Getting Involved
Volunteer
Fundraise
Donate
Volunteer at Bustan Qaraaqa:
Whatever your age and abilities, we welcome you to join us here in Palestine and work with us and our local partners to take practical action for land and people.
Normally we work 3 days per week at the Bustan Qaraaqa site, setting up our model for sustainable living and food production, and maintaining the farm and guesthouse. Working here, you will learn about permaculture techniques, arid zone farming, and Palestinian environmental problems, joining a multicultural and lively team of volunteers.
Each week we also spend at least one and often two days working in the community, alongside Palestinian farmers or at schools, helping implement sustainability initiatives, learning about traditional Palestinian farming techniques, seeing environmental problems at first hand, and supporting farmers struggling with threats of land confiscation and limited water supplies.
At present our weekly schedule is:
Sunday: On-site workshop and open volunteer day
Monday: Continuation of on-site projects
Tuesday: House and site cleaning day
Wednesday: Off-site work day (community partners in Artas village)
Thursday: Off-site work day (community partners in local villages)
Friday: Free day (local demonstrations)
Saturday: Free day
Accommodation is in a dormitory room in the oldest part of the house. The dorm consists of two cave-rooms and can sleep up to eight people.
The minimum period we can accept volunteers for is 1 week. If you have less time, you are welcome to stay in the guesthouse (100 NIS per night) and look around the farm, but we cannot offer you the 'volunteer rate'.
If possible, we prefer for people to arrive during the week (Sunday to Thursday) so that we can give them a full orientation (but not on our day off :) If arriving over the weekend (Friday/Saturday), be prepared to find the site very quiet!
Unfortunately, as a small and recently founded organisation, we need volunteers to contribute financially to help cover the costs of the project. We ask people to pay 500 NIS per week, which includes a bed in the dorm and 3 meals per day. Discounts are available for long-term volunteers (stays of over 1 month).
Become a Bustan Qaraaqa Fundraiser:
As a small and recently established project, we are heavily reliant on grassroots fundraising to keep our heads above water. We are also a very low budget project, so small amounts can make a huge difference to us.
Fundraising can be good fun, and can serve the dual purpose of raising awareness about the Palestinian environmental crisis.
Some ideas for fundraising:
Organise a party or music event, either in your own home or at a venue. Advertise it as a fundraiser for a permaculture farm in Palestine, charge a small entrance fee and have information available in the form of a photo exhibition or leaflets that you hand out.
Organise a film showing or lecture about Palestine and Palestinian farmers and collect donations from the audience.
Organise a Palestinian themed evening, with Palestinian food and music and charge a small entrance fee.
Sell Palestinian merchandise. Particularly if you are coming out to Palestine and returning home, invest in some nice olive wood carvings, key-rings and t-shirts and sell them for a small profit.
If you would like to fundraise for us, please be in contact (+972 2 2748994 or email info@bustanqaraaqa.org), and we will forward you a support pack.
Donate:
Small donations can go a long way! If you feel you would like to contribute financially, cheques payable to Bustan Qaraaqa can be sent to The Old School, Lydfords Lane, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4NJ, UK.
Better yet, become a regular contributor. If 400 people gave us £5 per month, our budget would be completely covered, and we would be in a stable funding situation. If you would like to support us in this way, please be in touch (info@bustanqaraaqa.org) and we will forward you our bank details.
Alternatively, if you would like to donate something specific, take a look at our profile on BetterPlace.org for things we need at the moment.
