Donor: DROSOS Foundation – Palestine
Target Group: Youth (males and females) aged 18 to 30
Project Duration: 48 months
Location: Hebron Governorate
Timeframe: 2020 – 2024
Project Overview
MASADER is a comprehensive development initiative designed to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Hebron by building the capacities of Palestinian youth, enabling them to develop and launch their own businesses, and providing sustainable opportunities for self-employment. The project was conceived as a response to the economic and social challenges faced by young people and aimed to cultivate a new entrepreneurial culture grounded in innovation, creativity, and strong engagement with the private sector.
The project focused on developing a supportive ecosystem based on training, mentorship, financing, and media engagement—through carefully planned interventions at both individual and institutional levels—to ensure sustainable impact and community transformation.
Project Objectives
Promote entrepreneurship as an alternative economic and social pathway.
- Empower youth to establish economically viable start-ups.
- Build a network of partnerships with the private sector, academic institutions, and funders.
- Strengthen YDRC’s institutional and financial capacities to ensure sustainability.
- Expand access to financing through competitions, microfinance institutions, and strategic partnerships.
Project Components
The project comprised three core components:
- Raising Community Awareness about Entrepreneurship
Through targeted media campaigns, awareness workshops, and community initiatives aimed at transforming public perception of entrepreneurship.
- Developing Youth Entrepreneurial Capacity
Through intensive training programs, business plan development, sector-specific hackathons, pitching competitions, and increased access to financing and strategic networks.
- Strengthening YDRC’s Institutional Capacity and Sustainability
By upgrading infrastructure (e.g., solar energy system), launching income-generating initiatives (e.g., MASADER FM), rebranding the organization, and expanding strategic partnerships.
Target Groups
- Youth from Hebron (ages 18–30) with entrepreneurial aspirations
- Early-stage and growth-stage entrepreneurs
- Higher education institutions and community centers
- Local private sector and entrepreneurship support organizations
Key Partners
- Ministry of Labor
- Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Empowerment
- Palestine Polytechnic University (PPU)
- Hebron University
- Smart University College for Modern Education (SUME)
- Hebron Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Al Junaidi Dairy, Al Qasrawi Food Industries
- Flow Accelerator, Station J, Spark
Key Achievements Throughout the Project (2020–2024)
MASADER was implemented over a four-year period and marked a significant shift in the entrepreneurial landscape in Hebron. The following are the most notable accomplishments:
Raising Community Awareness about Entrepreneurship
- Reached over 15,000 youth through dynamic and interactive digital campaigns.
- Produced and broadcast 48 episodes on "MASADER FM" showcasing local success stories.
- Organized 20 awareness workshops with the participation of 410 youth, 63% of whom were female.
Developing Entrepreneurial Skills
- Trained over 320 youth through START 100–102 tracks.
- Supported the development of 83 full business plans.
- Conducted 3 sectoral hackathons with the participation of 108 youth.
- Awarded 15 direct seed grants to youth-led start-ups.
Supporting Startups and Facilitating Access to Finance
- Enabled 5 additional projects to secure financing through private partnerships or microfinance institutions.
- Supported entrepreneurial ventures across diverse sectors including technology, food production, recycling, smart agriculture, health, and design.
Notable Success Stories
- "MASADER Pillow" – Loay Jabari: Launched a medical pillow manufacturing business.
- "Green Word" – Mohammed Al Mohtaseb: Built a plastic recycling initiative producing chairs, gifts, and biofuel.
- Fish Farm – Aysha Abu Sneneh: Hebron’s first female fish farmer, using an integrated aquaponic system to irrigate crops organically.
Institutional Development at YDRC
- Installed a solar energy system reducing electricity operating costs by 35%.
- Renovated the main training hall, transforming it into a new income stream.
- Developed a new strategic plan (2023–2028) and launched a refreshed institutional identity.
- Introduced a digital booking and rental system for training services and enhanced YDRC’s technological infrastructure.
