Italian Cooperation - Gerusalemme

NEWSLETTER n.8Decentralized Cooperation and NGOs:Rural development based on theempowerment of woman and youthThis small project, worth €160.000, is an exceptional example of howa joint effort of Italian local governments and NGOs in awarenessand peace education to local communities, produce a concrete ruraldevelopment initiative in the Palestinian Territories.initiative to closely share with their counterparts methodologies andgood practices.This is an example of how synergies among the actors involved in decentralizedcooperation initiatives can result in fruitful experiences.The project, promoted by the Italian NGOs OVERSEAS and NEXUS,and the Municipality of Modena, is co-financed by Emilia RomagnaRegion together with the Italian Partners Comitato Modena incontraJenin and Tavolo di progetto Modena – Ain Arik, in collaboration withthe Palestinian counterpart PARC (Palestinian Agricultural ReliefCommittees).The one year project addressed to small villages in Bethlehem, Jeninand Ramallah Districts, focuses mainly on two components:1.Improving food-security through women empowerment in thevillages of Al Jalame and Jalboun (Jenin District), Al Khadr (District ofBethlehem) and Ain Arik (District of Ramallah). In these communitieswomen are involved in beekeeping activities and in the managementof water resources for organic agriculture purposes. The programwill enable them to participate in the development of a rural areaseverely affected by the Wall and, at the same time, contribute toincrease the income of their families.2.Participation of youth in Environmental preservation: In linewith the indications set forth by the Program run by UN under thetitle Agenda 21 to promote globally, nationally and locally sustainabledevelopment through Environment preservation, the activitiesincluded in this component of the project aim at involving youth inthe rehabilitation of green areas to create new spaces for communitybased activities.The Representatives of the Italian Institutions involved in the projectvisited recently the Palestinian territories and the beneficiaries of thisPag. 26