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Palestinian co-operators marked the end of the International Year of Co-operatives with four co-operative exhibitions across the West Bank.
The fairs, which took place in Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus and Jericho, attracted 89 co-operatives and more than 1,000 co-operators. The exhibitions were organised by ACTED in co-operation with the Palestinian Ministry of Labour and the Economic and Social Development Centre and was supported by the Europea Union and the French Development Agency.
Co-operatives showcased their products including handmade soap, dresses, wallets, cushions, scarves and shawls showing off traditional Palestinian embroidery skills. Some co-ops also displayed edible goods such as fruit and vegetables, honey, and herbs, as well as dairy products including various cheeses, yoghurt, and milk.
The fair showed how co-ops make a difference in West Bank, a region where two million people (48 per cent of the population) live in poverty.
The Separation Barrier as well as successive years of drought and unstable input prices have placed a major strain on the coping mechanisms of rural workers and separated communities. Yet, co-operatives give power to local people in Salfit and Qalqilya. The two regions have signed micro-grant agreements with ACTED through a European Union sponsored project. The grants, aimed at stimulating co-operative development and building capacity, are benefitting 700 co-operative members.
ILO’s work has also extensively focused on the creation of decent and sustainable jobs in the occupied Palestinian territory and co-operatives are part of ILO’s strategy to address unemployment, gender equality or poverty reduction. In December 2009, at the request of the Palestinian Authority, the ILO provided technical assistance to the Government and social partners to support national co-operative reform efforts, including drafting a new co-operative law. ILO’s projects have also been focused on unlocking women from traditional sectors and finding niche markets through its Gender and Entrepreneurship Together programme.
A successful women co-operative is Aseela olive oil soap. Aseela was established in 2004 by a group of 13 women from Bethlehem area refugee camps and village of Beit Sahur as an innovative entrepreneurship project empowering Palestinian women and promote Palestinian products overseas. In 2006 they started producing their first Pure Olive Oil Soap.
Although it is more expensive, Aseela is made using eating-quality olive oil. The soap is sold not only in Palestine, but it is also exported to Europe and Japan.
“People outside Palestine hear only about violence and poverty. We wanted to show the world something beautiful from our country, by making great products from our excellent olive oil,” said Wafa Khatib, resident of Dheisheh refugee camp and co-founder of Aseela.
Overall active co-operatives have 71,000 members across Palestine, 16,000 belonging to co-operative organizations registered in the Gaza Strip and 55,000 to West Bank co-operatives. Directly and indirectly, co-operatives benefit 350,000 people across the occupied Palestinian territory.
Photo: co-operative fair in West Bank, 2012
