DNTA Exhibition 8

Nablus: Campaigns and Co-operation

Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association (DNTA) and FONSA work together with people in Nablus to make a difference.

Front page of a leaflet
Reverse side of a leaflet

Supporting Student Nurses and Midwives in Nablus

Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association are collaborating to provide tuition fees for student nurses and midwives in Nablus.

Modern medical treatments are vital for all communities, none more so than those in Nablus.

Many children are born there, many people need treatment for injuries. Such services cannot continue without professionally trained nurses and midwives.

Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association (DNTA) recognised the needs and is working with Friends of Nablus and Surrounding Areas (FONSA), to raise funds to help.

This follows a previous collaboration to plant olive trees in and around Nablus.

Students in Nablus are usually supported by their parents and family. But current pressures of the occupation have brought economic hardship for many families. It is those students who need financial help that we can assist.

We check that they apply themselves and follow up their progress. A previously supported midwife – Saja – has graduated. She now works in villages around Nablus training and supporting women, mothers and families.

If you would like to support this campaign, please donate online here. Or you can use our website to see other ways of donating.

This campaign is poignant because it supports the women being nursed by midwives. And for those nurses – both female and male – who are essential to maintaining the essential medical infrastructure for a developing Palestinian state.

You can donate to this project here.

Planting Olive Trees

Olive trees are important to Palestinians because they provide income, food and a sense of belonging.

Many olive trees around Nablus are hundreds of years old. They are passed down through family generations giving a sense of continuity and attachment to the land.

In recent times, illegal Israeli settlers have stolen land and attacked olive trees.

So planting olive trees helps to make productive use of the land and to resist the settler attacks.

By working together, DNTA and FONSA have raised money to replant olive trees. Our delegation in November 2022 visited some olive trees destroyed by settlers.

We were able to plant some of the olive trees we had funded. It turned out to be quite tough work. Even in November it was hot and the ground was very stony. So pick axes and sturdy tools were needed.

We hope our trees will grow to maturity and provide olive oil for generations to come. Families produce this for their own use, and sell the surplus for income.

You can purchase Palestinian olive oil imported by the Community Interest Company called Zaytoun. They work in partnership with Palestinians. We often sell their products at our events.

Although the DNTA campaign for olive trees has ended, FONSA continues to raise money to plant more. You can donate here.

In a land suffering from violence, planting olive trees is a sign and hope of a peaceful future

Planting an olive tree in Sabastiya
During the olive harvest

What is FONSA?

While working with Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association, several members were aware of families facing difficult financial pressures.

In response, they established the registered Scottish Charity – Friends of Nablus and Surrounding Areas – known as FONSA.

FONSA is a registered Scottish charity, number SC038502.

FONSA works by listening to those in Nablus who know what we should support.

Some donors like to build something tangible that makes good publicity. But some projects do not quite reach completion; for example, a new building in Yatma village was left without steps or equipment.

FONSA was able to fund these works so that the upper area of the building could be used as a medical clinic – the only one in the village.

Early on, we were told how planting olive trees was not just symbolic but practical. The trees bore fruit and maintained a claim to the lands which were in danger of being taken by the settlers.

Shahed – the Witness Centre
FONSA needs partners on the ground and has used several for specific purposes. Mostly, though, Shahed – the Witness Centre – has helped us.

For example, they deliver the money we provide to the university for tuition fees.

In other cases, they purchase olive trees from nurseries and deliver them to the farmers and families in villages to be planted.

Read more about FONSA.

FONSA food boxes for distribution
FONSA food boxes

Nablus in Need

Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association has recognised the current emergency by providing funds to help with economic pressures in Nablus.

The attacks on Gaza have not been without impact on Nablus and the West Bank.

Israel has imposed severe travel restrictions and is preventing Palestinian workers from entering Israel.

Neither are Palestinians with Israeli citizenship able to visit Nablus for shopping or family visits.

All this means that the economy of Nablus is under severe pressure.

Food coupons
FONSA has provided over £4,000 to help needy families with coupons to purchase food. DNTA and its members have helped to this funding.

Project Hope
We have had a strong relationship with Project Hope for many years. They are a Nablus-based groups supporting international volunteers.

These volunteers – often students – stay in Nablus for 3-6 months, teaching languages, music and other skills to children and young people in Nablus refugee camps.

Unfortunately, the current restrictions mean that the volunteers are unable to travel. But Project Hope has to maintain and rent its accommodation house without any volunteers to pay their share. So we have contributed to help them.

New Askar Kindergarten
We have visited this refugee camp on many visits to Nablus – including our most recent one.

The young boys and girls put on an impressive display of traditional dabke dancing for us. Now they need our help to maintain their kindergarten.

Again, our support is focused and positive. We want Nablus to stay buoyant and be ready to grow again when circumstances allow. You are welcome to contribute here.