Organizations on the Ground

If you’re looking to go beyond our website and learn more about the Jerusalem Story from those working on the ground, our directory provides a useful starting point. Search here for Palestinian organizations that work on Jerusalem.

Focus Your Search

The Women’s Center al-Thuri Silwan

المركز النسوي — الثوري سلوان

Mission

The Women’s Center al-Thuri Silwan seeks to build a society free of all forms of discrimination against women and aims to improve the rights and security of women and to promote their participation in decision-making, leadership, and public affairs, as well as to empower them economically. The center seeks to change the society’s perceptions of women in order to change the behaviors and social norms that lead to gender discrimination.

Organization Type

Community-based Organization (CBO)

Areas of Work

Gender and Sexual Rights,

Location of Work

Inside the wall and inside the Israeli municipal boundaries of Jerusalem,

Notes

Al-Thuri is a neighborhood in Silwan with 20,000 residents. The Women’s Center al-Thuri Silwan was established in 2007 to help empower women to become active citizens and to improve the society’s perceptions of women. Programs address gender-based violence and early marriage; economic empowerment through training, mentoring, and support in establishing businesses; and promotion of social awareness of women’s rights and reproductive health.

Al-Thuri Neighborhood, Silwan, Jerusalem, Palestine
View website

Abeer Zayyad, Executive Director

+972.54.229.6604

abeerrizeq@hotmail.com

Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling

مركز المرأة للإرشاد القانوني والاجتماعي

Mission

To see empowered women living in a just and equal Palestinian society where they enjoy all of their human rights

Organization Type

Nongovernmental Organization (NGO)

Areas of Work

Human Rights,

Location of Work

Inside the wall and inside the Israeli municipal boundaries of Jerusalem,

Notes

The Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC) works to protect women’s human rights according to international human rights standards. It monitors, documents, and advocates locally and internationally; provides social and legal services to women victims of violence and human rights violations; and launches programs that ensure gender equality. It also addresses the effects of militarization associated with the Israeli occupation.

Abu Alamin Shehadeh Building, Hafez Ibrahim Street, Shu‘fat, Jerusalem 91516 P.O. Box 54262
View website

Randa Siniora, Director

Tel: +972.2.628.1497 Tel: +972.2.628.2449

info@wclac.com

Women’s Organization al-Nabi Samuel

جمعية نسوية النبي صموئيل

Mission

The women of al-Nabi Samuel are active in all fields of life and possess the potential and awareness to defy the plans of the Israeli establishment and protect their village from ethnic cleansing.

Al-Nabi Samuel is a small, ancient West Bank village that has been enclaved by the Separation Wall, in that it lies outside the Israeli municipal boundaries of Jerusalem but within (on the “Jerusalem” side of) the Separation Wall.

The village is clearly targeted for erasure. Over time, Israel destroyed the villagers’ ancient homes and confiscated the villages’ lands to build the settlement of Har Shmuel and establish a national park (for Jewish enjoyment and use). The village is completely entrapped, in that accessing Israel is not allowed for PA ID holders, and accessing the West Bank requires them to pass through the al-Jib military checkpoint. Construction is forbidden. Schools are forbidden, and children have to travel long distances passing checkpoints to get to schools outside their village. Medical care in the village is nonexistent and requires a military permit to reach. Outside visitors are not allowed in without a military permit. The situation for the few remaining villagers is very dire; they are basically living in a prison.

Organization Type

Nongovernmental Organization (NGO)

Areas of Work

Society and Community Services,

Location of Work

Inside the wall but outside the Israeli municipal boundaries of Jerusalem,

Notes

Women’s Organisation a-Nabi Samuel, a nonprofit organization working in northwest Jerusalem, was established in 2010 to encourage the steadfastness of the people in the West Bank and Gaza. Its objectives are to improve women’s social and political knowledge as well as enhancing women’s capacity to take part in decision-making processes; to develop all sectors of the local community in the different fields of life, and to implement projects that provide women with work opportunities in order to ensure financial stability for them and their families.

Nawal Barakat, Chair

+972.2.650.6963

arrej200@hotmail.com

Women’s Studies Centre

مركز الدراسات النسوية

Mission

The Women’s Studies Centre (WSC) works toward developing, fostering, and disseminating a progressive feminist discourse based on social justice and equality values, with the aim of empowering women to access and benefit from all societal resources available. The WSC  also contributes to developing and mobilizing community and youth leadership that endeavor to create social movements capable of achieving our vision.

Organization Type

Nongovernmental Organization (NGO)

Areas of Work

Gender and Sexual Rights,

Location of Work

Outside the wall and outside the Israeli municipal boundaries of Jerusalem,

Notes

The Women’s Studies Centre was established in 1989 during the First Intifada, a period characterized by the mobilization of grassroots organizations and the masses. Women played an active role in the struggle to achieve national liberation in the belief that national freedom and liberation are linked to social freedom, and both are closely related to economic freedom. The WSC promotes gender-sensitive laws and policies on a national level and engages in program implementation on a community level to transform prevailing social attitudes on the status and rights of women and the female child.

Al-Hirbawi Building, First Floor, Dahiyat al-Barid, Jerusalem
View website

Sama Aweidah, General Director

+972.2.234.8848

admin@wsc-pal.org