As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability and community engagement, An-Najah National University launched a tree-planting campaign in Nablus on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, under the slogan “If one of you has a sapling, let them plant it.” The initiative, organized through the Community Service Center’s Local Community Initiatives Program and in collaboration with Qabalan Municipality, aimed to enhance green spaces in the city and improve environmental quality.
The campaign kicked off with a psychosocial support activity for approximately 40 children, including children with disabilities, from Qabalan. The activity featured recreational games designed to provide psychological relief and foster a sense of community.
The tree-planting effort targeted gardens of associations, institutions, public facilities, and residential areas with adequate water resources. Prof. Abdel Nasser Zaid, President of An-Najah National University, inaugurated the campaign by planting olive trees in the garden of the Al-Thuraya Association for Persons with Disabilities. Prof. Zaid emphasized the importance of embedding a culture of environmental stewardship among students through faculty and departmental initiatives. He also proposed integrating tree-planting into the university’s Community Service course, suggesting that every student plant a sapling before graduation as a way to contribute to the community and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Prof. Zaid highlighted the campaign’s potential to address the urgent need for green spaces in Nablus’s densely built environment, noting its positive impact on environmental quality and psychological well-being. He expressed a vision of expanding the campaign to involve more local institutions, reinforcing collaboration and community engagement.
Also participating in the event, Mr. Raed Debiy, President’s Assistant for Community Affairs, underscored the importance of planting trees as a symbol of resilience and hope. He encouraged students to overcome challenges and embrace agriculture as a means of improving the human spirit and fostering optimism.
A distinctive feature of the campaign is its focus on planting trees in inhabited areas to ensure proper care and maintenance. However, the initiative remains open to expanding into other locations to maximize its environmental and community benefits.
Through this campaign, An-Najah National University continues to lead by example, combining environmental action with educational and social responsibility to promote sustainable development and community well-being.