ABOUT JIZR A ZARQA

                                                

Jizr a Zarqa is the only Arab town in Israel located on the Mediterranean coast and has a population of around 30,00. Jizr is adjacent to the thriving and ancient town of Caesaria. The town is located within Israel’s central economic and tourism belt. Yet despite its excellent location, the town is cut-off and both rail and public transport access is limited. However, a new interchange is being planned.

Yet despite its excellent location, the town is cut-off and both rail and public transport access is limited. However, a new interchange is being planned. The municipality is seeking to promote environmental tourism to the town capitalizing on its beautiful beachfront.

In common with many Arab towns in Israel, economic activity within the towns is limited and wages are generally very low. Unemployment and youth at risk are both high.

Interestingly, a local resident, Mariam Amash, applied for a new identity card in Hadera in February 2008, using a birth document issued by the Ottoman Empire showing she was born in 1888. If verified by the Guinness Book of World Records, this would have made her the oldest living person in the world at 120. She died on December 22, 2012, at the age of 124.

BTF IN JIZR A ZARQA

PARENTS ORGANIZE AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, EXPOSING THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN TO NEW EXPERIENCES.

COMMUNITY NETWORKS

LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS COMBINE THEIR LOVE OF JIZR WITH THE TOWN'S NATURAL ASSETS OF SEA, SAND AND ANCIENT HISTORY.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

RESIDENTS RE-GAIN CIVIC PRIDE AND OPEN THEIR HOUSES TO VISITORS AT THE END OF RAMADAN. THOUSANDS NOW VISIT EACH YEAR.

TOURISM

RESIDENTS TAKE ACTION TO IMPROVE THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

ENVIRONMENT

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

TIMEFRAME: 2005-2009

INTERVENTION TYPE: Place-based.

MAIN PROGRAMS: Capacity building, developing partnerships, tourism, demographic growth.

INTERVENTION METHODS

Generating local and civic pride
Stimulating self-run networks
Increasing interaction between self-run community networks
Improving local capacities for maintaining change
Partnership development the city council and national government
Synchronizing  activities amongst the many stakeholders for the best use of resources