New German Government-funded community service centre in Bethlehem – UNDP/PAPP press release

Press Release

New Community service Centre in Bethlehem

Funded by the Government of Germany and Implemented by UNDP

Bethlehem, November 02, 2011 – The German Development Bank and UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People marked today the inauguration of Dar Salah Community Centre in Bethlehem.

The project is part of the Poverty Oriented Employment Generation Programme funded by the Government of Germany via its Development Bank KfW and implemented by UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People.

The project, with a budget of 100,000 Euro, includes the construction and finishing of two additional floors, with a total area of 450m2. The ground floor will host 3 associations, in addition to a library, while the first floor will consist of village council offices, meeting rooms, offices, waiting area etc.

Among the guests of the official ceremony were Mr. Abdul Fattah Hamayel, Governor of Bethlehem, KFW Senior Programme Coordinator Ramallah/Al Bireh Dr. Hisham Sharabati, Mr. Mazen Ghunaim, Deputy Minister of Local Government, and Ms. Yasmine Sherif, UNDP Deputy Special Representative of the Administrator.

With the new centre, the village council will be able to provide the citizens with various services that will benefit the population as a whole. The new building will also facilitate the work of the three associations in developing the society, helping the poor, and increasing the social and cultural awareness between the population.

Since 2002, through Poverty Oriented Employment Generation Programme more than 600 projects in the West Bank and Gaza Strip worth over 83.4 million Euros could be supported.  While covering various social and economic infrastructure investments based on specific needs, the construction of community service buildings has been a popular focus of the programme.

Approximately 93 such facilities, valued at approximately Euro 10 million have been constructed in rural communities throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip thus providing a venue for important service delivery that was not readily available. These multi-purpose facilities are not only home to Village or Joint Service Councils, but also home to youth and women clubs, kindergartens, health clinics, libraries, as well as Internet and computer labs. The centres also have a meeting space for the community to utilize for workshops, town meetings, etc. As a result of the construction of the centres, the population has benefitted from easier access to diverse and important social services.

For further information, please contact:

In Jerusalem: Dania Darwish, Communications Specialist – UNDP/PAPP, Tel. +972-2-6268229, e-mail:

dania.darwish@undp.org. For more information on UNDP/PAPP, see: http://www.undp.ps

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