"The training allows the women to improve their economic situation and help support their families," explains Nadia Kittani, the Coordinator of the Tulkarem office of the NGO Palestinian Working Women Society for Development. "Because they are using their own resources and not relying on charity, it improves their self-esteem. By working together, it also breaks any social isolation," she adds.

A total of 120 women in six groups will be involved in the project organized by the Society, with the assistance of the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy which provides the trainers. Each group receives eight to ten training sessions spread over a 45-day period. The ICRC supporting the project by providing most of the material required for the training sessions.

"The women are all from areas affected by the routing of the West Bank Barrier," explains Frederic Dumont of the ICRC office in Tulkarem. "Although the area is reliant on agriculture, the routing of the Barrier has cut off a lot of families from their land. They have limited or no access to their fields and orchards."

"Although the course is designed to teach the women food processing for commercial purposes, it will also help them to stretch their family food budgets. Proper preserving, storage and bottling techniques will allow them to buy produce when prices are low and ensure it does not spoil," he adds.

The produce they work with is locally produced - green peppers, cucumbers tomatoes, okra, eggplant, apricots, oranges and lemons. It is hoped this will help absorb some of the harvest time surpluses. The women learn various techniques such as bottling, freezing, pickling, making soft drinks, and even baking and the production of cheese.

"We all had our traditional methods," says 46-year old Itidal Khaseeb, one of the course participants, "but we are learning more appropriate and healthier ways to preserve and store produce. Spoilage was a big problem, but we are learning techniques and recipes to avoid damaging the food."

"The courses also deal with marketing and how to make the produce more appealing to the eye," adds 45-year old Amal Harashi another participant, "and we also learn when is the best season to buy produce to get the best prices and how to ensure they keep for the longest possible time."

Rihab Harashi says she hopes to make improvements in her home with the extra money she will earn. "These are not luxuries," she explains, "The money will be used to pay for visits to the doctor for the children, for telephone bills, clothes and school fees."

44-year old Nadihi Nafflhi, is a widow with 6 children. She says the training sessions have melded the participants together and they have formed close links. "We have a social life in our village of Qaffin," she says, "but our meetings there are often limited to anniversaries, weddings and family visits." She is enthusiastic about the training. "It will allow me to earn money all while taking care of my children at home."