Women's Programme Centres (WPC)

In 1953, UNRWA established ten sewing centers at various women’s programme centres. These centres were refurbished between 1995-97 with funds from UNRWA's peace implementation project (PIP).

Each Women Programme Centre elects its own administrative board (local committees), and they develop by-laws to regulate the center in term of objectives, membership, finance and management.

Each Women Programme Centre has a small room of toys which were funded several years ago by a French NGO, but over the years, many toys have broken or become worn beyond repair.

Main Activities:

All Women's Programme Centres have developed their activities and services to meet the needs of the community and also to implement new strategies for Women’s Programme Centres. These include:

• Training courses in various vocational areas – sewing, hairdressing, home economics, computers, and photography – are offered.

• Incoming generating projects – beauty salons, small shops, and rental halls – have been established.

• Nurseries and kindergartens, which provide support for working women and encourage mothers to attend the Centre’s activities, were created.

• Community services which promote the aims of UNRWA’s social services – exhibitions, bazaars, lectures and workshops, film and video screenings, summer camps and day trips – are organized.

• Physical fitness activities, including gymnastics and health lectures, are offered.

• Legal literacy courses which educate women as to their rights are also offered.

Additional Activities:

• A special creative programme for children was implemented at all Women's Programme Centres in coordination with a French NGO, Enfants Refugees du Monds, starting in July 2000 until August 2003.  More than 2,500 children benefited from the activities which included theatre performances, painting classes. Cultural games, sports and exhibitions.

• Psychological counselling programmes for children who have been affected by the current situation are being implemented in coordination with Medicins San Frontiers at Nuseirat and Bureij Women's Programme Centres. Also, special lectures and workshops have been organised on first aid. Counseling and social advice have been provided for women and children at Women's Programme Centres.

• Summer camps have been implemented at the Women's Programme Centres.  The activities focus on lectures about first aid, civil defense, nutrition, health, psychological and social issues, in addition to recreation activities such as painting, theater plays, games and trips. About 1,200 children have benefited from the camps.

• Library activities were implemented at Women's Programme Centres in cooperation with Tamer Association and the Palestinian Ministry of Culture such as book readings, wall papers, lectures about children's rights, theater plays, post card design, painting courses and exhibitions.  About 10,000 children have taken part.

• Computer courses and activities for children implemented at most Women's Programme Centres. About 150 children participate monthly.

• Supplementary classes for school pupils have been conducted at all Women's Programme Centres by staff employed on UNRWA’s emergency job creation programme. About 500 students benefit monthly.