What We Do
The EJ-YMCA Rehabilitation Program is the only program in Palestine applying a holistic approach in providing rehabilitative services. As we constantly strive for professionalism in every sphere of service and based on our belief that in order to achieve the desired objectives at the psychosocial and vocational levels, a suitable environment needs to be provided to the beneficiaries in order to facilitate the rehabilitation process. Customized to each individual beneficiary, our group of professional staff provide a comprehensive intervention plan that takes into consideration all the different needs and obstacles ranging from education to mobility and accessibility. Our focus is on ability and not disability so that our beneficiaries become active members in their communities and are reintegrated into society, thus contributing to mobilizing and utilizing the community resources as well as to the reconstruction of the Palestinian society. Our services are provided either by the field workers who cover all areas of the West Bank, at the surroundings of the beneficiaries, or at the Program's main office in Beit-Sahour.
The holistic approach adopted at the Rehabilitation Program consists of a number of services covering many life aspects that are relevant to the social and political context in Palestine.
The involvement of the community in affecting a change in the local context is indispensable. Thus, the Program is keen to continuously hold meetings, workshops and conferences with families, relevant community-based organizations, civil society, private sector, and governmental organizations to spread awareness on issues related to the rights of persons with disability and survivors of political violence.
The Program has been enthusiastically calling for a change on the policy level to advocate for the rights of persons with disability as well as survivors of political violence. An advocacy team was set to collect data, meet with decision-makers, and follow up on running advocacy campaigns including empowering persons with disability to struggle for their rights.
The Training Unit contributes to building the capacity of the social workers, psychosocial and vocational counselors and supervisors within the Program as well as those who are working in the field of mental health, psychosocial support and rehabilitation in the governmental and non-governmental organizations at the national level. The training conducted at the international level in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East made our Training Unit a reference within the World Alliance of YMCA's and beyond.
To amplify the impact of its work, the Rehabilitation Program is continuously networking with all relevant bodies, both at national and international levels. The Program's good reputation enabled it to be a member at the Higher Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disability, the National Steering Committee of the Child Protection Networks, the National Steering Committee of the Vocational Counseling and Guidance, and the Psychosocial Working Group of ACT Alliance, among other networks.
The rich production of manuals, research papers and reports is one of the main characteristics of the Program. Some of these productions are: the Manual of Organizations Working in the Field of Mental Health and Psychosocial Intervention in the West Bank, the Manual of Organizations Working in the Field of Disability in the West Bank, and the Training Manual on Psychosocial Support and Mental Health.