With the population of Gaza reaching close to 2 million and over 50% under the age of 18, it is our duty to help ease the living situation due to the ongoing siege in Gaza. Our work primarily focuses on children as they are the future hope for Palestine.

We partnered with PaliRoots to do a 3-month pilot program to research food and nutrient deficiency in four kindergartens in some of the poorest areas of the Gaza Strip. We found that among the 372 children at these kindergartens, 37% were anemic, 4.1% were stunted, 23% were at risk of stunting, 3% were underweight, 20.5% were overweight, and 14.2% were obese.

At the end of the pilot program, the results showed a significant improvement in the health of the children. This also increased their desire to attend school more regularly. Their attention and behavior improved as well. With the support of the PaliRoots community, we are thrilled to continue this project and seeing the happy faces from the parents, teachers, and children makes us even more excited to continue this beautiful work.

Support from PaliRoots Community

Each quarter, PaliRoots donates a portion of their proceeds to MECA for this vital project. PaliRoots also runs fundraising campaigns with all the donations coming directly to MECA to help us continue and expand this project.

In 2020, PaliRoots community raised more than $164,000 for the project. And in 2021, PaliRoots campaigns on LaunchGood, Instagram, and Facebook have already raised more than $2million!

Thank you PaliRoots Community

Healthy Meals: How it works

MECA Project Assistant Wafaa El Derawi is a trained nutritionist and experienced nutrition educator. She oversees all aspects of the project including the weekly plans for balanced meals. Each day differ but the meals include foods such as chicken, meatballs, lentils, salads, fresh and cooked vegetables, fresh fruit and, milk.

Four women are in charge of purchasing nutritious, affordable ingredients to prepare the food which is delivered five days a week to four kindergartens, providing healthy meals to 400 children. The head cook is Im Wadee, who has experience in a previous nutrition project with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

COVID-19 Changes: Shifting to Food Parcels

During times when kindergartens are closed in Gaza, MECA provides food parcels to the families so the children continue to receive healthy, nutritious meals while staying healthy and safe at home.

The food parcels provide 2000 children with healthy meals.