Water Resources and Infrastructure

• Co-Educational School Dedicated in Northeastern West Bank:  Under USAID’s Local Democratic Reform (LDR) Project, implemented by Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) International, a co-educational school was completed for the small community of Aqqaba in Tubas Governorate northeast of the West Bank.  The school includes five classrooms for more than 200 students, a teacher’s room, and common spaces.. 15 teachers and other staff members have permanent jobs at the school.  The community participated in every step of the project design and implementation and contributed 20% of the total project costs.  The Ministry of Local Governance contributed an additional 15%.  The project generated 2,000 work days for laborers of the community and neighboring villages.

• Expanded Health Clinic Provides Additional Services:  Under the Emergency Jobs Program (EJP), implemented by Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) International, USAID constructed an additional floor for a Ministry of Health clinic serving the community of Maythaloon in the Jenin Governorate in the northern West Bank.  The new floor houses maternal and child health services, dental services previously located in a rented building, a counseling room, an examination room, laboratory services, pregnancy and ultrasound services, vaccination facilities, and a pharmacy.  There is also space for health awareness activities for the community.  Previously, clients had to wait in long lines in the street and exposed to the weather.  At a total budget of $56,213, this project created 963 person days of employment for 109 workers.  The inauguration event was attended by the Governor of Tubas, the USAID Mission Director, the mayor, and local leaders.

Economic Development

• Rehabilitated Crossing Point Expected to Revitalize Jenin Economy:  The Governor of Jenin, supported by USAID’s Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion (EDIP) Program, implemented by CARANA, held a formal event to celebrate the opening of the Jalameh crossing point to personal car traffic.  The event was attended by members of the Israeli Knesset, representatives of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, and the Office of the Quartet Representative.  The Governor and attendees expressed appreciation for USAID and the impact car traffic will have on the Jenin economy.  The Jenin economy remains highly dependant on trade with Israel and the re-establishment of historic commercial relationships will have a significant impact on economic opportunity in Jenin.

Youth and Education

• Sesame Street Project Starts Studio Filming of Season 4 Episodes:  The Sesame Street project, Shara’ Simsim in Arabic, officially announced the start of studio filming of Season 4 episodes and the further expansion of the project.  26 episodes each will be filmed for Seasons 4 and 5.  Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, the Minister of Education and Higher Education, CEO and President of Sesame Workshop Gary Knell, and the USAID Mission Director attended the event at the Sesame Street studio in Ramallah.  The Mission Director announced the expansion of the project to include two new components: Shara’ Simsim Online Portal and Shara’ Simsim Radio program.  The project will build local capacity, provide quality educational programming for children, and undertake educational outreach at the community level.
  
  
• Youth Initiative Seeks to Empower Deaf Youth:  Under the Palestinian Youth Empowerment Program, Ruwwad, implemented by Education Development Center (EDC), a youth-led initiative called “Let’s Give Them a Chance” started.  It aims at providing vocational training to deaf young people, connecting them with businesses in their fields, and providing sign language training to those businesses.  The Ruwwad Palestinian Youth Empowerment program is a $17 million effort aimed at building leadership capabilities of at least 240 youth leaders, while engaging more than 1,000 youth volunteers and 6,000 community participants in community service learning activities in four main program pillars: civic engagement; livelihood opportunities; leadership skills; and, sports and culture.