10-06-2026 | di COOPI

Gaza. Training also means saving lives

The second training round of the "HELP GAZA" project, promoted by COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale and implemented by its partner Education for Employment – Palestine (EFE-Palestine), was successfully completed in April in one of the world's most dramatic humanitarian contexts. Thirty-one young people – 21 women and 10 men – successfully graduated from the Medical First Aid and Emergency Psychosocial Support training courses, joining a local network of first responders able to provide direct assistance within communities affected by the crisis.

In a territory where hospitals and essential services have been severely disrupted, HELP GAZA aims to strengthen local capacities so that communities themselves can provide an initial medical and psychological response to the most vulnerable people.

Around 5,500 people reached

The trained young women and men have already reached approximately 5,500 people through awareness-raising activities, community meetings, and the dissemination of first aid and psychosocial support practices.

We have not only learned first aid and psychosocial support techniques; we have also understood how important it is to stay united and care for one another.

says one participant.

In displacement camps and local communities, the newly trained responders have also directly supported 285 people, including elderly individuals and children, by sharing life-saving information and often serving as the first accessible point of reference in emergency situations.

Before the course, I felt powerless in the face of my community’s needs. Today, I know I have the tools to provide practical support during emergencies, and that gives me both confidence and a sense of responsibility.

says another first responder.

Medical kits for volunteers

COOPI and EFE-Palestine continue to support the work of local first responders through the distribution of medical kits, despite the severe restrictions on the entry of medical supplies into the Gaza Strip, which continue to hamper logistical operations.

Activities will continue in the coming months with new community-led initiatives designed and implemented directly by participants, with the aim of further expanding the health and psychosocial support network across Gaza.

The project team explains:

This is not just technical training. These young people are becoming a tangible resource for their communities, in a context where local solidarity is essential for survival.

COOPI in Palestine

COOPI began operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2002, working in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. Over the years, the organisation has specialised in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), waste management, economic support for vulnerable groups, education and protection. Between 2009 and 2012, COOPI focused in particular on vocational training and labour market inclusion for young people and women in East Jerusalem. Since 2025, the organisation has been supporting the training of young first responders in medical and psychosocial assistance in partnership with EFE-Palestine.