Crowdfund by Rebuilding Alliance Matched by Taawon
Contact: Donna Baranski-Walker, Phone: +1 650 651-7165, Email: Contact@RebuildingAlliance.org
Contact: Naila Handosh, Phone: +970 2 241 5130, Email: handoshn@taawon.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TWO GAZA HOSPITALS AND 800 FAMILIES BENEFIT FROM MATCHING GRANT
Crowdfund by U.S. Nonprofit, Rebuilding Alliance, Matched by Taawon Foundation
May 12, 2020 Burlingame, CA — Rebuilding Alliance, an American nonprofit based in California, and Taawon (Welfare Association), an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in Switzerland, Palestine, Lebanon, and London, have signed a funding agreement for $108,000 to provide protective clothing and medical supplies to two non-governmental hospitals in Gaza and food baskets to 800 Gaza families who are in dire need. Two years ago, the U.S. Government stopped all aid for medical care, education, and food resulting in devastating consequences for Palestinian families, especially in Gaza.
“Over six hundred donors, mostly Americans, continue to contribute to ‘Palestine, We Care COVID-19 Relief Trust’, said Donna Baranski-Walker, Executive Director of Rebuilding Alliance. “This important project supports critical needs abandoned by the Trump Administration.”
Two NGO hospitals are receiving PPE’s, COVID-19 test kits, medicines and supplies. Founded in 1882, the Al Ahli Arab Hospital (the National Arab Hospital), is a Christian hospital under the care of the Anglican Church and is Gaza's oldest hospital. Al Awda Hospital (The Return Hospital), run by the Union of Healthcare Workers Committees, serves over a quarter of the population of the Gaza Strip. Here’s a video interview with both hospitals and the owner of the Unipal factory.
“We are very happy to have gained a new partner with whom our cooperation commences in jointly fighting the COVID-19 virus in Gaza by providing the health sector in Gaza with supplies, and aiding the marginalized families with food during the holy month of Ramadan,” said Yara Salem, Director General of Taawon.
To provide food and soap to families, Rebuilding Alliance and Taawon are partnering with four Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations: the Women's Programs Center-Rafah, Youth Vision Society, the Al Basma Club for the Disabled, and the Al Amal Society for Rehabilitation. In addition, the program is buying masks & protective suits from Gaza factories, which helps to provide jobs in an economy suffering from chronic unemployment now over 60%; Gaza’s economy has been devastated by a 14-year blockade, the longest in human history.
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About Us
Donna Baranski-Walker, is Founder & Executive Director of Rebuilding Alliance. Donna and Rebuilding Alliance were awarded Special Congressional Recognition by three Congressional Representatives and in 2016, Donna was awarded Rotary District 5150’s Service Award and the Rachel Corrie Conscience and Courage Award from American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Orange County.
Rebuilding Alliance’s vision is to realize a just and enduring peace in Palestine and Israel founded upon equal rights, equal security, and equal opportunity for all. Founded in 2003, Rebuilding Alliance works with Non-Governmental Organizations in Palestine and Israel and works with House and Senate offices to safeguard Palestinian neighborhoods.
Yara Salem is Director General of Taawon. Before joining Taawon, Ms. Salem was the World Bank Special Representative to Iraq, based in Baghdad. Ms. Salem was the First Arab female Country Manager in the World Bank Group.
Taawon (Welfare Association) is a leading NGO, that is registered in Switzerland with branch offices in Palestine, Lebanon, London, and Jordan. Taawon has been in operation for 36 years and spends over $50 million dollars annually on programs in education, orphan care, culture, women and youth empowerment, community development, the revitalization of old cities, the Palestinian Museum, and in supporting the health care sector. Taawon envisions the Palestinian people as citizens of an independent, free, and democratic Arab Palestine, living in dignity, prosperity and self-fulfillment, with equitable access to opportunities to realize their full potential with distinction and creativity.