Nablus, West Bank - The residents of Nablus celebrated the opening of Safeer Center, recently constructed by CHF International (CHF) with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and in partnership with Safeer Childcare Society. The new facility serves 12,300 children from the Askar Area.
Mr. Jibrin Abu Bakri, the Governor of Nablus inaugurated the Safeer Center in the presence of Mr. Mohamamed Abu Kishek, the President of Safeer Center, and CHF staff. Mr. Jibrin expressed his appreciation to CHF for constructing a center for the children to enjoy their time and learn new skills in a building that is safe, environmentally friendly, and resource-efficient. He also expressed his gratitude to USAID for funding green building initiatives that aim to reduce the environmental impact of new buildings.
"While Safeer is considered an important initiative because it includes important environmental messages for children and the communities they live in, the center is also committed to improve the lives of the children of Askar through creative activities," said Mr. Nasser Farraj, Chief of Party of CHF's Emergency Jobs Program (EJP).
About Safeer Center: The Safeer Center is a pilot green building initiative and one of the first green buildings in the West Bank. The Center incorporates double-glass windows, a window shading system and wall insulation to reduce heating and cooling costs, a natural ventilation system, recycled wood and prioritizes use of local construction materials. In addition, the Center utilizes a grey-water reuse system and collects rainwater for the garden. Skylights allow natural light to enter the center and solar geysers heat water from the sun. The building has an interactive learning center for children, educating a new generation on the importance of preserving the environment. In total, these green methods, along with other design elements, reduce energy usage by 59%.
About EJP:
The Emergency Jobs Program (EJP), implemented by CHF International and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is working toward the dual goal of creating short-term employment and revitalizing the local economy in the West Bank and Gaza. To achieve these objectives, CHF works in partnership with communities and local contractors to develop labor intensive social infrastructure projects that create job opportunities while improving quality of life for the communities. Since its launch three years ago, EJP has completed 214 projects. |
