Ibda’a Childhood Project is one of the flagship programmes of Ibda’a Cultural Center for Child Development and Cultural Exchange in Dheisheh Refugee Camp, Bethlehem. Since its establishment, the project has provided children with a safe, inclusive, and stimulating environment where they can learn, play, and express themselves through education, arts, sports, and cultural activities. The project promotes children’s rights, psychosocial well-being, creativity, and social inclusion while helping children develop essential life skills, confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of identity despite the challenges of living in a refugee camp. A core objective of the project is to ensure children’s meaningful participation in decision-making processes, enabling them to influence activities that affect their lives and strengthening their role as active members of their community.
The project adopts a holistic approach to child development by combining early childhood education, non-formal learning, psychosocial support, creative arts, recreational activities, leadership development, and family engagement. Through its kindergarten, nursery, children’s library, cultural workshops, volunteer initiatives, and community events, the project empowers children to become active citizens, promotes community participation, and invests in building the capacities of children and adolescents. By nurturing leadership skills, encouraging civic engagement, and developing a new generation of young leaders and community cadres, while preserving Palestinian cultural heritage, the Ibda’a Childhood Project contributes to building a more resilient, educated, and hopeful generation capable of leading positive change in their community.