Since 2000, Israel has placed restrictions on Palestinian external economic relations, which has resulted in significant damage to infrastructure and economic activity. The building of the Wall in the West Bank has meant that people have to travel many miles to get to work or to access basic facilities. The implementation of a permit system has also meant that many people can no longer access their land and poverty levels have increased dramatically.

The YMCA has been present in the OPT since 1949 and there are two local YMCAs in the region (one in East Jerusalem and one in Gaza). We have been working in the OPT since 1984, supporting the East Jerusalem YMCA to implement a post-conflict rehabilitation project for disabled young people in Beit Sahour near Bethlehem and a vocational training programme for young people in Jericho.