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 Home Overseas Projects The Middle East Project History
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA in the Middle East
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA was established in 1984 partly as a response to the violation of Palestinian peoples' human rights and their struggle for self-determination. Our Middle East program aims to demonstrate solidarity and commitment with the Palestinian people through humanitarian assistance and advocacy.
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, with AusAID (Australian Government) and Australian trade union funding, have been assisting a wide range of development aid projects with Palestinians in West Bank and Gaza and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon consistently since 1984. We have funded over A$10.6 million to our Middle East program between 1984-2010. Initially our projects had a health focus, with training of Palestinian and Lebanese nurses in Australia. The program has worked in areas such as vocational skills training, English language training for the labour market, permaculture and organic agriculture, food security, institutional management and administrative capacity building for small community organisations, and early childhood education.
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA's program in the Middle East targets two main groups. Firstly, the economically and psychologically disadvantaged, such as refugees, women, the aged, isolated people in rural areas, survivors of torture and trauma, the underemployed workers and the unemployed. Secondly, members of civil society, public and private, who need training and resources in order to improve the functioning of a new Palestinian state.
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA also takes an active advocacy role within the aid community in Australia. We have been an active member of the ACFID Middle East Working Group since its creation in 1995. In addition, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has conducted study tours for members to the Middle East, as well as tours of our Palestinian partner organizations to Australia. We have hosted public seminars, film nights, and worked with the media.
You can support this work in the Middle East by becoming a donor today.
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