Bethlehem’s Al Sadeel Society for Palliative Care for Cancer Patients will focus on three primary components: patient and family education and support in Beit Jala hospital, staff education and training, and public awareness (focusing on early detection and delivered to women societies, village councils, schools in the targeted communities).
Elia Association for Youth, based in East Jerusalem, promotes the tourism sector in the old city through the dissemination of media and marketing expertise. This process helps small stores to market their products locally, regionally and internationally and to create a permanent demand for products through advertising and e-marketing. The development of an online store will provide small businesses with an inexpensive vehicle with which to expand sales and contribute to the local economy.
Finally, Al Malath Charitable Society will introduce the first Snoezelen (controlled multi-sensory environment) room to Palestine. This innovative treatment space for children and adults with developmental disabilities will be available for other NGOs and patients throughout the West Bank. Following the installation of the room, intensive training for Al Malath staff and workshops with professionals from local organizations will ensure that the therapy becomes a standardised part of the rehabilitation process.
Jacky Amprou (AFD Programme Officer) expressed AFD’s support for the Innovation Grants: “We are very happy to be involved in this new project. As an organization AFD is very keen to support new thinking and approaches to development initiatives. We particularly thank NDC for identifying this funding window and unearthing projects with such great social impact”.
Ghassan Kasabreh echoed Mr. Amprou’s enthusiasm for the scheme and emphasized NDC’s willingness to support original thinking within the NGO sector: “NDC is an innovative organization and consequently we are always keen to support the latent ingenuity and development expertise of the Palestinian NGO sector. We wish our new partners well, and thank AFD for their continued commitment to sustainable development in Palestine”.
The NGO Development Center is a mechanism for the NGO sector. In channeling the Innovation Grants it is hoped that an even broader range of Palestinian NGOs can benefit from PNGO IV.