A World Bank report cited as far back as in 2003 that the number of poor in Palestine had tripled in just three years. Sixty per cent of those residing in the West Bank and Gaza were identified as living ‘under the poverty line’. Despite a call to action, poverty rates have not declined. The staggering increase in recorded poverty has been blamed on a number of factors, including a high unemployment rate, economic decline, conflict and the isolation of the Palestinian people. A donation to United Holy Land Fund will help us deliver fresh Udhiya meat to the poor during Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha.
About the Educational Scholarship Grant (ESG) Program
PLC is a children sponsorship program that caters to the distressed orphans and disadvantaged children in Palestine. The sponsorships are administered through established, registered, reputable, and well recognized charitable institutions in the Palestine. Some examples of such entities are:
Since 2014, this program caters to 500 children. Sponsorship is only $600 per year ($1.65 a day) per child or orphan. The funds distributed to the children through these institutions in increments of $150 per quarter.
PLC sponsorship is only a helping hand –for most it is the only one– to help provide food, clothing, and school supplies these children desperately need to improve their lives. Unfortunately, the continued Israeli military occupation causes an increase in the numbers of these unfortunate children almost daily. However, thanks to the fortitude of this program, these children and orphans in Palestine are given a sliver of hope and that someone out there cares about them.
Childhood is a fundamental stage that defines the future transition of children into adulthood. As such, children should be provided with the needed care and education to enhance their mental, psychological and social development. Much of this knowledge development is gained through play.
In Palestine, there are limited areas for safe outdoor playing for children to spend their energy, interact with each other and be creative through play. Most Palestinian children spend their spare time playing in the streets, amongst passing vehicles, exposing themselves and others to high risk and danger of accidents and injuries. On the other hand, children who are restricted from playing outside become passive and unsociable, spending hours in non-interactive activities, such as watching TV or playing digital games, which are equally associated with health hazards including obesity, addiction, laziness, slower development, etc.
Outdoor playgrounds offer families and their children safe public spaces to meet, socialize and spend quality time. Moreover, public spaces require community ownership and involvement to prosper and this can contribute positively to enriching the local environment.
As a means to address this dire need, WA with the Bank of Palestine and the Basem and Muna Hishmeh Foundation launched and financed “Al-Bayyara project” since 2013 to date to establish children ‘s playgrounds in urban and rural neighborhoods to serve as recreational communal spaces for children and their families. So far, 19 playgrounds have been established and 9 are under construction, established in partnership with local municipalities/village councils.
The successful implementation of these playgrounds and their impact on the children, their families (specifically their mothers) and the community at large, motivated WA and its partners to seek additional funding to scale up their efforts to implement 10 new playgrounds annually. WA hopes that this simple intervention will be replicated at the national level in urban neighborhoods, towns, and villages, and championed by other development organizations to restore to Palestinian children their right to play safely.
“Al-Bayyara” is the Arabic word for the orange orchard. In the late nineteenth century, historical Palestine witnessed a surge in citrus cultivation and orchards dominated the landscape from the north to the south. After 1948, orange orchards became a symbol of Palestinian history and identity, revered with nostalgia by the old and young alike. The playgrounds will be named “Al-Bayyara” to capture the image and value that these orchards hold in the Palestinian consciousness, as the playgrounds become the focal points in their communities.
Playground games are what children strive for; for many, it is their favorite time of the day. It is well recognized that children develop much of their learning, cognitive and social skills through play and these are carried forward into their adulthood. Moreover, research shows that playgrounds are amongst the most important environments for children outside their home that enhances their imagination and creativity. Therefore, the importance of physical activity for children is widely recognized and has been the subject of public policy statements in many countries.
Furthermore, there is a general consensus that physical activity reduces the risk of psychological problems in children, fosters their self-esteem, self-care skills, encourages physical mastery and self-development, and stimulates problem-solving skills. Moreover, playgrounds provide a means to communicate with other children and adults leading to personality development and sense of connection.
In conclusion, the long-term impact of playgrounds on children is immense in terms of overall development, health, attitude, communication, interaction, and behavior. Equally, creating safe environments for children will also benefit the families and their children and will promote a sense of ownership that can help in preserving these playgrounds as a focal point for the local community.
To establish community-based outdoor recreational playgrounds that are safe for children to play and can contribute to their physical, social and cognitive development.
Marginalized urban and rural neighborhoods in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip.
Al-Bayyara playgrounds are designed to meet the needs of children and their families, especially their mothers. They are designed to be safe, robust, can accommodate different age groups and maximize the use of the available spaces. Al-Bayyara utilizes simple designs and recycled materials were possible to minimize operational and maintenance cost.
A minimum area of 1000m2 is considered suitable for the plot of land to be developed into a playground so as to accommodate the following zoned activities:
In addition, Al-Bayyara site selection and implementation shall meet the following fundamental additional criteria:
For the successful selection, implementation and future sustainability of Al-Bayyara, the project team engages directly with the municipality/village council as partners in the whole process to promote ownership and interest in operating and maintaining the playground once completed. The municipality/village council is expected to: