COVID-19 Palestine Project #46504

Solidarity with Palestinians fight against COVID19

by Karama Organisation for Women and Children's Development

Project Report | Jan 23, 2021
January 2021 Update from Karama Organization

By Karama | Volunteers

Production continues during COVID19 crisis!

A short message to our dear supporters to keep you involved in the work on the field.

Worldwide the struggle against the coronavirus is not over, but optimism has grown due to the roll-out of different vaccinations. An optimism not yet shared in Palestine, as vaccinations have yet to be obtained by the authorities. People have kept strict lockdown rules during December which has brought the number of new cases down in most areas - however, in Gaza we are still hugely struggling with getting the outbreak under control. Your prayers and support are still very much needed!

In the last months of 2020 Karama was working diligently to support the households that were hit hardest with the economic consequences. A successful Cash-for-Work program continued, as well as cash and food packages distributions. So far, we have employed over 70 workers during different times, with still a few more workers joining during the coming month. These activities in Deheishe camp give workers a fair temporary salary while improving public spaces at the same time. We only employ women and men who are the income-providers for their household but lost their income due to the COVID19 crisis.

Our most recent activities also contribute to a healthy, clean environment in our beautiful camp. After painting the walls and planting trees, this month our workers distributed wheeled trash bins in Deheishe as well as smaller black trash bins. This effort will make it easier for the families to collect their household waste in a central location and an uncomplicated collection by the camp’s sanitation workers. Families in the camp are very happy about this idea, and many have requested adding a bin next to their house.

Also, an interesting effort by the team took place through a questionnaire and discussion with different beneficiaries from Karama on the impact of Corona on households in the refugee camps. Our research showed that more than 50% of the camp’s households have lost their income during the lockdown period, while almost all households (92%) are faced with less stable and unpredictable income each month since the Corona crisis started. At the same time however, three quarters of the rooftop greenhouse participants continued to work and harvest from their greenhouse, and most of them (69%) continued to benefit from the social activities and much-needed social and agricultural support either online or in-person.

For those interested we will share a report in the coming month on the impact of COVID19 on refugee camps. In the meantime, Human Rights Watch has some excellent articles on the situation of human rights under the coronavirus crisis.

Thank you sincerely for staying in touch with our work. We wish you a safe and healthy start to 2021 and welcome any feedback or messages for you.

Do not forget to connect with us on Facebook.

Distributions in Deheishe camp

Raddish, a lovely winter product to pick yourself!

Supporting a clean and healthy camp environment

Links:

Karama Greenhouses Project on Facebook

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Aug 12, 2020
Update from Karama Organization

By Karama | Team

Example of cash for work program in the camps

Dear readers, friends, and supporters of Karama Organization,

Thank you so much for connecting with our work and sharing in solidarity during these months of increased vulnerability and uncertainty in all parts of the world. As a global community, we truly find ourselves collectively impacted and forced to change in many ways.

The households that Karama serves have experienced both the negative impacts as well as some of the positive sides to the COVID19 crisis, that still keeps Palestine under an emergency situation. In the words of some of Karama’s participants:

“Through the coronavirus, we were forced to stay at home and limit our social circle as much as possible. Though hard, it also made my kids stay more at home and show more interest in the greenhouse we have on our roof from Karama. We now spent many afternoons as a family on the roof, planting, harvesting and chatting together next to the green space, which I really enjoyed.”

“My son did not work much during the emergency period as he could not move around freely. Though hard on him financially, on the positive side, he worked together with his younger brother on a sitting area on our roof which we decorated with lights and some beautiful flowers. Before we never had the time or energy to work and sit together on the roof, but now it has become one of our favorite family activities.”

“Even though I try to keep positive, the crisis brought me and my family a lot of stress. My husband lost his job, and each week I do not know how we can provide for our family. I have several young children who all have been out of school since March and need their education and entertainment each day – which can tire me out. It also increased my worries about them, I am afraid to let them go out much or meet with friends, in fear one of us gets sick.”

Karama has been quick since the early beginnings of the emergency in Palestine to respond with food distributions as well as health and hygiene items in coordination with local actors. As the crisis continued, the team continued to look for other ways to support vulnerable households. A dignified and effective method that we apply together with our donors and supports are direct cash transfers (with the amount depending on family size) as well as engagement of workers in Cash for Work programs in the camps. (With the selection of recipients and implementation naturally taking place in cooperation with local actors such as UNRWA and ministries.) This can help families meet their daily household needs while choosing themselves how to spend the money and set priorities.

So far we have been able to support vulnerable families with a little over 50,000 USD in cash transfers! Over 170 households in the different refugee camps have received a monthly salary that has allowed them to prioritize their health, food or educational needs. Through the innovative Cash for Work programs, this also had lead to beautiful improvements in the local communities; through painting walls and doors, renovated sheds, and planted trees. (Check out more pictures in our Facebook folder)

Karama hopes to continue with these programs as long as society needs. Many families have still NOT been able to return to work or economic activities and Karama is happy to jump in and fulfill a supportive role in society.

Thank you for making this possible!

Meaningful historical wallpaintings in Deheishe

Cash transfer as a dignified way of support

Links:

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