On March 8, AISHA Association for Women and Child Protection (AISHA) held a meeting to announce the results of its study about the current conditions of mothers of orphans due to the aggression on Gaza in 2014, within the “Entrepreneurs” project that examines and discusses the conditions of orphans’ mother through activities of “Wajd” program. The meeting was held in the presence of representatives from Bank of Palestine, Welfare Association and civil society organizations concerned with women affairs.
At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Elias Jildeh, Chairman of AISHA, greeted and congratulated women in Palestine and around the world on the International Women’s Day. He confirmed that struggle of Palestinian women is a fundamental and integrated part of the overall Palestinian struggle. He indicated that the project targeted around 400 women who are mothers of orphans by providing them with psychological, social, legal and economic services, in addition to constructive sessions for children upbringing and life skills to raise awareness among women about scientific and healthy methods to deal with their children. In addition to studying the current conditions of mothers of orphans due to the aggression on Gaza in 2014 and the results of this aggression that entailed humanitarian, social and economic disasters and the exacerbation of Palestinian women’s suffering. He added that 35 women were selected for trainings in a variety of vocational disciplines, in addition to the provision of temporary employment opportunities up to three months.
Mr. Alaa Al Redwan, Bank of Palestine’s Deputy General Manager, confirmed that this contribution is due to the Bank’s social responsibility, in which Bank of Palestine dedicates 6% of its annual net profit towards social responsibility programs. He indicated that the Bank acknowledges the role of Palestinian women and seeks to empower them in all aspects to become socially, economically and professionally capable. He thanked and expressed his appreciation to everyone who participated and contributed to the success of this program and fulfilled this humane role towards the Palestinian people, for the benefit of the orphans of the 2014-aggression and their mothers, building towards a constructive future.
Mrs. Maha Muheisen, Director of the Orphans Care Program at the Welfare Association, explained that empowered Palestinian people are the essence of Welfare Association’s work and the center of their interests, which is the reason behind the beginning and continuation of the their work in development and humane support in Palestine. In this context, seven years ago, Welfare Association implemented “My Future” program for orphans care due to the aggression in 2008/2009. In August 2014, they launched “Wajd” program for supporting orphans, with funding from Qatar Charitable Fund, Bank of Palestine, and Hajj Hashim Atta Shawa Fund. She indicated that “Wajd” program focuses on supporting orphans and enabling them to live in dignity; the program provides them with support to become affective members within their communities. Accordingly, the program took into consideration the role of mothers who are left with a heavy burden in the absence of the father and supporter, accordingly the program targeted mothers to enable them to rely on themselves and continue their message in the upbringing of children and provide them and their children with a decent life.
Mrs. Reem Freeneh, the Chief Executive Officer of the Association, announced the results of the study. Most importantly that the study sample reached 523 women of orphans’ mothers; about 80% of the mothers are under the age of 40, 81.6% are refugees, 96% are unemployed, and about 64% do not have a fixed monthly income, which greatly impacted the declining economic conditions of the families. She added that about 29.2% of the women hold an academic degree and 52% of the women have the desire to continue their education. In addition to the results related to the significant deterioration in the human, psychological and social conditions of orphan’s mothers and their lack of knowledge about legal matters.
The workshop concluded with several recommendations, focusing on the need to continue and intensify the efforts to empower the mothers of orphans, in economic, health, psychological, social and legal aspects, and work to integrate and enable them within the society and activate their role in providing a decent life for themselves and their children.