Access to Education

Social Need

The Palestine Fair Trade Association (PFTA) recognizes that access to education  has become a major concern in barrier-affected communities especially in rural areas. Some 20,000 students have been affected by the construction of the Israeli “Wall".  Palestinian border schools have been closed for months at a time. The deteriorating quality of education is a problem linked to this barrier and the increased rate of poverty in Palestine, where an estimated 64% percent of people in the West Bank live below the poverty line.  This has left many Palestinian students unable to pay for their university education and has affected level of enthusiasm about school among the concerned youth, especially in rural areas. PFTA is keen on fostering commitments to education among the youth, by providing the necessary attention and service to the 16-18 year old target group in our farmers' communities.  PFTA’s Education Access Program will provide students with both an opportunity to build the necessary skills to succeed in secondary school and an opportunity to attend university.

Education Access Program Launch

Our exporting member Canaan Fair Trade (www.canaanfairtrade.com) has initiated the Education Access Program by launching the Canaan Scholarships, committing 10 university scholarships for farmers' children graduating from high school in 2007. At the same time, they are providing a 7 room house in the center of Jenin to be used as a youth education center, The Canaan Center for the Arts and Sciences (CCAS). Both the Canaan Scholarship Fund (CSF) and the CCAS will be administered by PFTA under the Education Access Program for the service of our farming communities. The scholarships will awarded by a committee formed with faculty participation from major Palestinian universities and would afford farmers’ students a chance to attend local Palestinian universities. The Canaan Center for the Arts and Sciences is where Palestinian youth will be able to go after school to develop their educational and artistic abilities. 
 

Work and Strategies 

PFTA seeks to build on these initiatives raising funds for university scholarships and extra circular educational programs to support marginalized Palestinian youth.  The amount required for each university scholarship is $850 per semester or $6,800 for an entire four year degree program.  The amount required for one student per semester to attend the Canaan Arts and Science Center is $200.

Through grants for these scholarships the students will be become a partner in improving the access to education for marginalized Palestinian youth through the following ways: 

• The Canaan Center for the Arts and Sciences will provide high school age students with the opportunity to advance their studies during their free time, school holidays, and school closures.  The Canaan Center for the Arts and Sciences will expand the students horizons by creating a nurturing and creative atmosphere that will help prepare them for university.  The scholarships for the arts and sciences will go towards providing teacher salaries, educational materials, administrative fees, and field trip costs.
• The university scholarships will be given to disadvantaged students.  Priority for these scholarships is given to students whose parents never attended university.  Students will be allowed to attend the university and degree program of their choice.  Scholarships will cover the cost of tuition for four years of study.  Each scholarship recipient will be required to spend their summer holidays as interns for the PFTA.  As interns they will gain first hand experience in social and economic development.