Preschool Programs for Children in Jericho, and Aqabet Jabr camps
Education for children has always been the major goal for YWCA, particularly for those children who are in deprived areas such as refugee camps and underprivileged villages. YWCA started its pre-school program in the camps of Aqbet Jabr, kalandia (recently closed) and Jalazon. This program has the following objectives:
Preparing children for school life
Providing a peaceful and healthy escape environment from the violent conditions children are living in.
Offering deprived children, the chance of expressing themselves freely by every means possible such as playing, drawing and singing.

Multifunctional community based centres

• Income and job creation projects for women through the production of a variety of traditional crafts in Palestinian costumes (hand puppets and dolls) in addition to traditional crafts.

• Enhancing cultural identity through cultural activities for girls (age 7-13)

• Pre-schools

The pre-school program in Aqabet Jabr Number of Children varies between 90-120 Highly qualified staff members

 

The pre-school program in Jalazon camp Number of Children varies between 120-160 Highly qualified staff members

 

The Child Identity Program Girls between the ages of 7-12 years follow a program of activity that utilizes drama and art to enforce their cultural identity and help them express themselves in a variety of non-threatening and inviting ways.  The program is very successful and the trainers are local Jalazon camp residents and experts from the neighboring cities.

Women training program
Production of traditional crafts, dolls and Puppets
One of YWCA objectives is to create income-generating projects for women in the refugee camps. To achieve this objective, YWCA has been running a doll-making project since 1954 in Aqbet Jabr then moved to Jalazon camp in early seventies. The puppets and Dolls, which are dressed in the Palestinian national costumes, introduce and reflect our folklore and culture to the world. In 2001 the project developed hand puppets, this project currently provides regular income to various numbers of women who are fulfilling the demand of both the local and international institutions.
The following dolls and puppets are produced:

Dolls in traditional costumes Those dolls represent different towns and villages in Palestine like Ramallah, Jericho, Bethlehem, Bethany and Biet Dajan. There is also a Bedouin woman and a Village Mukhtar.

The Nativity Set
Consists of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds, sheep, a donkey and the three kings.

Hand Puppets These puppets are with middle-eastern features inspired from fairy tales, and folkloric stories, which children can easily relate to. The puppets can be successfully used for free play, story telling and therapy sessions