Beginnings:

Nidal Center for Community Development is a Palestinian non-governmental institution established in 1999 in the old city of Jerusalem and was officially opened as one of HWC's centers in 24\2\2000 in response to increasing demands of the new Palestinian generation for empowering and strengthening their abilities and presence in their society through community mobilization and voluntarism. Nidal center activities give new meaning and dimension to social work, covering different sectors within the society and encouraging the establishing of a network of communication and collaboration between civil society organizations working in and outside the old city.

Nidal's center presence and activities comes in response to the Israeli occupation policy of ethnic cleansing and Judaization of Jerusalem. All center's activities aim at enhancing the Palestinian presence in the old city through capacity building and strengthening of marginalized groups and local society in general in support of their steadfastness.The center's provide services throgh staff includes a director and 5 full time staff.

Center's Objectives:

  • Strengthen and improve youth abilities and awareness on different levels focusing on issues relevant to Jerusalem and its historic cultural heritage.
  • Enhancement of voluntary work and provision of school health services in the context of a comprehensive approach to school health.
  • Support, empower, and enhance women's role through capacity building to have an effective active role within the community.
  • Embrace Palestinian children in Jerusalem and provide a much needed special care and attention to achieve the desired objective of building a well educated and aware generation capable of self expression and decision making and be responsible.

Sponsorship Program:

This program is implemented by working with a number of children from various schools and the Child program within Nidal's activities. The principle of this program is to provide supportive and incentive activities for children sponsored by families abroad. These families are provided by lists of children names, photos and family background and status. Supportive environmental activities include children's neighborhoods and schools. Beneficiaries of this program mount to about 800 children of both sexes in the old city of Jerusalem.

Work within Schools:

The center's projects and activities within schools aim at improving education and health environment within targeted schools in an effort to reduce the phenomenon of school drop. Six schools are covered by this project serving around 1,500 students.

Relay Lessons for Students:

In collaboration with institutions and individuals within the community, young volunteer activists from universities provide tutoring and aid services to students from Jerusalem schools twice weekly. There are 12 volunteers helping 15 – 20 students all year round.

Alternative Tours

One of the center's objectives is to deliver historical information in a clear and comprehensive way and to define the Arab cultural heritage in response to the Israeli counterfeiting. This is done through conducting comprehensive tours to the old city and its alleys in which different aspects of life are identified including social, political and cultural aspects. 2,000 visitors benefit from this program (individuals and institutions) most of whom show solidarity with the Palestinians.

Relationships with Other Institutions:

Nidal center is distinguished by its wide relations of cooperation, coordination and networking with Jerusalemite institutions related to the Center's programs and activities at the national and community level in Jerusalem. The Center plays a leading role in the National Coalition for the Defense of Rights for Jerusalemites, the Coalition for Jerusalem, and its coordination role for the Network of Nongovernmental Organizations working in Jerusalem.

Advocacy and Pro Cultural and Civilization Exchange Program

In cooperation with Belfort municipality in France and in response to their invitation, a delegation of children and youth from both sexes is sent to France for cultural and experience exchange, acting as ambassadors for Palestinian children. Participants include 10 children per year. This program runs for 4 continuous years.