Spark: Project # 01: Be A Tech Youth! The project aimed to build the capacities of youth (women and men) from different areas in the Gaza Strip, from different promising fields in the field of outsourcing and freelancing and increase their accessibility to decent job opportunities and economic empowerment. The project targeted a number of 150 youth (women and men). Project # 02: The Fab Zone The Fab Zone is a fast-paced, hands-on learning experience where students learn rapid-prototyping by planning and executing a new project each week, resulting in a personal portfolio of technical accomplishments. Project # 03: Youth-Centered Design The program helps youth to create solutions for people using the Human Centered Design approach and supports designing services and programs that put children and youth first Project # 04: Reflection on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda: This project classified under the “Education for Sustainable Development” program. This project started in January 2019, aimed to develop youth awareness on the sustainable development goals and their importance as a road map towards a prosperous future based on a vital and ambitious community and a flourishing and thriving economy. To reach this vision, we worked on enhancing their participation in the Palestinian community through a number of training programs and workshops such as: 1- “The Sustainable Development Goals 2030 - The Way to the Future” workshop. 2- “Barra Al-Shabiak: Out of the Windows” workshop, which discussed the most important problems and issues facing Palestinian society from a youth perspective. 3- "Health Care for All: Make It Real" workshop, which discussed the right of society members to enjoy healthy and secure lifestyles. 4- “Young Women Make History” workshop celebrating the International Women's Day 2019 which took the theme “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change”. Project # 05: Youth Leads Future This project aimed to provide young people with the necessary skills and expertise that enable them to be active individuals in changing their communities. To achieve this, we worked on soft skills like: communication, creativity, entrepreneurship and business, as well as health and environment. Project # 06: Computer-Aided Design The program gives young youth -girls and boys - (15-18) the opportunity to explore different 2D and 3D software to understand possibilities and limitations. Participants work on hands-on projects and learn how to use Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to create their designs. They are introduced to 3D printers and learn how to export their files to bring their designs to life. Project # 07: STEM IN MAKERSPACE In the STEM program we work on the STEM curriculum, which enhances the necessary skills in the twenty-first century, such as critical thinking, logical thinking, creative thinking and problem solving to name a few. We worked on many workshops and training programs including: - Alternative Energy Solutions - Electrical Circuits and Robot Technology Digital Transforming Project # 08: Climate, Human Health, & Environment In this program, we work on promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth through enhancing the participants’ abilities in creative industries field through workshops that focused on related themes like visual art, painting, design, and The total number of participants in the workshops were over 40 participants (boys and girls). Project # 09: Be careful, COVID-19 has another face! Production of short animation films which reflect the Palestinian cultural identity from youth perspective, this initiative focused on the application of animation and use it as an effective tool to increase the interest of youth in participating in public live and express their identity and their culture freely, and motivate them to share new ideas and innovative interventions. Project # 10: Picture Colored with People This initiative aimed to enhance to role of youth in the Palestinian community development and equip them with positive energy and optimistic and encourage them to looking forward enhance their art and hobbies accordingly and share it with community members in order to highlight key important issues associated to Palestinian identity. Project # 11: Women in Stem The program gives young girls (16-18) the opportunity to delve deeper into science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects, to develop their higher-order thinking skills and their ability to solve problems. This program aims to ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university Projec#12: Learn English for work Young people learn English through interactive, fun lessons that take them through everyday situations and topics related to work, study, travel, and more. Project # 13: Mechanisms for empowering women at the legal and economic levels A program aimed at introducing young women to their legal and economic rights, and preparing them to be leaders at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life Project # 14: Portal for Change Programs in partnership with Mercy Corps, where young people in Spark meet with their counterparts from Arab and international countries, to discuss global issues affecting young people Project # 15: Go to green A program that gives young people the opportunity to learn about environmental problems and think about creative and influential solutions that guarantee a friendly environment.

Contact (1) Full Name
Heyam Al Hayek
Job Title
General Manager
Head of the organisation
Heyam ALHayk