Program Definition:
The Civil Society Program is a collection of interventions that came about in order to support other programs. It strives to further highlight the national, democratic, and social role of the organization and accomplishes this through a group of awareness-raising, educational, democratic, informational, and research activities that attempt to shed further light on national, social, and economic issues concerning rural Palestine. It strives to positively contribute to strengthening civil society values with the goal of attaining a free and independent Palestinian state where the values of justice and equality prevail.
General Program Objective:
This program aims to strengthen PARC’s role in the process of the broader national, social struggle in accordance with the organization’s vision and message of popularizing civil society values such as democracy, tolerance, good governance, and alliance with the poor, as part of the ongoing struggle for a free Palestinian society in which the values of justice, equality, and equal opportunity prevail.
Specific Objectives:
1. To develop the role of the organization in local and regional networks, increasing its influence in the broader national struggle.
2. To increase organization workers' competence in using advocacy and assistance techniques.
3. To strengthen civil society values amongst the organization’s workers.
4. To increase the adoption of values based on peace, justice, and liberty.
Target group:
1. A group that can work in order to build PARC’s capacities and mobilization, namely:
• PARC’s various branches
• PARC’s central services
• PARC’s partner associations (the Youth Development Association, the Rural Women's Development Association, and the Palestinian Farmers Union)
• Organizations and collective action groups in rural Palestine.
2. A group that can work on advocacy with:
• The Palestinian leadership and government
• The Ministry of Agriculture
• Foreign representatives and consuls
Local networks in whose administrative bodies PARC occupies leadership positions:
• The Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO)
• Stop the Wall: the grassroots Palestinian anti-apartheid wall campaign
• The Committee of Civil Society Organizations
• The Coordinating Committee for Civil Society Organizations in Palestine and the Diaspora
• The Civil Coalition for Jerusalem
• The National High Committee for the Commemoration of the Nakba
Interventions covered by the program:
• awareness, advocacy, and assistance campaigns
• training courses and workshops
• research and reports
• a television series
Units Included in the Program:
1. collective action unit
2. research unit
3. media unit
Noteworthy Accomplishments:
1. Formation of a committee against the racist annexation and expansion wall that consists of 12 central committees, with each containing several sub-committees.
2. Organizing a conference around the racist annexation and expansion wall in coordination with Al-Quds Open University.
3. Organizing the Gandhi march.
4. Organizing conferences and events with solidarity groups outside of Palestine.
5. Organizing volunteer solidarity campaigns both locally and globally.
6. Production of the films “Jerusalem: East Side Story” and “The Iron Wall” in four languages.
7. Organizing of the 40 Years of Occupation campaign.
