Objective

To enhance the leadership capacities of 15 youth from local community.

Activity dates

Planned: 1 February-20 March

Actual: 7 February -28 March 2015

Progress

The Center for Freedom and Justice hosted the Advocacy Training for Youth program from. The program ran over six sessions, number of attendants were 12; 3 females, and 9 males from both Beit Ummar village and Sourif, the attendants showed good commitment toward the training. The training involved subjects about leadership, leading dialogues and managing campaigns. The training ended up with a planting campaign near the settlement of Kfar Etzyon, although not all the participants shared in the campaign related to political issues but it was successful enough as the number of participants both from locals and internationals was good enough to execute the campaign.

Partners: Rhone Alpes, MAN

Outputs created

1-12 youth were trained on principles of nonviolence, dialogue, leading and managing campaigns.

2- A campaign was led and executed by the youth.

Objective

Enhancing Palestinian rights to access their lands in area Jordan Valley

Activity dates

Planned: 20^th of Februaury

Actual: 23^rd of February

Progress

Jordan Valley Solidarity had launched a campaign for planting trees, providing tanks for farmers, and extending pipes. The aim of planting these trees is to protect the land from the threats by the Israeli occupying army, and to help support the existence of Palestinian people on their own land.

. Partners: MAN

Outputs created

1-Ten families received plants, and water tanks

2- 15 dunums of lands were surrounded by fences for protection of plants

3- 100 m of water pipes were extended

Objective

To enhance awareness of the problems facing rural women especially living in area C

Activity dates

Planned: 10March/2015

Actual: 3 March/2015

Progress

On 3 March, the fifth Palestinian Women’s Conference took place in the Bedouin village of Al- Makhol. Workshops were held and speakers covered a range of topics such as ‘strengthening the role of women in the popular resistance’ and the boycott of Israeli products. A stand was also set-up to facilitate a viewing of the products made by local women.

A number of international volunteers attended and simultaneous interpretation was provided for them.

Partners: Action Aid Australia, and MAN,

Outputs created

1- 170 women attended the conference

2- Interested organization s and International audience were able to see and to hear about the problems directly from the source

3- A committee was formulated to undergo another workshop to enhance women involvement in popular resistance.

Objective

To raise Palestinian voice against occupation measurements against area C

Activity dates

Planned: March 14th

Actual: March 14^th

Progress

The general coordinator of the Popular Resistance Committees in the southern West Bank, Mohammed Muheisen reported that the leadership of the Popular Resistance Committees in the south decided escalation in a high level in the committees on the ground

Today; several popular events were carried out by committees of southern groups.

Muheisen reported that a group of South committees went to open the gate of Jab'a and removed dirt barriers by shovels and agricultural equipment, and another group has planted olive trees in the south of Yatta (Al Masafer) and a third group had dislocated Gate East Efrat settlement and came to this events are all in the same time

The Committees Coordinator in Hebron; Youssef Abu Marai, who was injured in one of these events, as well as other two activists Nasser Massallam and the committee coordinator in Yatta,Rateb Al jbour after being severely beaten were taken to a clinic.

Partners: MAN

Outputs created

Demonstrations in different sites of South of West bank were held

Objective

To increase youth awareness in terms of legal situation of area C

Activity dates

Planned: 1 April/2015

Actual: 1 April/2015

Progress

The Center for freedom and Justice has established a workshop under the title of “The legal situation of Area C” .The workshop was led by the legal advisor, Mr Mohammed Abu Rumilah, from the Norwegians council for the Refugees.

The workshop was established in Al-Aroub College, the participants were students from different areas including Beit Ummar, Sourif, Halhul, Al-Aroub camp, Hebron city and Bethlehem city. The number of participants was quite good; 50 students had come to join the workshop.

The legal advisor Mr Mohammed Abu Rumilah has talked about the legal situation in Area C, the type of laws that Israeli government use to confiscate lands. He explained about what to do when receiving demolition and evacuation orders and how important to proceed in the procedures with layers to protect the land.

Partners: MAN, and Norwegian Refugee Council

Outputs created

1-A workshop have been attended by 50 undergraduate students

2- Access to legal aid information has been Increased.

Objective

To increase knowledge of the participants in the north of

Palestine areas

Activity dates

Planned: 16 May l/2015

Actual16 May /2015

Progress

The Center for freedom and Justice has launched an educational and entertainment trip as part of youth training “Advocacy Training for Youth” in Support of MAN organization.

From Beit Ummar the buss proceed toward Genin to Haddad village, participants had time to enjoy the seen there and to have some rest before visiting the Palestinian cultural museum of history, which embodies the Palestinian history and dating important stages in the Palestinian cause. After that participants joined amusement Park near. The second to visit was Nablus – Al-Bidan waterfalls where participants on the way stopped to have lunch before continuing to the location. Participants enjoyed the nature, as water is running all over the place; water in this place keep moving all the year. Such a scene is amazing for most of Palestinian. The water come from the mountains down to Al- Bidan Valley;

In the way going home we stopped to have Traditional Palestinian Konafa from Nablus; a sweet dish that you can’t miss once you visits the city of Nablus.

Partners: MAN

Outputs created

1-22 participant were participated in the trip

2-Participants visited Jordan Valley, Jenin-Haddad Village, and Nablus

Objective

To enhance economic situation of farmers through land reclamation

Activity dates

Planned: 1June-30December/2015

Actual: 20 May-20 November/2015

Progress

The Center for freedom and Justice has launched the first stage of land reclamation on May 21st.

The activities included installation of 813 m of retaining walls, ploughing and cleaning the land from debris.

Installation of 194 iron columns and.

Digging a pool Remaining activities:

1. Installation of a fence all around the land
2. Continuing of the pool and Installation of irrigation network
3. Building a green house.
4. Initiating a local market

The whole procedures started with a bid for selecting the contractor who is going to execute the activities.

Partners: MAN, Beit Ummar’s Municipality, Apco Arcon for Construction and Services, and Private Donation

Outputs created

1-813 m of retaining walls were installed

2- 27 Dunums were ploughed and cleaned

3- 27 Dunums were ready for plantation

Objective

Research : it aimed to identify the current situation In Jordan Valley and to find out the priorities for the citizens living there

Activity dates

Planned: 1/6/2015

Actual: 7/6/2015

Progress

Beginning in June 2015, three researchers in different areas of the Jordan Valley started working on three research projects concerned with health, education and livestock. The projects are being carried out from the north to the south of the Jordan Valley, from Bardala and Ein el Beida, to Al Jiftlik, Fasayil and Al Auja.

Partners: MAN

Outputs created

1-Education:

1,020 Palestinians in Jordan Valley were interviewed regarding the education issue. From the 1,020 locals interviewed, 600 were female and 420 male. Also, 530 children ranging in age from 6 to 15 years were interviewed, being 280 girls and 250 boys.

The main problem stated by teachers and students regarding the education issue in the Jordan Valley are: checkpoints, the distance between their homes and the schools, and the number of schools

2-Health

700 Palestinians from Jordan Valley were interviewed regarding the health issue. From the 700 locals interviewed, 400 were female and 300 male.

The current lack of medical centres and emergency departments in marginalised communities and villages results in many cases of disease and death

31 families in the Jordan Valley were interviewed to understand as much as possible about the situation of the shepherds and their families. The total number of people included in this research is 224. In total, those families owned the headcount of 3.290 sheep, in which 949 of them are black sheep and 2.341 are white sheep.

The main problems are related to high costs of food, long distances the sheep walk to find food, and the low price of selling milk and cheese products.

Objective

The camp aimed to enhance leadership and confidence among young people who live under occupation

Activity dates

Planned: 1st of August

Actual: 1st - 8th August 2015

Progress

Despite temperatures reaching 40 degrees, sixty boys and girls between the ages of 10-14 took part in a range of activities including art, drama and theatre, traditional Palestinian dancing (Dabka) and sports.

The youth also participated in a walking tour through the village where they visited different projects. Camp leaders explained the historical and political context of living in Beit Ummar as it is situated in Area C of the West Bank, which is controlled by the Israeli military authorities.

Around 200 parents and friends attended the camp’s festival at the end of the camp, held on 10 August, where the achievements of each child was being acknowledged and celebrated. Officials from the Ministry of Education and international volunteers also participated. Performances included Dabka dancing, drama and singing. Each child was given a bag as a gift and the camp leaders received a certificate by staff of CFJ.

Partners: MAN, Private Donation, Coca Cola Company

Outputs created

Empowerment of 60 children, raising awareness and learning self-respect and confidence through different activities

Objective

Youth Training/ study trip: Local students, farmer and engineer visit France with the aim of studying farming practices in culture as well as in cheese manufacturing

Activity dates

Planned: 14^th of September

Actual: 14th - 26th September, 2015

Progress

A group of Palestinians - 2 agricultural engineers from Beit Ummar, one student and a farmer from Jordan Valley - went to France in the Ardèche district of Aubenas to train at Olivier De Serres agricultural school. This program was set by the Center for Freedom and Justice (CFJ) along with two French organizations, MAN and AFPS. Olivier De Serres has many agricultural educational programs that include cheese processing and plant production. The four learnt a lot and have the opportunity to meet with farmers from different organizations

Partners: MAN, and AFPS

Outputs created

Four farmers gain new knowledge regarding agricultural issues

Activity dates

Planned: 19th of October

Actual: 19th October – 24^th of October

Progress

On Monday, October 19th, 2015 a delegation of four French organizations came to visit the Center for Freedom and Justice in Beit Ummar. Man (Movement Pour Une Alternative Non-Violence), AFPS (Association France Palestine Solidarity), Ajam to France as well as BDS (Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions) work together with the Center for Freedom and Justice to facilitate sustainable projects in rural areas in Palestine. The group arrived in Beit Ummar on Monday and was able to visit the Center, the projects the Center is working on for 2015 and 2016 such as the agricultural project near road 60 and meet the local staff.

They were shown around the area of Beit Ummar and taken to a farmer and his wife who are involved in the local food production. Since the Center for Freedom and Justice cooperates with the Jordan Valley Solidarity (JVS), the French delegation visited the Jordan Valley and spent two days there. They visited a Women's Cooperative, spoke to local farmers as well as to families and went to see a cheese factory.

Having come back to Beit Ummar on Friday, they have the opportunity to visit municipality on Saturday where, among others, the mayor, the former mayor and the director of the municipality welcomed our French guests and the relationship between the French organizations and the civil society of Beit Ummar was strengthened.

Partners: Rhone Alpes, MAN and AFPS

Outputs created

Strengthening the relationship between French organizations and the Center for Freedom and Justice for ongoing future co-operation

Objective

Planting Campaign “One Million Tree Campaign”: to enhance Palestinian rights to access their lands in area C

Activity dates

Planned: 15^th of October

Actual: 30th October - 15th November, 2015

Progress

The Center for Freedom and Justice together with the Palestinian Voluntary Work Committee started off with the planting of 2200 seedlings.

Together with local volunteers and with the sun shining upon the workers, apricots, quinces and peaches, grapes were planted.

Partners: Palestinian Voluntary Work Committee ( PVWC ), Arab group for protection of nature, Sisters of Valence

Outputs created

2200 seedlings were planted on the land near Road 60