Reshaping Futures: STEM and Healing in Salfit

The Reality on the Ground

In the Salfit Governorate of Palestine, children face daily realities that threaten both their education and their emotional well-being. Restricted movement and sudden area-wide closures routinely shut down normal life. When village gates close, schools stop, and childhood is put on hold. But learning cannot wait, and children cannot heal in isolation.

Our Solution: Community Learning for STEM

In partnership with the Community for Cooperation Development Association (CFCDA), we launched a $33,413 initiative running through 2026–2027. This program is designed to build educational resilience right inside the communities of Bedia, Sarta, and Qarawa Bani Hassan. By blending vital Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education with play-based mental health support, we are turning local residents into community leaders. If the gates close, education continues from within.

Overcoming Roadblocks

We do not stop when things get difficult. When sudden gate closures restricted access between villages, our team adapted instantly. The local facilitators and organizations we collaborate with on the ground adapted instantly to regional closures by working directly within the target villages. They have completed local needs assessments, created a custom teacher training manual, and launched interactive STEM summer camps alongside community clubs to weave emotional care directly into the curriculum. Facilitators gather centrally at the Bedia Municipality to coordinate, bring skills back to their neighbors, and keep children safe.

What We Have Accomplished So Far

• Safety First: Completed exhaustive local needs and risk assessments to establish secure learning sites.
• Expert Resources: Partnered with specialists to create a dedicated teacher training manual and custom educational resources.
• Facilitator Launch: Successfully completed the first phase of our Training of Trainers program, focusing on classroom management, STEM, and emotional care.

Moving Forward: Our Next Steps

• STEM Summer Camps: Launching interactive camps for 300 children, capped off with recreational field trips to boost mental well-being and joy.
• Community Clubs: Opening 3 dedicated regional clubs to register and host 200 children for continuous learning.
• Psychosocial Support: Integrating emotional care directly into the curriculum through expressive arts, guided breathing exercises, and emotional regulation, with a direct referral network for children needing specialized mental health care.