The NGO Development Center (NDC) is currently managing the Job Creation Project in the West Bank and Gaza funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) in the amount of Euro 6 million. The 30 month project seeks to alleviate the financial burdens of the most poor and marginalized Palestinian families by financing temporary employment opportunities through the execution of infrastructure micro-projects and improvement of public assets operated by NGOs. The Rehabilitation of Ancient Wells Project (implemented by the YMCA in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Civil Defense Department) is among the many infrastructure micro-projects. Through this project, 46 ancient wells, aged more than 1000 years, will be rehabilitated throughout the rural villages & Bedouin areas of east Bethlehem.
On May 22, 2008 NDC conducted a field visit to one of the wells being rehabilitated in the village of Kissan located north of Bethlehem. The mission was comprised of representatives from the AFD (Mr. Etienne Viard, AFD Director for Mediterranean and Middle East; Mr. Philippe Lecrinier, Director-AFD Jerusalem; and his Deputy Mr. Gerald Vuillemin), from NDC (Mr. Ghassan Kasabreh, NDC Director; Mr Rajja Tutanji, Program Officer), and from the YMCA (Mr. Andre Batarseh, General Secretary; Ms. Mai Jarar, Women Training Program Manager; Eng. Nadi Faraj, Project Coordinator; Eng. Mohammed Safi, Site Engineer), as well as representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Civil Defense Department, and Kissan Village Councilor.
During the visit, Mr. Etienne Viard expressed his gratitude for the great efforts NDC spent in reaching out to such poor and marginalized areas to offer needed services. He was also impressed by the important role women are playing in the implementation of such projects. Mr. Ghassan Kasabreh pointed out the importance of implementing the Job Creation Project during the difficult circumstances faced by Palestinians; given its ability to create a great number of employment opportunities. He added that this project will reduce animal products' cost and will provide one hundred thousand cubic meters of water for animal irrigation annually. Finally, Mr. Nadi Faraj indicated that this area is considered to be one of the most important areas in Palestine for animal husbandry where more than six thousand goats/sheep and 500 camels exist.
