Food Security Palestine Project #47501

Mrs. Najah's Kitchen - Gaza Emergency Meals

by Rebuilding Alliance

Summary

My name is Najah and I am a refugee, born and raised in a refugee camp in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip. I have been providing services to empower women and their families in Rafah, Gaza for over 18 years as the Executive Director of the Women Programs Center-Rafah. We are made vulnerable by the Covid-19 pandemic, the overwhelming collapse of our local economy, homes destroyed by bombing, little electricity, damaged water supply. Families are hungry. Please help me feed them through the year ahead.

$530,000
total goal

$194,688
remaining

2,641
donors

49
monthly donors

7
fundraisers

3
years

Challenge

Gaza residents who have suffered from a debilitating blockade for more than 14 years are now coping with destruction in an economy facing COVID-19. With over 50% unemployment, many can't afford food. Even those with jobs are forced to stay home. Women and children are especially vulnerable. Only 14% of children under 5 years old are getting a minimum acceptable diet. As many as 18% of pregnant mothers are malnourished, per a 2019 UN study. I ask your help to change this, one meal at a time.

Solution

Healthy, protein-based, hot meals delivered to homes make all the difference in this time of distress because we connect, safely and directly, with women and families who are sheltering in place under the direst of circumstances. In the process, we're providing jobs to our all-women chefs assisted by community volunteers at the professional kitchen of the Women Programs Center (WPC). Through your help, we ramped-up to deliver 200 meals a day, four days a week, feeding 5600 people a week.

Long-Term Impact

Thanks to you, this program has become an all women-run nonprofit restaurant - a big step for my conservative society. We succeed because my community trusts me & values my work. Gaza's women are strong & love life but lack rights due to the blockade and unfair policies. Our program provides steady jobs to 20 women, mostly refugees. We assure better health to 1400 people / day. As you come to know us, together we'll lift the blockade to restore trade, bringing jobs to hundreds of thousands.