Support design, support Disarming Design from Palestine
This campaign has ended on 01-01-2019
Campaign by: Disarming Design From Palestine
Campaign Summary
Disarming Design from Palestine is establishing an alternative design school responding to the need for a vibrant design program which maintains an active relationship with the local design and crafts communities, and can be flexible in its format.
Problem
Many craftsmen and designers are active in Palestine, but due to the occupation and the often marginalized positions, they lack enough work, innovation and exposure. There is a need for a vibrant design program which maintains an active relationship with the local design and crafts communities, and can be flexible in its format.
Solution
Our alternative school is focussing on the local community, who can participate in the events we host, or enjoy the beautiful courtyard and get inspired. Palestinian producers will benefit from the production of our products, the participation in our workshops and other future collaborations between them and the Palestinian design community. Students from the Birzeit University (focussing on Architecture & Design faculty) join events, workshops and host activities themselves. Designers from all over Palestine are offered a new place to meet, share ideas on design and do research in the library, and they will participate in the special product-design-workshops that we will organize.
International designers will participate through a residency that includes design development and teaching, and we’ll offer them a space to do research. And on a global level, the activities will contribute to the distribution of alternative narratives from Palestine through design and the understanding of the position of designers within this
About Disarming Design From Palestine
Disarming Design from Palestine is a thought-provoking design label that develops, presents and sells useful goods from Palestine, designed by contemporary designers and artists in collaboration with local producers. The label aims to spread alternative narratives about contemporary Palestine and reflect upon the function of creative practices in situations of conflict.
Number of supporters
raised out of €8,000
Countries
This campaign made us good friends with the BuildPalestine team. They coached us from A to Z on how to create and promote the campaign. Today, members of their network has joined our projects
Sunbula’s Covid-19 relief campaign helped 8 partner producer groups in Palestine – here’s the story
We “Zoomed” with Shirabe, Executive Director at Sunbula, who was all the way in Japan during the time of the call, to hear about the results of their latest crowdfunding campaign.
Sunbula is a Jerusalem-based fair trade organization that supports artisan groups, and marginalized women and communities in Palestine through the promotion and sale of traditional artisanal crafts. The organization, founded in 1988, has a stronghold in Jerusalem, and Palestine as a whole, and has been working to support different communities for the past 33 years.
In the summer of 2020, Sunbula launched a Covid-19 relief campaign. The team was able to raise more than $17,000 USD, over twice the original fundraising goal. “We thought that because of the Covid-19 situation at the time, it was going to be a more challenging campaign to run, but it turned out to be the opposite.” Sunbula ended up raising the goal twice. “It was a huge surprise to us.” Shirabe commented.
And because of the online activity promoting the crowdfunding campaign, the Sunbula online shop saw a spike in orders, especially in the months following the campaign. This was a significant push to Sunbula and their partner producer groups. “The more exposure we got, the more direct impact we could make.” noted Shirabe.
Of the funds raised, about 60% went to Sunbula, and the other 40% went as direct aid to eight partner producers and artisan groups. The funds from the campaign were a ‘breather’ for many of these artisan groups, who otherwise may have had to shut down. The Oasis Center in Bethlehem for example, was able to secure funds for daily transportation costs for their workers with disability. Other producer groups who were able to benefit from the campaign relief fund are Jelld, Bethlehem Arab Women’s Union, Amari Women’s Program Center, Melkite Pastoral Center, The Surif Women’s Cooperative and Idna Ladies’ Association.
The ripple effect of impact
We spoke to Sadiyeh from the Idna Ladies’ Association, who sends her genuine gratitude to supporters of the campaign. “Prior to the Covid-19 crisis, orders through Sunbula were sufficient to provide income for the association’s employees, as well as purchasing supplies. The pandemic affected everyone and especially our association and women who work at the organization.” Sadiyeh said. The campaign helped provide direct income for the women working in embroidery, many of whom spent over three months without any pay. The association is larger than sales of products, Sadiye added. “I was able to send all my daughters to college with the income I make from my work. I thank every person who feels with us and anyone in need, and who supports the work we do.” Sadiyeh recognizes that donations are not sustainable, and to truly survive during and beyond the pandemic, orders need to continue coming in. The Idna Ladies’ Association supports 40 households in the area.
On Sunbula’s end
The fairtrade organization is currently working on rebranding their website and different digital marketing channels. Similarly to other organizations, Sunbula has had to focus on going digital to compensate for the in-person sale losses. The constant closures and lockdowns were an additional challenge in 2020, but things are looking up.
Shirabe says their online sales have been solid since the holiday season. But not enough to compensate for Covid losses. If you’d like to support fairtrade in Palestine, check out Sunbula’s shop here.
Stay tuned to the latest from Sunbula. To browse through Sunbula’s store, visit https://www.sunbula.org/ and follow their Facebook and Instagram.