Central Nablus Area Program

The Central Nablus community is located about 60 kilometres from Jerusalem. The Mediterranean climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, rainy winters. Most people depend on farming to earn a living, with production focused on olives and olive oil. The electricity grid is weak and internal roads are in poor condition.

The Israeli occupation has made daily life a struggle, especially for rural households. These families have lost their main source of income because of restrictions on Palestinian labourers working in the West Bank and Israel. Restrictions on the flow of agricultural products have also harmed livelihoods. Families still hold out hope for a better life for their children, however, and are ready to work hard to make that happen.

Education

In Central Nablus, as in other parts of the West Bank, there are many barriers to getting a good education. It is difficult for students, parents, and school faculty and staff to be engaged in the education process. Old and overcrowded buildings and inadequate equipment are partly to blame. A lack of teacher training makes things even more challenging.

Extracurricular activities are nonexistent, and students lack a sense of belonging. The illiteracy rate in some areas is higher than 10%, and there is little community participation in school life.

Health Care

The health care situation in Central Nablus is critical. A lack of awareness about proper nutrition and childcare practices negatively affects children's health in particular. Access to clean, safe water is limited, and children are especially prone to infections and waterborne diseases. Further complicating the situation is the lack of access to health care facilities.

Economic Development

Earning a living in Central Nablus is challenging in many ways. Farming is the main source of income, yet families struggle to thrive. Many families have endured the loss of jobs and income because of the political and economic situation.

​Inadequate natural resources, a lack of access to markets and technical support, and limited marketing and farm management skills keep incomes low. Large amounts of land are in need of cultivation or reclamation but social and political constraints, along with a lack of capital and support systems, make it difficult to do so.

To ensure children can access and benefit from quality education, World Vision will assist the community to:

• Refurbish and renovate schools and kindergartens to help children and youth feel a sense of pride and belonging in school.
• Empower teachers with the necessary training and tools to apply modern teaching techniques.
• Improve children's reading, writing, and numeracy skills.
• Provide children with opportunities to express themselves and participate in extracurricular activities.

Health Care
With the partnership of Canadian sponsors and the community, World Vision will work to:

• Promote proper nutrition and healthy lifestyles, especially among pregnant women and parents with very young children.
• Build the capacity of health care workers to teach mothers about improving their children's health, including how to make healthy meals from locally available foods.
• Rehabilitate household cisterns and build new water sources to help protect children from waterborne infection and disease.

Economic Development

To ensure parents in Central Nablus can provide for their families, World Vision will partner with the community to:

• Empower families to employ their land and skills more efficiently to yield better harvests.
• Train community members in sheep farming, beekeeping, and olive oil and almond production to help those with limited access to land.
• Increase farming cooperatives and improve their access to markets to help maximize profits.
• Work towards land reclamation to boost economic security.