Rooftop Micro Farms for Refugee Women in Deheishe

Dear global supporters and friends,

What an incredible time we find ourselves in these days. All people, all communities around the world are affected by a virus, an illness that knows no borders and makes no distinction between race, wealth or status. No country will be able to pass through this time without placing major restrictions on its society and economy. Not everybody will be impacted equal, not every society will carry the same costs – and long-term implications are merely guesses at the moment.  

Also in Palestine, people are heavily affected by the health pandemic. By the fear and insecurity that comes with it, by the loss of education, work, and income, by the loss of health and loved ones in a health care system that was already struggling to cope with its patients pre-COVID19. The local authorities have responded very quickly and focused immediately on prevention, knowing that we have only a few hospitals that could take care of infected people. But in Palestine, with prevention comes with a curfew, comes a full-on lock-down on cities and villages, come movement restrictions and restrictions on economic, social, educational activities (all eagerly enforced by the Jewish army and the Palestinian police force). Children at home, workers without work, shops closing and business lost. While the large majority of the people are accepting and very much following such restrictions (which were placed on us from Day 1, when the first case of Corona among hotel staff in Bethlehem was revealed), it is also an interesting reminder of how easily Palestinian life is closed down and slowed down (we are used to a quiet a lot here…).

While it is not our intention to only talk about Corona virus related news in our message to you, it is too important not to mention (and several people reached out to us to check in with us – so hopefully this background info satisfies any interest). Naturally, our project activities have slowed down, with no meetings or activities. Agricultural engineers and social workers are following up with the over 190 greenhouse participants by phone. Alhamdulillah many of the women are largely self-sufficient when it comes to their greenhouses so we are seeing many of them who are actively taking care of the gardens. Plans for setting up new greenhouses are postponed. Plans for entrepreneurship development with the women are postponed. Construction is delayed. Karama is focusing some of its attention now on emergency support to the most vulnerable households, to support them with basic food items; rice, oil, beans, chicken as well as cleaning products, soap and disinfectants. Our major donor the European Union is so flexible to support some of this assistance, but any support is welcome and will enable us to reach more. All our emergency efforts are undertaken in connection with the local health authorities (and will also follow all of their guidelines to protect the safety of our staff and participants).  

During these difficult days, what better than to reflect on the amazing results we have reached as a community in the last three project years?! With that aim, we are sharing with you our newly released video, showing one of our participants from Al-Arroub refugee camp (close to Hebron city). She talks passionately about the impact the greenhouse has made on her life in the last three years (with English subtitles!). Thanks to Ne'ma and the very dedicated project staff for your hard work and commitment and to our donor the European Union for standing with us! 

The video is also posted on our Facebook (and youtube account) and it would be great if you take a few seconds to like or share with some friends!

Link on youtube to watch and share:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLsl2zjW5kI

Facebook link, video is pinned at top: https://www.facebook.com/karama48

We hope you are all staying safe, healthy and in close connection with loved ones. Don't forget to reach out to one another and keep in touch! 

Links:

• Project Website
• New Project Video
• Project Facebook page (with updates in Arabic and English)

Dear Karama Friends,

So glad you are joining us for another update on the Rooftop Greenhouses project that is spreading among Palestinian refugees in the southern West Bank. With your help, we have trained almost 160 women and provided them with a fully equipped rooftop greenhouse that is a green space in their mostly grey lives. Now after joining our project, so many doors are opening for the women and we want to highlight a few activities that took place.

Nobody from the women ever thought that they will be talking to journalists and presenting themselves in front of an audience. But through this project, exactly this is happening. This month Karama hosted 18 different media networks, that visited different rooftop greenhouses and interviewed several women. A short report:

When visiting Ms.Amina's rooftop garden, she accompanied the journalists on a tour in her greenhouse that is planted with tomatoes, which is her third planting season. Ms.Amina talked about her love for agriculture and her eagerness for the success of each planting season.
The group then returned to Karama Center, the journalists filmed press interviews with the team and some beneficiaries, where Ms. Fayza, a greenhouse owner since 2017, talked about the social and economic impact of the project, she said that her seasonal production is usually around 120 kilograms. Ms. Hasna who has a greenhouse planted with Thyme talked about how now she dries the Thyme and sells it to Karama.

Finally, project manager Luay talked about the significance of empowerment projects like this in the camps to create an opportunity for women to have their own source of income and help her family. He shared why this project is necessary in terms of creating a green environment in the camp and maintaining the connection between Palestinian refugees and their land.

Offering a new opportunity, Karama is organizing simple business training for a group of most interested women who are having the potential to become entrepreneurs of their own business. We are excited to see this group of women grow in skills, vision, and ideas and soon they will be able to start their own economic activities (either directly related to their greenhouse or something slightly else – depending on the ideas of the women herself and the feasibility assessment). With a strong basis of simple bookkeeping skills, communications training, and a business plan these new entrepreneurs will be a force of change in their communities and Palestinian society.

Karama Organization is also preparing for a national event where many stakeholders from Palestine will be invited to celebrate the success of the project so far and spread the message of the potential of rooftop greenhouses.

All in all, still lots of activities ongoing now that we enter winter! Hope you are having a fabulous autumn season and we hope we can continue to count on your support.

Many warm wishes from the whole Karama team.

Links:

• Karama's Rooftop Greenhouses facebook page