The European Union´s spokesman in Palestine, Shadi Othman, reiterated the EU´s commitment to support the Palestinians and encourage civil society activity in East Jerusalem, pointing out that the EU´s annual support under the East Jerusalem program amounted to 14.9 million euros.
"There is a long-term and solid commitment by the EU to the vision of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state living side-by-side with the State of Israel in peace," Othman said. He pointed to the strong partnership between the EU and Palestine.
In the last three years, the European Union has provided more than 300 million euros annually to support the Palestinian people in all walks of life, including education, health, job creation, empowerment programs for women, youth and others.
Othman explained that the East Jerusalem program supports local institutions working with Palestinians in Jerusalem, as well as supporting education, health and private sector development.
The tour included a visit to the Mandoubat program, which aims to strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian community by working to unite community groups active in gender, culture, social and political level in different areas of Jerusalem and to create common spaces for community and youth participation.
Barbara Demortas, director of the Women Delegates Program, explained that the program works to provide psychosocial support and counseling to women and children by organizing awareness sessions on the rights of children and housing, providing legal assistance and representation on home demolitions, evictions, children in detention and violations of women´s rights, and raising awareness about the nature. Palestinian city of Jerusalem at the international level.
Mandoubat collaborates with several partner institutions such as: Land Research Center, Global Movement for the Defense of Children, Union of Women´s Committees, and Bisan Center for Research and Development.
The coordinator of the Center for Land Research Alaa Sumeira said that the Center provides legal and engineering support for cases in which the Israeli municipality issues demolition orders for Palestinian homes under the pretext of building without a license, pointing out that the Center succeeded in canceling several demolition orders and contributed to stabilize the Palestinians in their land and city.
In turn, the young Jerusalemite Majd Owais said that he and his family took refuge in the Land Research Center after receiving a demolition order from the municipality of the occupation of two apartments belonging to the family in Ras al-Amoud neighborhood in Silwan, pointing out that the center is currently making legal efforts to stop the disaster that could be resolved by the family consisting of Eight individuals.
He pointed out that dozens of buildings in the neighborhood of Ras al-Amoud are threatened with demolition, without the existence of real support on the ground from any side, especially as the pleadings and cases in the Israeli courts take several years and entail high costs, stressing that the presence of institutions providing legal assistance is a support for them and strengthen For their resilience.
On the other hand, the young Jerusalemite Hassan Khatib, a member of a youth group at the Center for Research and Development, said that the center contributes to empower young Jerusalemites and refine their skills and build their personalities and enhance their role in the community through training and programs implemented, pointing out that the program responds to the needs of young Jerusalemites Suffers by political and economic conditions.
The tour also included a visit to the Meteor Foundation, which is specialized in education, extension and research in the fields of science, technology and engineering, and other sectors of society.
Chairman of the Foundation, Aref Al-Husseini, confirmed that Al-Naizak aims to develop the Palestinian scientific, technological, entrepreneurial and engineering competencies, and to create promising economic and social opportunities through the initiative, development, design and implementation of specialized programs that provide an inspiring and stimulating environment for creativity and excellence.
He pointed out that the Foundation, in partnership with the European Union, is currently working on the project "oasis of creativity Jerusalem", which will include a meteor model school that adopts the International Baccalaureate system with a building area of ​​4400 square meters, scientific and technological garden and astronomical area of ​​4000 square meters, conference hall and organic food restaurant , And advanced scientific laboratories and technological manufacturing workshop, explaining that the project will see the light within two years.
He referred to the programs implemented by the Foundation in Jerusalem, including the program "Made in Jerusalem", to highlight the creativity of young Jerusalemites and to emphasize its identity and to provide quality opportunities to support and embrace technological and scientific pioneering projects in Jerusalem to promote the Jerusalem economy.
He pointed out that the program, which was implemented in partnership with the European Union, and with the participation of 20 projects, where three winning projects were selected and embraced and supported to turn them into companies and income-generating facilities.
For his part, the young Jerusalemite Aref al-Sayyed, the owner of one of the winning projects of the program "Made in Jerusalem", talked about his project to integrate modern technology in the manufacture of stringed musical instruments. Technically efficient machines.
He added: "Using the latest technology of 3D drawing and laser cutting, I have succeeded in increasing the production speed and quality, and I now aspire to reach the marketing of these machines locally and globally in the near future."
The tour also included a visit to Oxfam, which launched the existence of the Wojoud program to protect the rights of marginalized communities in East Jerusalem and support their resilience, with the support of the European Union.
"The project has responded to the needs of marginalized Palestinians in East Jerusalem by working on the social and legal rights of women and their economic empowerment," said Nida Huneiti, director of the program.
"Although discriminatory Israeli policies continue to adversely affect the social, economic and cultural rights of Palestinians, community resilience can be enhanced through the cooperation of partner and community organizations, schools, women and youth in East Jerusalem."
She pointed out that the project was implemented in partnership with four Palestinian institutions: the Women´s Center for Legal Aid and Consultations, the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, the Palestinian Counseling Center and the Agricultural Development Association, pointing out that these institutions worked together to meet the needs of women, youth and marginalized groups in the Old City, Silwan, Issawiya and Tire. Wow and phase.
For her part, Jerusalemite citizen Noha Sharabati said, "She received several awareness sessions within the program at the counseling center, which benefited her and developed knowledge, and her son engaged in several courses and youth initiatives that helped him to refine his personality."
For his part, said the young Jerusalemite Mohammed Rumman, "he attended a training course within the program, especially for new graduates, where he received training over two months in various fields, in addition to practical training in an institution, and after the end of the program was able to find a steady job as a field researcher in Jerusalem".
He stressed that young Jerusalemites need guidance and guidance in order to become involved in society, stressing the importance of volunteering among new graduates to acquire skills and experience, thus enhancing their chances of finding a job.
