Feeding the next generation by empowering today’s generation of women

“The money is not as important, but what is, is that we are working together as a community. One hand, one work”, says 35-year-old Samaher Qabaha, one of the participants of a World Vision-supported Food Processing project in Jenin, who shares that she is now better able to support her children. With unemployment at 31.4% and 45% of households spending almost half of their income on food, Jenin’s communities are in dire need of these kind of income generation opportunities.

In the small village of Tura Gharbiyeh, outside of Jenin in the West Bank, stands a small building, which serves as a community centre, village council meeting place, and a mother and child health clinic. Inside the building hand-written signs pointing to “the doctor” are taped to the stone walls by the stairs. Climbing up two flights, one has to crouch down to fit through the doorframe of the tiny room, where about 20 women sit on the floor, hard at work. A small window to the left lets in shafts of sunlight.

The money is not as important, but what is, is that we are working together as a community. One hand, one workThe women, laughing and talking amongst themselves, are mostly sitting barefoot, with their feet tucked under them, on dark green padded mats on the tiled floor. Next to them are bags of white flour and juice bottles, which have been refilled with tap water. At their feet are large metal trays of Palestinian organic “maftool”, or couscous. Made by mixing and tossing flour and water in pans at a continuous pace, couscous is a common dish in the area. Yet these simple trays of couscous and the women’s hands tossing it into the air offer a key to something so much more than just healthy food.

These women are among 250 women from ten Women Community-Based Organisations from the northeastern, western, and southern parts of Jenin who are part of a Food Processing Project supported by World Vision.

This project was born in response to the deteriorating economic conditions of the communities with whom World Vision is working in Jenin, where the income generation opportunities for women are limited because of the conservative culture of villages, as well as the lack of job opportunities. This project seeks to address both. Working with the Palestinian Fair Trade Association, the goal is to link women’s groups in the area with the fair trade market.

From January to September of this year, women will work on processing various foods, beginning with couscous, and continuing with sun-dried tomatoes and as the seasons change will move on to pickled olives, and organic honey. Some will also be able to participate in further training to process other foods and be provided with processing equipment on a commercial scale.

Majdi Daibes, Area Development Programme (ADP) Manager for World Vision in Northeast Jenin says that it is precisely these types of projects that really touch communities. “In West Jenin, you feel that farming and agriculture is the heartbeat of the community and the land. Everyone from men, women to young boys and girls- this is a way of life here. It’s a main source of income.”

Grinning broadly, 35-year-old Samaher Qabaha, one the participants, says that now she is better able to support her children. Samaher describes the significance of seeing the knowledge of older generations in food preparation passed down. “I didn’t used to know; now I know. The older generation used to do everything, and people my age didn’t know. We didn’t know our traditions, our culture.”

Wiping a bead of sweat from her brow, she continues, “The money is not as important, but what is, is that we are working together as a community. One hand, one work.”

The trainer of this small group, 37-year-old Fidad Salameh watches over the group, walking from woman to woman, instructing them on the proper way to toss the couscous, with occasional suggestions to add more flour or water to the mix.

Jenin’s food insecurity rate is 34.5%, making it the highest in the entire West Bank (with a 25% food insecurity rate overall)

“We are not just preparing maftool, but also other dishes like tabouleh [traditional salad with parsley and couscous].”

The other women all seem to be excited and happy to play their part. “It is an experience I didn’t know before,” says 38-year-old Jawaher Lutfi, her hand drifting to her pregnant belly. “It’s fun, but you also learn something. Today is my first day, and I really hope I get to continue!”

Samaher, by far the most talkative of the group, explained that the couscous would be sold by the kilogram* if the quality is acceptable to the buyer, otherwise, the women will take it home to feed their families. “It is nice to be able to leave our homes for a while, and be able to meet and talk with one another.”

Jenin’s food insecurity rate is 34.5%, making it the highest in the entire West Bank (with a 25% food insecurity rate overall). Its population of almost 256,000 continues to suffer under military occupation. Israeli illegal occupation of Palestinian land involves a separation barrier, closures, land confiscations, restrictions of movement, and limits Palestinians from accessing essential services as well as their own natural resources.

With unemployment at 31.4% and 45% of households spending almost half of their income on food, Jenin’s communities are in dire need of these kind of income generation opportunities, which are one component of World Vision’s economic development work across the occupied Palestinian territories to help ensure children not only enjoy good health but are also cared for, protected and participating in their communities.

Development programmes have a future, which is why they are so good for communities. Not just for today and tomorrow, but for our futureTariq Qabaha, 52-year-old head of the Tura Gharbiyeh Village Council recognises the importance of this project for the women of the village, and the village as a whole. “For a woman, if she has spare time, she can use it in this way. At the community level, it allows women the opportunity to feel that they are not dependant on their husbands, and instead can feel like his partner, from the family, community, and economic level.”

With a proud smile Qabaha continues, “Development programmes have a future, which is why they are so good for communities. Not just for today and tomorrow, but for our future. Helping people is good, but if there is continuity, it is better.”

With a budget of US$40,000 from the three Area Development Programmes (ADPs) in Northeast, West, and South Jenin, World Vision is hoping this project will be a starting point for many of these women in contributing to their community’s economic progress.

For Ashraf Daibes, World Vision West and South Jenin ADP Manager, this project is very personal, “I can feel the progress every day. It’s not only about improving the economic situation of vulnerable households, but it’s about women’s empowerment through socialising and participation in supporting the livelihood of their children and families.”

Woman in this project not only develop their skills and build community, but share a sense of hope and a sense of humour. As 45-year-old Bahjeh Saeed tosses and mixes the wet flour, she jokingly refers to the physical effort needed in making the couscous, “If you have personal problems, you can vent and let them out on the maftool (couscous)!”

-Ends-

*1 kilogram equals 2.2 pounds

Sources:

1) World Food Programme, “Occupied Palestinian Territory- Overview”, http://www.wfp.org/countries/occupied-palestinian-territory. Last accessed on June 21, 2011.
2) ARIJ, “oPt Food Security – Why, How Many, Who, Where, Response Options” 2010, http://www.arij.org/publications/2010/Chapter%206.pdf. Last accessed on June 22, 2011.
3) World Vision Jerusalem-West Bank-Gaza, “WV JWG Baseline Survey for Northeast, West, and South Jenin Area Development Programmes”, 2009. Last accessed on June 22, 2011.
4) Wikipedia, “Jenin”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenin. Last accessed on June 21, 2011.