Voices Beyond Walls

Voices Beyond Walls is a participatory media initiative that supports creative expression and human rights advocacy among impoverished youth through digital storytelling workshops, new media production, and global dissemination of their work. 

 20 Ames Street, E15-223, Cambridge, MA 02139

 Telephone: 617-324-0031 / Fax: 617-253-3977

local, national, international 

youth aged 10-16 years old

The Voices Beyond Walls initiative was founded in 2006, when pilot digital media and storytelling workshops were first conducted in the Balata and Jenin refugee camps in the West Bank. Since then we have established a team of local and international volunteers who have conducted nearly a dozen workshops in six different refugee camps in collaboration with youth centers and young participants aged 10-16 years. In each 7-10 day workshop a team of trainers works closely with 20-25 youth from the camps in small groups to produce digital media shorts. 

• Established: 2006

Weaving together original stories, drama, poetry, photography, music, and digital video these youth express their own perspectives on Palestinian history, culture and everyday life in the refugee camps, as well as their dreams and aspirations. Thus far nearly 60 digital media shorts have been produced by youth in these workshops, many of which have been screened locally and internationally.

The initiative partners closely with Palestinian youth/community organizations including the Freedom Theater in Jenin Camp (Jenin), the Yafa Cultural Center in Balata Camp (Nablus), the Computer Clubhouse in Ramallah, the Lajee Center in Aida Camp (Bethlehem), and the Women and Child Centers in Shu’fat Camp (East Jerusalem).

Voices Beyond Walls is a participatory media initiative that supports creative expression and human rights advocacy among impoverished youth through digital storytelling workshops, new media production, and global dissemination of their work.

The program has been conducted thus far by local and international volunteers in partnership with youth centers in Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank. In the future we hope to expand the program in other critical international settings and inner-city neighborhoods, supporting civic engagement and empowering the voices of youth through digital media. 

Click here to view sample projects. 

Voices Beyond Walls is a program of the Center for Peace Building International (CPBI), a U.S. based 501 (c) (3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible.