About

The name "Ibda'a," (ابداع) is translated from Arabic as "creation" or "creative ability".  Ibda'a Cultural Center (Ibda'a) is a grassroots, community-based organization located in the Dheisheh refugee camp within occupied Palestinian territory. Since its foundation in 1994, Ibda'a serves more than 2000 children, youth, men and women annually, and provides employment and income to some families in the camp. Ibda'a’s mission is to create a positive atmosphere for residents of the refugee camp in order to assist them in developing creativity and leadership skills through a range of social, cultural and educational activities.

Ibda'a believes that by empowering the most vulnerable members of our community trough offering training in skills from diverse fields, we provide a space for Palestinian refugees to activate their role in society and participate in addressing the public’s needs and concerns. As a result, Ibda'a instills a culture of democracy and acceptance of others, away from all forms of prejudice. Ibda'a’s goals serve as a compass for all activities and describe how the Ibda'a family behaves inside and outside the camp.

Ibdaa has become one of the most successful organizations in Palestine, playing a vital role in the community’s survival and resilience – particularly after the Intifada started – by organizing events and art projects and teaching vital life skills

• Ibda'a's children and youth participants have toured the globe, earning the title from the late President Yasser Arafat as “Ambassadors of Palestine”.
• Ibda'a won the title of Most Active Institution in Palestine following a survey organized by AlHayat Newspaper in 2006.
• Ibda'a Art Group presented distinguished performances worldwide including a performance in the UN General Assembly Meeting in New York and another at the World Church Union Meeting in Washington. It also participated in Indigenous American celebrations and festivals in 1999 and won first place at the “Algeria Capital of the Arab Culture” festival, competing against 18 Asian and African groups.
• Ibda'a inaugurated “The Continents’ Center” in Brussels in presence of representatives of many states.
• Ibda'a participated in the closing ceremony of the Refugees’ Conference in New York, in the presence of Edward Saeed, who described the troupe as the best representative for Palestinian refugees.
• Ibda'a established the first guesthouse in a refugee camp which can accommodate up to 42 visitors.
• The first radio in a Palestinian camp was launched by Ibda'a, which broadcasted for years.
• Ibda'a cooperated with a Korean institution to perform 100 surgeries free of charge for children.

Ibdaa children have participated in international camps in Hungry, France, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Morocco, and Tunisia. Moreover, it has organized a number of international camps and holds four annual summer camps for its beneficiaries.

Ibdaa receives foreign delegations from different nations on daily basis and offers camp tours that including an informative presentation of the Palestinian history, occupation, and the reality of living in a refugee camp.

Ibdaa provides grants and financial aid to university students every year through scholarships in local and international universities.

The Swedish Olaf Palma International Center nominated Ibda'a for an international award.

Ibdaa was chosen as a model to be disseminated in other areas in Palestine under the supervision of Catholic Relief Services with funding from Bill Gates Foundation. This effort was part of a project named Tawasol in which Ibdaa was involved in the development of 13 similar Palestinian organizations in the West Bank.

Ibda'a sent 100 of its patients from the Diabetes Club to perform Umra (semi-pilgrimage). 

Ibda’a’s main objectives are:

1. To support the development of children’s capacities in a number of areas including cultural, technical, recreational, academic, and health.
2. To focus on building the capacity of women as caretakers of the children.
3. To promote and support youth as an extension of the childhood development
4. To raise awareness in the community about the importance of childhood development