Al Zahraa (The Flower) Society is dedicated to promoting women’s rights and raising awareness about gender-based violence. Al Zahraa provides support to women who are survivors of sexual and domestic violence as well as women and children who have been displaced from their homes by war. Through psychological, legal, and economic consultation and guidance, Al Zahraa aims to reduce gender-based violence by educating communities and advocating for gender equality. 

This past year, with support of the Martín-Baró Fund, Al Zahraa was able to continue their structured support sessions, include more participants in legal awareness workshops, expand vocational training, and participate in the 16-day campaign on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls. Al Zahraa was able to provide 10 structured group support sessions and about 50 individual consultations that included topics such as gender-based violence, children’s behavioral disorders, and legal issues related to women’s rights. Moreover, Al Zahraa conducted 10 legal consultation group sessions. Al Zahraa also continued with its vocational training, conducting 300 hours of hairdressing and recycling training this year.

For its third year of funding, Al Zahraa hopes to conduct home visits for women in Gaza who wish to participate in the programs as well as field consultations to support families in need. In addition, Al Zahraa aims to obtain funding for a mental health clinic within the organization so that they can provide quality care for women in need of psychosocial interventions. They also hope to obtain loans to support their vocational training clients in Gaza. Lastly, Al Zahraa will enhance training on economic empowerment by hosting facilitators to run workshops on economic planning, income-generating business, and marketing. These new initiatives will be coupled with the organization’s existing efforts to support vulnerable women that are victims of sexual and domestic violence in Palestine.