We have been present in the country since 1993 with projects on education, the development of small businesses and small-scale craft industries in the West Bank. Now we are working in different sectors under the framework of our economic empowerment mission

Education

Education is a key theme in Palestine, where the attendance rate in secondary schools doesn't reach more than 65%. That is why we promote access to education for children through programs of inclusion in public and private institutions in East Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jericho.

Social and educational inclusion

In Palestine, the vulnerability of people with disabilities (PwDs) is exacerbated by extreme poverty, high unemployment and political instability. We support their social, educational and job inclusion through a cross-cutting perspective.

The Distance Support program fosters the development of an inclusive educational approach in schools and vocational training courses that strengthen the autonomy of students with disabilities.

The economic development projects empower and equip people with disabilities with tools and resources to face the job market challenges thanks trainings or the help needed to start up a small businesses.

Our programs addressing the disability issue, which we implement in partnership with the experts of Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation, have always a strong component on advocacy and awareness-raising for the people with disabilities, their families, the companies that shall become their employers and the whole community.

• Pro.Ed. project began in October 2019 and is supporting the reality of Effetà, the only school for deaf children in the whole West Bank, with material and furniture for the students, but also trainings to facilitate their access to the Bethlehem University as well as preparing them to face the job market. In the framework of the project a series of meetings and collaborations between Effetà students and the Youth Council of Bethlehem are forecastet to help the first ones understand how they can be active and useful members of their society as well.

Job creation

AVSI works to promote decent work for the most vulnerable population throug trainings centred on business management, individual coaching sessions to design business and feasibility plans propaedeutic to receive micro-loans to start up business activities.

• Mustaqbaluna (Our Future) focuses on the working inclusion of vulnerable categories, mainly women and people with disabilities, through the promotion and development of income generating activities. We carry out the project in partnership with BASR and YWCA mainly, that help us reach the aforementioned categories throughout all of the West Bank, from Jenin to Hebron.
  Donor: AICS / Budget: 1.526.123,13€ / Length: 2018 - 2021

Gender equality and women empowerment

Violence against women is still a widespread problem in Palestine, especially in isolated areas like the villages in the Jordan Valley. Gender equality is a cross-cutting theme that we always have in our projects. For example, while selecting our beneficiaries we always make sure to have a proper balance between males and females. In addition, the prevention of violence against women is at the core of our values and preoccupations, that is why in a past project on the educational emergency in the Jordan Valley we have provided school girls with a proper course on GBV.

Responsible tourism

We are supporting the development of the tourism sector in the Bethlehem area. Keeping the focus on the inclusion of young people with disabilities we promote trainings that allows them to enter the growing tourism job market. At the same time, our organization plays a supporting role in creating a network of tourist residences to guarantee working opportunities for less wealthy families and to promote responsible tourism in contact with the local population.

• Specialitaly is our second largest project in which we collaborate as a partner. It is focuses on fostering tourism and the related industry in the Bethlehem area. Our contribution is again focused on people with disability, in fact, with support of our partner, Lifegate, we are training people with disabilities to be able to find a job in the touristic sector and connecting them to potential employers.
  Donor: AICS / Budget: 1.085.717€ / Length: 2018 - 2021

AVSI Palestine

Jerusalem HQ Office
Saint Francis Street 1, Saint Saviour Monastery
P.O. Box 14024, Jerusalem - 9100100
Tel: +972 (0) 2 6209948/9
Valentina.Clementelli@avsi.org