The challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in Palestine often remain under-researched, as other pressing issues take precedence, threatening the livelihoods and survival of Palestinians. Those with disabilities living in Palestine are often invisible as well as their everyday struggles which include inaccessible infrastructure. Roads and sidewalks, if sidewalks are available, in Palestine whether paved…
After the recent attacks on Gaza leaving six children dead, KinderUSA with our partners have determined the necessity to scale up summer activities for the children, prioritizing those areas greatly affected. In the last 24 months, children in Gaza have faced unprecedented violence, death, and destruction re-traumatizing them and worsening an already dire situation causing…
Speaking after a recent visit to Palestine, UN Special Rapporteur Michael Lynx declared that in Gaza, “Residents are deprived of their most basic rights, including the rights to health, to education, and most recently, in attempting to exercise their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, they were deprived of the right to life.”…
Musallam lives with his wife and six children, ranging in age from 9 months to 7 years old, in a structure that consists of 2 small rooms just outside of Rafah, near the Egyptian border. The home has a metallic roof, no windows, no electricity, no running water, and therefore poor sanitation. In short, uninhabitable…
In Gaza, Women, who account for 49% of the population, bear a heavy share of the burden of economic strangulation imposed by the 11 year blockade. During that time, the number of women seeking employment has increased 200%. Many of these women are highly educated and now find themselves as the breadwinners of their family…
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is deteriorating on all levels in a downward spiral demanding immediate intervention to prevent a total collapse.
There is a continued sense of despair with 80% of the population relying on aid to survive. Electricity, for those fortunate enough to have it, runs about 5-6 hours a day disrupting basic services to hospitals, health clinics, sewage and water treatment facilities. Three hospitals and ten medical centers have already suspended services due to lack of fuel impacting 300,000 people. According to the World Bank, “access to improved drinking water sources in Gaza declined to one of the worst in the world today”, further reporting that “96% of the water is not suitable for human consumption”.
The blockade on Gaza, now in its 11th year, prevents people and goods from moving, leaving the population isolated and trapped. In 2017, 54 Gazan’s died awaiting ‘permission’ to receive vital treatment outside.
The challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in Palestine often remain under-researched, as other pressing issues take precedence, threatening the livelihoods and survival of Palestinians. Those with disabilities living in Palestine are often invisible as well as their everyday struggles which include inaccessible infrastructure. Roads and sidewalks, if sidewalks are available, in Palestine whether paved or not paved are often hilly, narrow, uneven, and overcrowded at times.
A boy pushes his friend in a wheelchair down the streets of the camp. (Malik Hamamra/Mondoweiss) Aida Refugee Camp, Occupied West Bank, May 2023.
A group of tech enthusiasts in middle school and high schol from Bethlehem had the opportunity to attend Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation workshops implemented by our partner Ibtikar. Hedaya, Layan, Yara, Fouad, Andrianna, Mariella, and Sadeen share a common passion for technology, coding, and creating applications that address real-world challenges. Through the workshops they attended these young change-makers conceived a compelling social initiative aimed at assisting people with disabilities in Palestine. Leveraging their coding expertise, they envisioned a solution that utilizes AI technology and sensors to make a meaningful difference.
The Solution
The team proposed the creation of special parking spaces for people with disabilities, integrating AI and sensors for efficiency and enforcement. These smart parking spots will automatically notify authorities if unauthorized vehicles occupy these designated spaces, enhancing safety and accessibility.
From a personal connection to encounters in their neighborhoods, the team has witnessed the urgent need for inclusive infrastructure. The team noticed frequent misuse of parking spaces designated for people with disabilities. They observed some drivers opting to park illegally in these spots when regular parking was unavailable, showing a lack of consideration and care. As they explored their city, the group realized the lack of essential infrastructure to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities. The absence of ramps, elevators, and accessible public spaces highlighted the urgency of addressing disability rights. The scarcity of designated parking spaces for people with disabilities further fueled their interest in disability rights. They recognized that these few spaces were crucial for enabling mobility and independence.
Donate today to support compassionate, forward-thinking leaders like these who are shaping a more inclusive and equitable world. Their dedication to leveraging technology for social good demonstrates the transformative power of youth-driven initiatives.
A group of Young Innovators: Hedaya, Layan, Yara, Fouad, Andrianna, Mariella, and Sadeen (not pictured).
After the recent attacks on Gaza leaving six children dead, KinderUSA with our partners have determined the necessity to scale up summer activities for the children, prioritizing those areas greatly affected. In the last 24 months, children in Gaza have faced unprecedented violence, death, and destruction re-traumatizing them and worsening an already dire situation causing further psychosocial stress in their day-to-day life.
A recent study through the end of 2022 found that more than two-thirds of children surveyed in Gaza experienced “below-average” levels of well-being and “conflict-related trauma”. Adding to the most recent assaults, the impact has left unimaginable scars of hopelessness and insecurity on these fragile young lives who should never have to consider whether they will survive the next attack.
Working with our partners and mentors to guide the activities, KinderUSA will implement summer events in eight of the affected areas in Gaza where one hundred children a day will participate in basketball competitions, dribbling and passing balls, mural painting and more in 14 safe play areas. Each day will end with a nutritious meal, which many of the children look forward to as they are often provided only one meal a day in the summer due to current economic conditions.
“Last year the children saw the bus coming and started shouting Kinder, Kinder!”, said our field coordinator. “More children participated than we identified which was both a challenge and a measure of the need.”
For decades now, children in Gaza have faced an endless cycle of violence, death, and destruction, coupled with a suffocating 16 year blockade of land, air, and sea, extracting a toll on their well-being and changing them forever. We are asking our donors today to help KinderUSA bring some joy in the lives of these children by donating whatever is meaningful to you. Thank you for your continued compassion.
Speaking after a recent visit to Palestine, UN Special Rapporteur Michael Lynx declared that in Gaza, “Residents are deprived of their most basic rights, including the rights to health, to education, and most recently, in attempting to exercise their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, they were deprived of the right to life.”
Indeed, it bears repeating that Gaza has been under a constant air, sea, land, and economic blockade for over eleven years and a suffocating campaign that has deprived the civilian population of basic necessities including food, clean water, and electricity that many of us take for granted in the modern age.
HOW CAN YOU HELP ALLEVIATE SUFFERING FROM THIS ONGOING HUMANITARIAN NIGHTMARE?
As a modest response to the pervasive poverty and economic distress experienced by Palestinians living in Gaza, KinderUSA has embarked on a chicken farming micro-enterprise project that empowers female heads of households. The initial stage of the project began in March with 38 households and continued through the end of June.
One of our beneficiaries, 48-year-old Nisreen, supports a family of 5 boys and 3 girls, one of whom is physically challenged and requires special care at home. As the sole provider for her family, Nisreen spoke about how the chicken farming project has changed her life and her children’s lives.
“The project is rare in Gaza. They provided me with everything I needed to start and continue the business. I received 200 chicks until I sold them and did not pay any dollars. I sold 165 of the chickens back to KinderUSA for Ramadan and after, they gave me 200 more. I was able to buy food and clothes for my children. My girls were so excited since it’s been a long time since they received new clothing! Alhumdulilah (thank God), I succeeded and was able to share my earnings and some food as charity with my neighbor.”
Now, KinderUSA hopes to replicate this success with 38 new families for a period of 4-5 months, providing the same education, training, tools, and 200 chicks to female heads of household. For a little more than $400 a month, we are helping provide an income to indigent families in Gaza, providing sustainability and offering the hope of a more secure future.
Over the past decade, the blockade of Gaza has had a devastating impact on the well-being of Palestinian children. With your generous support, KinderUSA will continue to work on behalf of these vulnerable children, providing small pockets of hope in a sea of misery.
Musallam lives with his wife and six children, ranging in age from 9 months to 7 years old, in a structure that consists of 2 small rooms just outside of Rafah, near the Egyptian border. The home has a metallic roof, no windows, no electricity, no running water, and therefore poor sanitation. In short, uninhabitable for small children.
Musallam occasionally works as a fisherman which is a dangerous job since boats will be attacked with live ammunition if they venture outside of 6 nautical miles. But being confined to such a restricted area means fewer and fewer fish are caught.
Unfortunately for Musallam and others like him, there is no other work available that will enable him to feed his family and pay for any discretionary items they may need, such as milk and diapers for his 9 month old. “If something should happen to me, I don’t know how my family will live.”
During our field visits in preparation for the Ramadan distribution, Musallam told us that he has not benefited from any organizations other than the Ministry of Social Affairs who provides dry food aid and a small amount of cash once every 3 months.
Through the generosity of our donors, Musallam and his family have received 2 distributions of fresh food including live chickens, fresh vegetables, and dairy, enough food for the entire month. “This food came at the right time. I did not have any money and I could see the change in my wife and children with the food,” said Musallam.
As for Musallem’s wife, Amal, she says “The situation these days is very difficult, my husband was a former worker in Israel and our situation was excellent, not like these days we don’t have any money.” Crying and finding difficulty talking through the tears, she continues, “Thank you to all who made this possible for our children.”
“The people of Gaza deserve justice and the right to live as dignified human beings,” said Dr. Laila Al-Marayati, KinderUSA Board Chair, “Providing them with healthy, nutritious meals during Ramadan, a month of self-restraint and spiritual reflection, will help restore a portion of the dignity that has been stolen from them.”
During the last days of Ramadan, our distribution continues and you still have time to make an online donation. Our goal is to continue distributing fresh food to families in need beyond Ramadan, funding permitted. Thank you to all who have made this project a continued success.
In Gaza, Women, who account for 49% of the population, bear a heavy share of the burden of economic strangulation imposed by the 11 year blockade. During that time, the number of women seeking employment has increased 200%. Many of these women are highly educated and now find themselves as the breadwinners of their family after their spouses are either incapacitated from injury or deceased.
Such is the case of Nisreen, a widow caring for her 7 children. She lost her husband to cancer 5 years ago and has struggled to survive ever since. In Gaza, cancer is a death sentence, and not for lack of expertise, but rather for lack of proper treatment due to the siege.
Living in a two room house with no doors, windows, electricity, nor safe water and sanitation, life for Nisreen and her children is unbearable. Her older children want to help, but they too find they increasingly have no options for employment. This kind of despair has led many to the borders over the past few weeks to demonstrate their frustration and desperation.
Sadly, many of the youth have lost all hope, turning to drugs and other negative outlets to help them cope. Children are forced to drop out of school and work in risky occupations to help put food on the table. Cuts to UNRWA, which provides critical services to over 75% of Gaza’s population coupled with non-payment of salaries are leading to a complete collapse across all sectors.
“The lives of these children and their families have value and cannot be taken with impunity,” said Dr. Laila Al-Marayati, KinderUSA Chair, “We have to help replace despair with hope, reminding the global community that Gaza’s children belong to all of us.”
With that in mind, we at KinderUSA along with our implementing partner, Beit Lahia, have implemented a project ensuring food security for 38 female-headed households through the donation 200 chicks along with the essential tools and training required. Nisreen and 37 other women will raise chicks for roasting and laying hens to be included in our Ramadan food package distribution. KinderUSA purchases from the women and will replenish their stock at the close of the month allowing them to sell on the open market to care for their families. With enough support, we can expand this project so that it benefits more families in need, offering them a source of income and dignity throughout the year.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is deteriorating on all levels in a downward spiral demanding immediate intervention to prevent a total collapse.
There is a continued sense of despair with 80% of the population relying on aid to survive. Electricity, for those fortunate enough to have it, runs about 5-6 hours a day disrupting basic services to hospitals, health clinics, sewage and water treatment facilities. Three hospitals and ten medical centers have already suspended services due to lack of fuel impacting 300,000 people. According to the World Bank, “access to improved drinking water sources in Gaza declined to one of the worst in the world today”, further reporting that “96% of the water is not suitable for human consumption”.
The blockade on Gaza, now in its 11th year, prevents people and goods from moving, leaving the population isolated and trapped. In 2017, 54 Gazan’s died awaiting ‘permission’ to receive vital treatment outside.
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