Bank of Palestine and Welfare Association inaugurated Wednesday 19 March 2014 the 7th Al-Bayyara recreational playground in Shweikeh neighborhood in Tulkarem Governorate. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Major-General Tulkarem Governor Dr. Abdallah Kamil, Tulkarem Mayor Iyad Al-Jallad, Ahmad Hmeidan from Welfare Association and representatives from NGOs. private sector companies and civil society institutions.
Initiated by Bank of Palestine last year, Al-Bayyara Project aims to create hundreds of children playgrounds in different Palestinian villages and rural areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Tulkarem Governor extolled Al-Bayyara Project that is being carried out by Bank of Palestine in cooperation with Welfare Association. He added the project, which is part of the corporate responsibilities of institutions and companies, is designated to provide the community with special services and cater for the welfare of children. The Governor also extended gratitude to Bank of Palestine and national banks in general for their contribution to corporate social responsibility in Palestine.
In 2014-2015 Tulkarem Governorate was declared a tourist area and therefore Al-Bayyara recreational playgrounds project is considered a leading enterprise, Dr Kamil stated. He valued the role of Tulkarem Municipality and other stakeholders who contributed to the establishment of the children playground, concluding, “We hope there will be similar playgrounds in Tulkarem and Nour Shams refugee camps as well as in villages affected by the wall that are in immediate contact with the Israeli occupying forces.”
Tulkarem Mayor highlighted the crucial role of Bank of Palestine and the partnership of Welfare Association in establishing recreational playgrounds for children. He also praised the efforts made by Welfare Association in the revitalization and renovation of the Old City of Tulkarem as well as in carrying out other development projects in the Governorate. The Mayor concluded with listing the projects carried out by Tulkarem Municipality in cooperation with local Palestinian organizations.
Bank of Palestine Deputy General Manager Rusdhi Ghalayini said Al-Bayyara initiative aims to alleviate the harsh political, social and economic conditions in which Palestinian children are living. The project seeks to provide children with safe recreational facilities, Ghalayini explained. Guided by a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility to which it has allocated 5% of its net profits, Bank of Palestine will continue to construct hundreds of playgrounds throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Ghalayini pointed out that Bank of Palestine’s Al-Bayyara Project has received the first prize as the best corporate social responsibility program in the Middle East by EMEA Finance for this year. Ghalayini called on Palestinian private sector companies and NGOs to support the project because it represents genuine sustainable development for the people, environment, economy and society.
For his part, Hmeidan from Welfare Association said Al-Bayyara Project is part of Welfare Association’s strategy for social development. “It is a national project and initiating parties encourage Palestinian private sector companies and institutions to contribute to its expansion on the national level,” Hmeidan declared. According to him, Al-Bayyara Project aims to provide children with safe recreational facilities, promote social interaction among families, and reduce number of injuries among children resulting from playing in the streets.