Rahat: A Trailblazer in Civic Innovation in Israel

Rahat stands out as an exception: the only Arab city to win the national call for proposals for the project “Renewal and Innovation for Youth Services,” ranking 8th among dozens of municipalities. This outstanding result reflects the seriousness and quality of work led by its local teams and establishes Rahat as a true model of leadership and transformation in the public sector.

This project aims to empower young people to face the challenges of their generation and become active contributors to the development of their community.

It is part of the CIVIX program, a national civic innovation initiative developed in partnership with the Public Sector Innovation Center, the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the Ministry of the Interior.

In Rahat, under the leadership of Mayor Mr. Talal Al-Qarinawi, an innovation team composed of Heba Al-Hazil, Mohamed Al-Qurinawi, Sumaya Al-Qassi, Nasrat Al-Zabarqa, and Rom Al-Qadi designed and implemented concrete solutions tailored to the needs of young residents. These actions were developed in the face of significant social and security challenges, with a clear goal: to create opportunities and strengthen community stability.

“Youth is the foundation of our society's revival and the pillar of our future. Through this project, we believe in their ability to transform challenges into real opportunities,”said Mr. Talal Al-Qarinawi, Mayor of Rahat.

The project was celebrated at a closing event on Wednesday, May 21, attended by Mr. Fouad Al-Zeadna, director of the Rahat Community Center. He emphasized that this initiative goes beyond technical solutions:

“This project is a vital first step toward youth empowerment. We have seen young people move from doubt to responsibility, from isolation to active participation. Innovation, for us, is above all a human and community-driven approach,”said Fouad Al-Zeadna, Director of the Rahat Community Center.

What is CIVIX?

CIVIX is a national platform for municipal innovation. It supports local governments in transforming their services using a resident-centered design approach, public service innovation tools, and a data-driven culture. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, CIVIX promotes participatory, sustainable, and inclusive governance.

With Rahat as an inspiring example, CIVIX shows that municipal innovation can thrive in all regions, when driven by courageous teams, visionary leadership, and a shared belief in the potential of citizens.

Caroline Haïat