Event reports
The region of the southern West Bank suffers from limited water and energy resources. The largest water resources in the region are under Israeli control which limits portion of water specified for the Palestinian cities and villages. At the same time the electricity in the region is supplied by the Israeli electricity state company, which results in relatively high electricity bills. Generally, housewives in the Palestinian Territories have the main responsibility in household-related duties like child raising, cooking, washing, etc. Hence, they are the family members who mostly deal with water and energy resources. The efficient use of water and electricity in the households defuses the increasing problems related to resource scarcity and assures a better economical situation and living standard in this region.
In order to tackle the problems related to electricity and water shortages, the KAS Ramallah together with the Dura municipality has organized a three-day workshop to train housewifes from the Dura region in methods and techniques of efficient and econocmical use of water, and improve their knowledge and skills about related issues.
The 53 partcipants were mainly from rural areas, where the family income is comparably low. Within a scientific framework, experts in the field gave lectures and presentations, while practical experiments served to a better understanding of the theoretically introduced techniques. At the Hebron Palestine Polytchenic University the women had the chance to do their own water quality tests. The results and recommendations of the workshop were collected in a brochure that was handed over to all participants. All parties involved were very satisfied with the outcome and course of the workshop. Improved skills and a broader knowledge increase the women's involvement in decision-making processes related to water and energy issues and enhance them to join organizations to actively face these problems.