Gift of Caring Ministryhas been working continuously in the West Bank and Gaza since 1995. Though the region has been rocked by turbulent change since then – conflict, political strife, and the economic and societal hardship that accompanies both – we have not lost sight of the ultimate goal to provide stability through economic opportunity in partnership with the Palestinian people. During this time, Gift of Caring Ministryhas implemented numerous programs, working in some of the most impoverished communities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Our programs are designed to provide Palestinians with short- and long-term job opportunities, while working with local municipalities and NGOs to rebuild infrastructure and improve the environment for Palestinian communities.
Humanitarian Assistance
Gift of Caring Ministryhas been providing direct humanitarian assistance in partnership with the UN World Food Programme since 2005. Working with WFP, Gift of Caring Ministryis distributing much-need food commodities to vulnerable families in the West Bankand Gaza
Expanding Access to Credit
Through Vita Palestine(still operating as Ryada, in Gaza, Gift of Caring Ministryhas been providing loans to Palestinians left out of the formal financial sector since 1994. Considered one of the first credit programs in the Palestinian territories, Ryada started providing home improvement loans to families in Gaza in 1994 with support from USAID. Based on the strong success of the program and the positive impact it had on clients’ lives, Ryada expanded the West Bank in 2001, where the company now operates its seven branches as Vitas Palestine. Today, Vitas Palestine provides micro and small loans for home improvement, business development, and residential land and apartment purchases, to help Palestinians realize their potential and become full social and economic participants in their communities.
RECENT PROGRAMS
Community-led Development and Infrastructure
In the West Bank, we recently completed the Palestine Local Government and Infrastructure (LGI) program, a $100-million USAID-funded project which respondied to community infrastructure needs. Working with community leaders, municipal governments, and other community-based organizations, Gift of Caring Ministryidentified and implemented infrastructure projects and improved local governance strategies to better the quality of life for Palestinians. Infrastructure projects had the dual impact of creating employment and raising the standard of living in vulnerable areas while also supporting community participation and government responsiveness. LGI operated in the municipalities of Al Bireh, Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus and Ramallah.
Support to Vulnerable Gazans
The Palestinian Community Assistance Program (PCAP),funded by USAID through Mercy Corps, improved the lives of Gazans by helping to meet basic humanitarian needs like infrastructure and economic recovery,and health and social services.
Housing Finance and Homebuyer Education
The Palestinian Homebuyer Education Program (PHEP), funded by the UK Department for International Development (DfID), helped Palestinian households to become successful homeowners. The program increased consumer awareness of critical issues related to home ownership, improved consumer knowledge of the home buying process and promoted the growth of the real estate profession through the introduction of real estate curricula.
The Mortgage Market Development Program (MMDP) helped to support the development of a sustainable long-term mortgage market by providing technical assistance and education at all levels of the market – from potential homebuyers, to current apartment owners, to bank loan officers, to local appraisers.