31/05/2016 | Advanced Leadership Workshops for Joint Israeli and Palestinian Women

Galilee Institute, Nahalal, held advanced workshops for Palestinian and Israeli women on leadership and entrepreneurship during the month of May 2016. Sixty women attended and were divided into two mixed groups. Each group comprised 15 Palestinian women and 15 Israeli women.

Palestinian participants came primarily from the areas of Jenin, Qalqilya, Ramallah and Nablus. Israeli women were chosen from a large number of candidates, coming from Tel-Aviv, Michmoret and several kibbutzim in the Jezreel Valley.

The workshops focussed on advanced topics, including conflict resolution and Israeli-Palestinian cooperation together with reviewing methods for preparing business plans.

The main purpose of these workshops is to initiate joint business, primarily in the agriculture sector, such as olive oil production. The project is called "Olive oil production without borders".
The programme will continue in July and includes professional study tours in Israel. The participants will submit business plans. The approved business plans will be granted scholarships from the US administration (USAID).

Most of the participants expressed appreciation for the facilitators and presenters; they mentioned in particular the possibility of getting to know “the other side” in a friendly atmosphere that enables collaboration. Participants said they learned that women in both societies are facing the same challenges and their goals are similar.

These workshops have been held by Galilee Institute since 2013 in cooperation with The American Near East Foundation. Cooperation with NEF, in addition to the Middle East, includes cooperation in other areas such as sub-Saharan countries in West Africa.
The next joint workshops (on joint Palestinian-Israeli entrepreneurship) are planned for July 2016.