Practical grassroots support

In the short time I’ve been in Israel/Palestine I’ve met some remarkable people. Many of them work in grassroots organisations that try from the ground up to improve life for people. One of these is Basma who is director of the  Al-Basmah Centre, run by the Arab Women’s Union in Beit Sahour, in the greater Bethlehem area.

Al-basmah started with a small group of adults with learning difficulties (who are not well served in the community) and provides social activities, some exercise and some employment, one of which is making rag rugs. I had gone with boxes of sheets no longer needed in the Scots Hotel. The work with young adults has expanded since the group started in 1987 from 5 to 32.

What interests me about Al Basmah is the way the organisation has grown organically and in response to identified needs. There is a Guest House, a kindergarten, and The Union which is a fascinating social enterprise.

Cooking is very time consuming and labour intensive for Palestinian women. Everything is prepared from scratch including all the fresh herbs and spices. The Union was set up to save working women one or two hours when preparing meals. Basma took me up to see the large preparation space where mallow, mint and parsley is washed and prepared.

It is difficult for women to find work. Of the 10 women employed in the food preparation several have PhDs. During my visit the front office was busy all the time with people coming in and out collecting their orders of prepared herbs and ready meals.

The Arab Women’s Union was founded in 1956 and aims to promote women’s rights : economic, social, cultural and rehabilitative. It provides day care, the kitchen, the social and cultural programs, as well as the  Al-Basmah Center for people with disability.

The buzz around the front office and the ability of admin and finance staff to concentrate amidst the bustle reminded me of Cranhill Development Trust in Glasgow where I was involved for many years. Families in Bethlehem and the West Bank face occupation and the struggles it brings daily, but they also face problems similar to women the world over: access to education, employment, affordable child care, support for children living with disability.

During the corona pandemic the nursery remained open and the food prepared by the Union kitchen was more important than ever. The organisation reached out to its members and still does, as the economy has not recovered. Funding, as for many grassroots organisations is precarious, especially since the pandemic when funders also felt the pinch and donations have contracted. The resilience and resourcefulness of the women, and their ability to be entrepreneurial is to be celebrated.

If you want to find out more, visit the website of the Arab Women’s Union  https://womenunion.ps/index.php