Association Najdeh - Embroidery Production Program

Al-Badia embroidery production project was the first of Najdeh's projects It started in 1976, and was registered as an independent project Al-Badia Company. The main goal of the project was creating job opportunities for Palestinian women whose supporters, mainly fathers and husbands, were missed or killed during the war inside the camp. The project was officially registered as Najdeh's in 1978 and as an independent project as "Al-Badia" in 1981 in order to import raw materials and export embroidery products. After its registration, Al-Badia was Palestinian women income generating project in order to be economically self-sufficient, as well as the survival of the Palestinian cultural heritage and its spread. Najdeh Al-Badia embroidery production section operates through two embroidery workshops in the camps of Ein El-Helwi and Rashidieh located in the south of Lebanon. Besides, Al-Badia has four work groups in: Shatila, Nahr El-Bared, Mieh w Mieh, and Borj El-Shemali camps.

The main objective of the project is the promotion of the Palestinian cultural heritage by providing Palestinian refugee women with economic sustenance.

Increase the employment opportunities of Palestinian refugee women
Create economic sustenance of the working women from the Palestinian targeted areas.
Provide social and professional skills for the embroidery workers.
Help in social development of Palestinian refugee women living in rural and poor areas.
Improve capacity building of Al-Badia staff.
Protect Al-Badia production and increase its sales rate.
Promote the Palestinian cultural heritage.

Embroidery Production Activities:

Creating job opportunities for 120 Palestinian women, through the embroidery income generating project.
Raising awareness of Al-Badia embroidery workers.
Improving of the staff skills.
Developing and improving the embroidery quality of work through producing new designs and securing raw materials of high quality.

At the local level, Al-Badia is member of the Palestinian Committee of Cultural Revival, the Mediterranean Network for Crafts, and is a member of the Lebanese Crafts Gathering. At the international level, Al-Badia is a partner with a Greek organization "Kessa Dimitra", which also assists in training and exhibitions. As a prove f Al-Badia sustainability and high quality work, the project won the UNESCO prize.