Without a doubt, this past year posed unprecedented hardship across UPA’s areas of operation and around the world because of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The multiple fault lines that Palestinians communities have confronted over the past 70 plus years were laid bare and the vulnerable became even more vulnerable. 

Nevertheless, it was not the enormous hardships of 2020 that had the last word. In retrospect, what rises to the surface is a clear sense that walking alongside Palestinian communities when they face such unbearable circumstances is a profound privilege. So too is it a privilege to have the compassionate support of UPA’s donor community along the way. 

Indeed, your commitment to empowering Palestinians enables thousands of Palestinian families in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and in refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan to rise above the tide of crises. 

From tackling food insecurity and providing testing kits for COVID-19, supporting students and small business entrepreneurs, to securing access to clean water and sustainable energy resources, UPA’s key programs in Health and Wellness, Community and Economic Development, and Education ensured that Palestinian communities were equipped to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, all while achieving sustainable and meaningful impact. 

Wrapping-up 2020 

A few weeks ago, UPA wrapped up 2020 with friends and supporters around the world who stood with us to “Be A Lighthouse of Hope,” UPA’s year-end campaign, featuring musician Huda Asfour and messages from UPA’s field staff and partners in the region. 

Thanks to your compassion turned into action, the campaign exceeded its goal and thereby propelled UPA forward with confidence to expand the impact of our programs in 2021. 

“All of us at UPA are grateful to our supporters around the world. Their dedication to the Palestinian communities we work with is awe-inspiring,” said Executive Director, Saleem F. Zaru. “With great care, transparency and accountability, we will ensure that the proceeds of the campaign achieve the best possible impact across our areas of operation,” Mr. Zaru continued. 

With a year marked by successive emergencies behind us, UPA is looking onward with a keen eye to mitigate the continued impact of COVID-19 while strengthening UPA’s long-term programs. 

For example, UPA will work to double the size of our Small Business Development Program in the Gaza Strip, providing opportunity to some of the most tenacious small business entrepreneurs on the planet and launching new tracks of activities in Gaza’s agricultural and fishing sectors.  

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, UPA will continue prioritizing agricultural interventions in Area C, contributing to Palestinian agricultural independence and protecting the most vulnerable lands.    

Additionally, given the continued electricity shortage in the Gaza Strip, UPA hopes to bolster Palestinian energy independence by providing solar energy systems. Without a reliable source of electricity, it is nearly impossible to run education programming that prepares youth for the global economy, operate a competitive business, or provide quality medical care. 

Moreover, UPA will prioritize capacity building for the medical sector in Palestine and refugee camps in the Middle East through providing high-quality infrastructure improvements, equipment upgrades, and trainings to health professionals. 

Meet UPA’s year-end online Top Fundraiser Award winner 

UPA was delighted to hear from many donors and was especially moved by those who created fundraisers in support of our year-end campaign. As a gesture of appreciation, UPA launched the online Top Fundraiser Award. 

Fay from West Virginia, winner of the award, pointed to how UPA’s programs resonate with her, the “humanitarian, cultural, and educational projects, they reflect the values my Palestinian parents taught me,” she said upon receiving a prize of her choice, The Palestinian Table cookbook by Reem Kassis and a Taste of Palestine food basket. 

The role of Fay and so many donors like her cannot be overstated. Their collective support ensures that the activities UPA plans to carry out in 2021 come to fruition, forging new pathways to a vibrant future.