Solar power for women’s cooperative in Palestine

We are excited to announce that CoPower customer members have voted to allocate $10,000 to Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA’s Solar power for women’s cooperative in Palestine impact campaign. In partnership with Palestinian organisation MA’AN Development Center, we have been implementing a project to build capacities of women’s cooperatives in the food production and processing, supported by funds from Australian government and Australian Education Unions. One of the coops is an organic farming cooperative with 16 women in the village of Deir al Sudan, in Ramallah district. The aims are Palestinian sovereignty over land and food, women’s economic and social empowerment, and resilience against the occupation. When a delegation of Australian trade unionists visited in August 2023, the women showed a demountable on their land they were using for shelter and for food storage, but requested to have solar power, so they are not dependent on running a long electrical line and paying the Israeli company for power. This will transform their cooperative, and assist with labour saving measures.

This impact campaign is supported through the 2024 2024 CoPower Democratic Budget to drive change in communities.

Photo Description: Women from the farming cooperative at Deir al Sudan village.