Welfare Association (Taawon)
| Arabic | مؤسسة التعاون |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1983 |
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Headquarters | Ramallah and Jerusalem |
Region served | Palestine and Palestinian refugee communities |
| Website | taawon.org/en |
Welfare Association (Taawon; Arabic: مؤسسة التعاون, romanized: Muʼassasat al-Taʻāwun)[1] is a Palestinian non-profit, civic organization launched in 1983 in Geneva, Switzerland.[2] It was founded by a group of Palestinian and Arab businesspeople, academics, and intellectuals to support social, economic, and cultural development among Palestinians.[3]
The association operates programs in Palestine, Palestinian refugee communities in Lebanon, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom through affiliated offices. Its activities focus on education, community development, culture, heritage preservation, humanitarian assistance, and support for civil society organizations.[4]
Since its establishment, the Welfare Association has supported projects in partnership with Palestinian and international institutions, including universities, cultural organizations, healthcare institutions, and community organizations. Its programs include scholarships and educational initiatives, youth and community development, cultural projects, and humanitarian response programs, particularly during crises affecting the Gaza Strip.[5][1]
One of the association's major initiatives is the Old City Revitalization Program (Arabic: برنامج إحياء البلدات القديمة), launched in 1994 to preserve historic Palestinian urban areas through restoration, rehabilitation, and capacity-building activities.[6] The association was also involved in establishing the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit, which opened to the public in 2016 and focuses on Palestinian history, culture, and contemporary artistic programs.[7]
The Welfare Association and projects supported by it have received international recognition, including the Aga Khan Award for Architecture for the Old City Revitalization Program (2002–2004) and for the Palestinian Museum (2019).[8]
References
- 1 2 "Taawon (Welfare Association) Launches Gaza Orphan Program (Noor) Fundraising Campaign in Kuala Lumpur with the Support of H.E. Zulkifli Bin Hassan and MAHAR as Main Partner". www.prnewswire.com. Archived from the original on 2026-06-26. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- ↑ "Taawon / Welfare Association | UNRWA". UNRWA. Archived from the original on 2026-05-20. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- ↑ "Private Funders: Welfare Association". NGO Monitor. 2011-01-09. Archived from the original on 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- ↑ "مؤسسة التعاون هي تهدف منظمة غير ربحية لمساعدة اللاجئين الفلسطينيين في المخيمات الفلسطينية في لبنان". arab.org (in Arabic). 2016-02-19. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- ↑ ""التعليم العالي" تبحث مع مؤسسة التعاون الإيطالي تنفيذ عدة مشاريع مشتركة". Ministry of Education and Higher Education (in Arabic). 8 June 2021. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ "برنامج مؤسسة التعاون لإعمار البلدة القديمة في القدس يفوز بجائزة آغا خان للهندسة المعمارية". Alrai (in Arabic). 2004-12-08. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- ↑ "The Palestinian Museum Announces its Independence from Taawon and Registers in Palestine". The Palestinian Museum. 1 November 2020. Archived from the original on 11 February 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ "Aga Khan Award for Architecture, August 2019". The Palestinian Museum. Archived from the original on 12 February 2026. Retrieved 11 July 2026.