In the West Bank, AVSI implemented the project “Beyond Health: The Right to Health and Protection in Nablus”, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), in partnership with Medical Aid for Palestinians, Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation, and the Art to Heart Foundation.
The project was designed to expand access to health, social care, and protection services for the most vulnerable people in the Nablus Governorate. Alongside strengthening emergency centres with life-saving equipment and medical supplies, it delivered psychosocial support for children, young people, and mothers, educational and arts-based activities for students at risk of dropping out of school, and rehabilitation services, including assistive devices for people with disabilities.
Despite a context marked by severe movement restrictions and constantly evolving needs, the project achieved significant results.
All mothers enrolled in the support programmes attended consistently and provided suggestions to further improve the activities, reflecting sustained engagement and active participation.
Psychosocial support activities for children also exceeded expectations. A total of 102 and 155 children participated in the two intervention streams, compared with a target of 60 for each, highlighting the strong demand for safe spaces that promote emotional well-being and positive social relationships. These results were made possible through the trust built over time and the work of local partners, including Art to Heart.
The inclusive summer camp also delivered particularly meaningful results, welcoming 35 children compared with the planned 30, including 15 children diagnosed with Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder. Beyond the numbers, its value lay in the shared experience: children with and without disabilities took part together in music therapy sessions and recreational activities, creating opportunities for inclusion that are rare in the context of Nablus.
Identity and Belonging
Beyond Health embraces multiple dimensions of everyday life, using art and creative expression as tools to strengthen protection and well-being. It creates spaces where people can process their emotions and develop new ways of connecting with others.
The project also pays close attention to identity and young people's sense of belonging, encouraging personal expression as part of their growth and development.
The videos below bring together some of the stories that emerged through the project. Through the voices of the participants, they share experiences, journeys, and relationships that have taken shape over these months of working together.
Ahmed: a new beginning through rehabilitation services
Ahmed was two years old when he was diagnosed with a spinal tumour. Chemotherapy successfully treated the cancer, but he was left unable to move his body from the chest down. Over the years, he has undergone different rehabilitation programmes and required several changes of assistive devices, with a significant impact on his family's daily life.
In the West Bank, access to services for people with disabilities remains limited, and many cases like Ahmed's are often seen as having few prospects. Through Beyond Health, AVSI provides people like Ahmed with rehabilitation services and tailored support, helping them access the care they need and improve their quality of life.
Promoting women’s participation
In many rural Palestinian communities, women often face lives shaped by early responsibilities and limited opportunities for education, employment, and social participation. Saja is one of them. She wanted to complete her secondary education, but her husband did not allow her to continue her studies.
As part of the project, art workshops provide a space for self-expression and emotional processing, while fostering new skills and encouraging greater participation in community life.
"It gives you strength. It helps you feel better and realise that opportunities still exist. It makes you more optimistic and more hopeful about the future. Art has helped me rediscover a sense of hope in life."
Saja
Safe spaces for children through art
In Nablus, children often grow up in conditions of high stress, with few safe spaces for play and social interaction. The project's activities reach children directly in the places they attend, creating protected environments where they can express themselves and build relationships.
Art is used as an educational and relational tool, helping children express their emotions and process them in a safe and supportive environment.
“The activities we carry out with these children take place in the places where they already are. This helps them feel safer. Art allows them to come into contact with emotions they are often not fully aware of. It helps bring feelings to the surface and release them in a healthy way.”
Jihane, one of the artists leading the groups.
