Lifeline has felt the importance of short and long term sustainable projects being implemented in the villages. To this end, Hava has been on the alert for workable schemes that might benefit the villagers through the starting up of small businesses or the establishing of something that would serve the village as a whole.

Helping others with their ongoing education has been another means of increasing employment opportunities in a land where jobs are few and far between.  And even when an education is completed, there is still no guarantee of a job after that.

Lifeline works with a few families who have experienced tragedy with the loss of loved ones, or where an accident has incapacitated one of the wage earners.  Lifeline is engaged in trying to get them back on their feet. 

There are regular reports of new needs of every kind - from unpaid utility bills, medical bills, clothes, and other basic necessities of life.

A few years ago, Hava sat down with a village mayor, and both shared a longing to see a park created that the people of the village would be able to enjoy. It would need to be something practical as well as beautifully landscaped. It would employ the men in the making of it as well as providing a few long-term caretakers jobs. Out of this inspiration was birthed “Project Hope and Joy.”

In 2005, Hava and a handful of Americans came over to help make this dream a reality by being involved in some of the planting. In the meantime, an Italian aid organization had been contacted concerning the project, which received their approval and financial assistance. Lifeline provided all the plants, trees and grass and even a few of the picnic tables. Beginning with a few trees and flowers, planted in the honor and memory of a few of our friends, this project came alive. Working side by side, Americans and Arabs hacked into the rocky soil day and night!

In one year the project was completed. It is now a beautiful place where families come and play together and enjoy each others company. Weddings and other social occasions in the village use the park as their venue.

Another project that received Hava’s attention was a chicken project that would provide eggs and meat for a family as well as becoming a source of income in the form of a small business. A chicken house with laying cages was designed and built through the generous gifts of Lifeline benefactors and today a small but fully operational outfit exists that is a source of inspiration to others.

It was also felt to purchase a small plot of land that could be turned into a vegetable garden for 6 families. Once again Lifeline supporters responded, and Hava can vouch for the wonderful vegetables that have been grown and consumed.

Other projects are now in the pipeline, and the details of those will be shared as and when they come together. Project Joshua is one such project on the drawing board. It is essentially creating a children’s playground in one of the villages where up to now no such thing exists. For more details, please do contact us.

For many Palestinians, a rough and hard road lies ahead



Many receive the benefit of sponsored education through Lifeline


Day and night they toiled together!


Arab and American


Shashu and his "ladies"


Surveying the fruits of the vegetable garden