New Fellows in Palestine
BuildPalestine, our partner in the EU-funded Impact Together-project, has selected six new social entrepreneurs they will be supporting through their Fellowship Program. Conversely, different social enterprises that were already in their portfolio are now moving on to the next step in their journey as they receive vital financial support.
Chosen for their bold and impactful social ventures, the six new Fellows are catalyzing meaningful change in health, education, the environment, mental wellness, childhood development, and the arts—demonstrating grassroots leadership at a critical juncture for Palestine.
The Fellowship is both a personal recognition for the founders of these enterprises and an opportunity for future growth. As such, the program serves a double role: it reinforces social enterprises through training, mentorship and financial support, but it also helps appoint ambassadors for the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Palestine. It is our pleasure to give the spotlight to them on our channels, too:
Baladna, founded by Nida Nassar, aims to equip Palestinian youth with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. By providing educational opportunities, mentorship, and hands-on training, Baladna empowers young people to become leaders in their communities. With a focus on preserving Palestinian culture, values, and identity, Baladna is working to build a future where youth are not just passive recipients of change but active drivers of it.
MKNA, founded by Israa Othman, aims to create sustainable economic opportunities for marginalized communities in Palestine. Through a variety of creative training programs, the enterprise focuses on equipping youth with the necessary skills in design, digital media, and entrepreneurship. These skills are not just practical but also aimed at fostering a mindset of social responsibility and innovation. The enterprise also supports a network of local artisans, creatives, and entrepreneurs by offering platforms for collaboration, innovation, and the sharing of resources.
Dagon, founded by Palestinian entrepreneur Jinan Sawahreh, seeks to preserve and share the culinary heritage of Palestine. Through a series of interactive cooking experiences, workshops, and educational initiatives, Dagon offers an immersive journey into the heart of Palestinian culture, grounded in the food that has sustained generations. By supporting local farmers, artisans, and the sustainable practices that have defined Palestinian cuisine, Dagon aims to bridge cultural divides and restore pride in Palestinian identity through the celebration of food.
Qitaf Environmental Cooperative is a Palestinian youth-led initiative based in Dura, Hebron, that transforms abandoned or marginalized land into educational gardens and eco-production spaces. Founded in 2023, Qitaf offers environmental training, empowers young people and women through sustainable agriculture, and creates local green products using recycled materials. Qitaf envisions becoming a licensed environmental education center and a model of community resilience and climate action in Palestine.
Founded by Palestinian social entrepreneur Tarteel An-Natsheh, Fada is dedicated to improving mental health, particularly among Palestinian youth. Through workshops focused on drama, theater, and community-building, Fada provides a safe space for children to express their emotions and build resilience. In a region marked by political conflict and social challenges, Fada aims to address the mental health needs of Palestinians by offering accessible, community-driven programs that foster healing, connection, and personal growth.
The Arab Women Entrepreneurs Association (AWE) is a social enterprise founded in 2021 by Palestinian lawyer and community leader Doa Harish to empower Arab women to become economic and social change-makers. Rooted in Nazareth and working across Palestine and the Arab world, AWE provides women with access to entrepreneurial training, skills development, mentorship, and a supportive network of peers and partners. In doing so, AWE addresses the systemic barriers Arab women face—including limited job opportunities, lack of confidence, and restricted access to resources—by fostering a vibrant, cross-border ecosystem of women-led innovation. The organization emphasizes not only business development, but also leadership, identity, and community transformation.
The Root, Rise, Sustain Journey
At the heart of the Fellows’ journey is Build Palestine’s flagship three-stage support platform: Root, Rise, Sustain. It is designed to offer a step-by-step approach that guides social enterprises in developing their business model, finding access to markets and financing and ultimately in becoming trailblazers for the social economy ecosystem in Palestine.
Root, the first part of the program, is a rigorous 6-month accelerator for early-stage Palestinian social enterprises that have a working product and clear social or environmental impact. Fellows benefit from workshops, intensive mentorship, and business development coaching, allowing them to refine their models and scale teamwork.
The six social enterprises mentioned above are now a part of the Root program.
Rise elevates the most promising Root graduates, offering crucial market access, international exposure, and targeted financial support with grants of €5,000–10,000. For 2025, initiatives we mentioned earlier, such as The Wonder Cabinet, Rummana and Art To Heart, have moved into Rise, reflecting their readiness for broader reach and deeper impact.
Sustain—also called the Bloom program—is slated to launch in 2026. This tier will distribute larger, zero-interest loans to the most mature enterprises, enabling them to expand operations, fuel sustainability, and embed resilience for the long term.
This multi-stage structure positions Fellows not just as recipients of support, but as future leaders, equipped to confront root causes and steward transformation in their communities.
You can follow the evolution of all of the fellows, as well as the other projects set up by BuildPalestine, through their recently revamped website. It is effectively the first database of Palestinian social entrepreneurs online, and offers a wealth of resources, thought-leadership pieces and examples of positive Palestinian entrepreneurship.
Making Impact Together
The Root, Rise and Sustain programs, as well as the Fellowship Program, are receiving support through the EU-funded market building project Impact Together, which is active across the MENA-region. In the case of Palestine, these efforts are vital in supporting a new funding model—one that replaces dependency on (often restrictive) foreign aid with purposeful, measurable, and ethical support for local agency and sustainable growth.
Amid severe funding disruptions and mounting external constraints, the BuildPalestine model seeks to:
- Mobilize non-restrictive financial resources for grassroots enterprises
- Provide skills, mentorship, and access to global markets while preserving Palestinian agency and priorities
- Foster a new generation able to meet community needs independently, centered on liberation, resilience, and sustainability
This approach illustrates an emerging movement: Palestinian advancement led by Palestinians, powered by solidarity, and grounded in self-determination. At a time when foreign aid cycles risk reinforcing the status quo, these stories and this infrastructure signal a pragmatic, hope-filled alternative. Impact Europe is thrilled to help support this alternative of hope, and hopes to inspire you to do the same.