Climate Action Palestine Project #46358

Gardens, Goats, and More: Climate Action Palestine

by Rebuilding Alliance

Project Report | Oct 27, 2023
Gaza families will need your support

By Donna Baranski-Walker | Executive Director and Founder

An old picture of a beneficiary

As we heard of the onset of war, we at Rebuilding Alliance shared grave concerns about what it would entail: loss of innocent civilian lives on both sides, destruction, deadly humanitarian crises in Gaza, derailed efforts to assure justice, safety, and peace.

Rebuilding Alliance condemns the targeting of Israeli and Palestinian civilians. From the very start, we echoed the Carter Center in calling for genuine dialogue as well as international collective action to halt hostilities in the region. This past week, RA launched our Contact Congress Zoom Briefing series to invite Congressional offices to sign the Open Call for Immediate Ceasefire.

Massive bombing is leveling neighborhoods. It is our hope and prayer that the 16 families currently in the Garden and Goats pilot project are still alive and in their homes, able to sustain their families especially now.

There will come a ceasefire, hopefully sooner than later. On that day, this project will become a lifeline — because it offers self-sufficiency and food security.

Our challenge will be

to get poultry, livestock, and feed to hundreds of families in need — we must evaluate whether it will still be possible to buy these locally, inside Gaza.
If not, we must focus on how to bring these into Gaza probably through Egypt.
Thankfully, Rebuilding Alliance works with a brilliant Palestinian shipping agent based in Beitunia, in the West Bank. He is advising us to send all aid to the Jordan Hashimite Charity in Amman who will airship to Al Arish, Egypt for entry into Gaza
Can one airship live goats? Maybe. We’ll soon find out!

Thank you for supporting Gardens, Goats, and More--a program that is helping 16 families become financially independent. With your help, these families will once again grow vegetables and fruits, and raise livestock and rebuild their lives. We are hopeful to help these 16 families and hundreds more with your support.

Home grown vegetables

Picture of a beneficiary from before

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Jun 28, 2023
For Eid al Adha, a Beneficiary shares what she has with those in need

By Jen Doyle, Communication Coordinator | and Donna B-W, Executive Director

Amira with her garden.

Dear Friend,

In the true spirit of Eid Al Adha, a beneficiary of Gardens, Goats, and More: Climate Action Palestine, sacrificed one of her sheep to feed the families in need around her.

This project gave Amira her first sheep which she bred into a small herd of seven. Her act of kindness is a beacon of light to underserved members of her community in these desperate times.

On behalf of Rebuilding Alliance we would like to wish you all a blessed Eid al-Adha!
If you would like to support the Gardens and Goats program in Gaza, please do.

______________________________________________________________________________

This wonderful pilot project gives needy families in the Gaza community a sustainble way to grow or raise the healthy food their family needs, and, if possible sell their vegetables, eggs, and livestock to generate an income. This worked really well for Amira and many of the beneficiaries, but not for everyone.

Some of our beneficiaries — especially the ones in the cities without much land or fields — are struggling to care for livestock in particular. They need fodder and shelter for the animals and prices for both are going way up.

One beneficiary, Rania, said, “I had a difficult time feeding my goats because the fodder is so expensive. I had to sell one of my baby goats to buy some fodder for the rest, as well as help me provide some food for my family. I work hard to feed my goats by allowing them to graze nearby, but it’s not enough.”

Another beneficiary, Aqla, shared, “I can barely feed my extended family. I have 22 people in the house, including my children and my grandchildren. I have a sick baby who needs medicine which costs a lot. I had to sell one of my goats to feed the family. I need fodder for the goats but I can't afford to buy the fodder and buy food for the family. My priority is my family. I hope that you can do something to help us.”

We are hoping that with your generous support we will soon be able to provide fodder to our beneficiaries and livestock, seeds, and plants to new beneficiaries.

Thank you for supporting this project. Together we can help more families get back on their path of sustainability!

Amira delivering meat to a family in need.

Amira and her family with the sheep for slaughter.

Goats and sheep in a pen.

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Feb 27, 2023
Successful Garden, Baby Goats, and More!

By Jen Doyle | Communications Coordinator

Amira carrying fresh greens to her goats.

Thank you for all of your support! Because of you, 32 people in and around Rafah, Gaza, are doing what they love--growing vegetables and raising cattle--and also supporting their families.

I am excited to share the success stories of our beneficiaries that we have just received from Kareem, a team member from our partner NGO in Gaza, the Women Programs Center-Rafah.

The first update we have is about a beneficiary named Ahmed. You may remember Ahmed from previous reports. Last year he tragically lost one of his goats. Thanks to the amazing support of donors like you, Ahmed was provided with a new goat. Now, Ahmed’s goat has recently given birth to a new baby! Ahmed is overjoyed at the new addition, and now has a total of 3 goats. Ahmed is also doing well with his garden.

Another beneficiary we’d like to provide an update on is Amira. Amira is one of the most successful beneficiaries from this project, and her garden and her livestock are growing and thriving. Amira once told us, “I’ll get a thousand goats one day from this goat you gave me.” Amira is gradually fulfilling this promise, and she now has 7 goats in total, 5 males and 2 females, which are both pregnant as well! We are so pleased to hear of Amira’s success with her livestock and looking forward to seeing her farm grow even further.

Our next goal with this project is to be able to supply our beneficiaries with fodder for their livestock. The last time we were able to do this was over a year ago, and we would love to send our beneficiaries this critical support for their livestock. The cost of food in Gaza is incredibly high, making it very difficult for beneficiaries to support themselves and their families in addition to livestock. The goal of this project is to help these beneficiaries reach a point where they can lead self-sufficient, sustainable lives, and we aim to provide them with as much support as possible while pursuing this goal.

None of this would be possible without the support of donors like you. Thank you for all that you do to help keep this project going. Your support provides animals, supplies, and hope to these beneficiaries. We will be providing more updates for you soon!

Amira with her bountiful garden.

Amira's goats eating fresh greens.

Ahmed with his goats!

Ahmed's baby goat!

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