Project Hope, a voluntary non-profit youth and cultural organization in Nablus, began distribution of the first ever graphic novel, West Bank Graphic Novel Stories, produced by and about Palestinian youth.  The book, published in English, went on sale officially in Palestine and internationally, following its official launch last month at the French Cultural Center in Nablus.  The graphic novel is available for purchase locally at Project Hope in Nablus, next to the French Cultural Center on an-Najah al-Qadim Street, with further distribution at various cultural events, such as the PalFest literary festival.  

West Bank Graphic Novel Stories, features twelve stories drawn and written by university students from an-Najah University in Nablus, and is the first graphic novel published by Palestinian youth. Some of the stories featured in the novel are fictional and some are autobiographical, but all of them are based on the daily realities of life under occupation, and all of them give insight to the reader about what it is like growing up in Palestine during the Second Intifada. The stories provide a wide range of experiences, and provide perspectives from urban and rural areas as well as refugee camps. In “On This Earth We Deserve Life”, author-artist Ahmed reveals his struggle to find the means to further his education - to pass high school and enter university -despite poverty and deadly street encounters with the Israeli military.


In “Freedom to Play” author-artist Samia reveals how random violence flares up at any moment debilitating kids' access to education and play-time.

West Bank Graphic Novel Stories is the collaborative effort of 12 students: 10 young women, 2 young men. The course was provided through the Fine Arts Department of An-Najah National University by Project Hope (www.projecthope.ps) under the direction of Toronto-based artist/Project Hope volunteer Rebecca Cox. The course took place over a 5 week period in May/June 2009. The students were provided only with the technical guidance on how to create a graphic novel – the stories are their own.

Project Hope is a voluntary organization that aims at organizing educational and recreational activities for youth and adults.  Project Hope regularly organizes workshops, training courses and other creative cultural activities like this graphic novel project.  AbdulHakim Sabbah, Director of Project Hope, said that a second English edition of this graphic novel will be forthcoming, as well as a French translation, and that plans are in the works for a follow-up novel.

Project Hope works to bring international volunteers with specific specialties, skills and talents to Nablus, where they can exchange their expertise with local volunteers, students and other participants.  The center annually hosts about 200 volunteers with at least 20 volunteers with permanent staying in Nablus throughout the year. 

Mr. Sabbah of Project Hope said that choosing the volunteers is a process that is handled with great care.  Volunteers are chosen according to the required specialties needed by the local community. It is worth noting that each volunteer is committed to spend at least 6 weeks in Nablus to get a closer look at the life and culture of Palestinians.

While volunteering with Project Hope is an educational experience for the volunteers, the volunteers of course also work as educators. Volunteers run workshops, classes and other various activities related to art, theater, music, photography, dance and sports in cooperation with 40 different sites throughout the Nablus Governorate.

Just as Project Hope is working to tell the story of the Palestinian people to the world through graphic novels, the center is also teaching children and youth how to use internet communication, like blogs, to tell the world about their lives.  Children from various participating schools learn how to “blog” in English and French, writing about their daily lives, interests and aspirations on personal websites which they design themselves, complete with photographs and artwork.

Project Hope is located on 29 An-Najah Al-Qadim Street next to the French Cultural Center in Nablus.  For inquiries about purchasing the graphic novel or ordering copies for distribution please contact Mr. AbdulHakim Sabbah at

+970 9 233 7077 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. .