Dheisheh is one of the 59 Palestinian refugee camps established after the expulsion of more than 750,000 Palestinians following the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. Since the beginning of the second Intifada in September 2002, unemployment has skyrocketed, and Dheisheh has been the site of intense Israeli military assaults, including numerous invasions by tanks and shelling by Apache helicopters. Political instability and violence, compounded by daily obstacles under the occupation, have had a profoundly negative impact on the children whose lives are defined by curfews, demonstrations, and funerals.

The Ibdaa Cultural Center was established to enable children to participate in activities that nurture their talents and creativity. The MBF grant will support counseling services, workshops (music, art, creative writing, and drama), and other therapeutic activities for the children of Dheisheh, particularly those with family members killed or imprisoned since the start of the Intifada. It will also provide mental health workshops for parents and other adult volunteers working with children and youth.