The Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development (NISPED) is a non-profit based in Israel which promotes peace and development through education, training, and community projects.[1] It was founded in 1997 by Dr. Yehuda Paz.[2]
NISPED has three major divisions: the Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment and Cooperation (AJEEC), NISPED Middle East, and NISPED Cooperative Development.[1]
History edit
NISPED was founded in 1997 by Dr. Yehuda Paz.[2] Paz remained the chair of NISPED until his death in 2013.[2]
In 2011, co-executive directors of NISPED, Vivian Silver and Amal Elsana Ahl'jooj, received the Victor J. Goldberg Prize for Peace in the Middle East from the Institute of International Education.[3]
Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment and Cooperation edit
The Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment and Cooperation (AJEEC) focuses on peace and development projects within Israel and the Palestinian territories, particularly among Arab-Bedouin communities in Israel.[1] It was founded in 2000.[4] AJEEC is one of the largest civil society organizations in Israel.[5] It is a member of the Alliance for Middle East Peace.[6]
In the 2000s, AJEEC began developing Co-operative Produce for Peace, which would see Palestinian and Israeli producers of cherry tomatoes, strawberries, and sweet potatoes working together in a cooperative. The project was suspended in 2007, following Hamas taking control of the Gaza Strip and the Israel government declaring a blockade on the border.[7]
In 2009, AJEEC launched Joint Ventures for Peace in collaboration with the Shorouq Society for Women.[8] The project brought together Israeli and Palestinian women entrepreneurs and craftspeople, who underwent training together to grow their businesses outside of their home territories.[8][7] It was suspended during the 2014 Gaza War due to logistical difficulties.[7]
In the mid-2010s, AJEEC did several studies in collaboration with the Green Land Society for Health on the recycling of e-waste in the West Bank, and its impact on worker's health and the environment.[9]
AJEEC has a youth division, called Shabibat AJEEC, founded in 2002 by Sliman Al Amor.[5] It operates under the Ministry of Education, and serves around 7,000 people as of 2022.[5] Originally focused on southern Israel, the initiative has spread to the rest of the country in recent years.[5] Shabibat AJEEC does Arabic-language outreach to primarily Bedouin youth through after-school programs and activities.[5] They also provide programs and opportunities for Bedouin and Jewish youth to interact in positive environments.[5]
International work edit
NISPED has also launched programs outside of the Middle East.
NISPED provided aid in Sri Lanka following the 2004 tsunami.[10] They continued to provide aid through 2007.[10]
Another such project is Communities Prosper Together, which was launched in Cameroon in 2019.[11] The project provides various job trainings to promote positive relations between ethnic groups and community resiliency.[11]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development (NISPED)". www.annalindhfoundation.org. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ^ a b c "Israeli Movement mourns the loss of a leading co-operator and campaigner for peace". ICA. December 2, 2013. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ^ "Prize Winners". IIE - The Power of International Education. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ^ "אג'יק – מכון הנגב". Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ^ a b c d e f Davis, Barry (2022-10-07). "Shabibat AJEEC: Connecting Jewish, Bedouin youth". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ^ "Meet Our Members". Alliance for Middle East Peace. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ^ a b c Voinea, Anca (2014-08-13). "The people-to-people approach to peace". Co-operative News. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ^ a b Chaitin, Julia (2009-11-07). "Women creating peace: joint venture for peace". Global SME News. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ^ Peters, Anne (2017-08-09). "Scrap struggle in the Holy Land". E-Scrap News. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ^ a b Paz, Shelly (2007-12-25). "Israel's post-tsunami work in Sri Lanka bears fruit". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ^ a b Voinea, Anca (2022-03-11). "East Cameroon project brings together locals and refugees through co-ops". Co-operative News. Retrieved 2023-10-14.