Working with Young Palestinian Women in Regions of the Northern West Bank

In October 2000, Bisan Center for Research and Development signed a partnership agreement with the Canadian NGO Oxfam- Quebec to implement a three-year project that aimed to expand the capacities of six local organizations in six Refugee Camps through the establishment of six Neighborhood Corners and the implementation of an extensive institutional capacity building program and other related activities that targeted women, youth ands children in the camps. The project's total cost reached 1,700,000 Canadian Dollars which equals 1,000,000 US $ that was financed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The project responds to CIDA’s commitment to peace by fostering a positive environment in which communities can take responsibility for their own development in a democratic and participatory manner. It also responds to two stated priorities of CIDA in the Middle East : Support to the Palestinian refugees, and poverty reduction. Gender equality is addressed by focusing on the needs of girls, young women and women in the camps.

Finally, capacity building at the level of individuals, of grassroots organizations and finally of the partner organizations (through systematization), is an important component of the project plan of action. The goal is to establish six neighborhood corners in 6 refugee camps in the northern area wich are;

• Beit Il-Ma (refugee camp nr. 1)
• Askar Refugee Camp
• Al-Far’a Refugee Camp
• Jenin Refugee Camp
• Tulkarem Refugee Camp
• Nur Shams Refugee Camp.

We aim to contribute to the process of building democratic and participatory institutions in Palestine, which will result in increasing people’s capacity to respond constructively to community issues by working together an acquiring a higher control over resources and the decision making process.

Activities for this project consisted of the following :

• Creation of 6 neighborhood corners in the Northern West Bank
  (Infrastructures created or adapted through construction, renovation and supply of equipment)
• Youth leadership Training program
• Young women awareness program
• Establishment of fitness centers
• Children’s entertainment workshop
• Creation of computer and networking centers
• Needs assessment workshops
• Institutional capacity-building program. (covering topics related to strategic planning, fundraising and proposal writing, project management and upgrading the financial and administrative procedures).
• Networking workshops
• Training for community development
• Building of a project resource Center
• Research and Publications
• Creation of libraries in the Camps
• Creation of theatre groups