Sindyanna of Galilee is a women-led non-profit that operates in the Arab population of northern Israel and in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. We produce award-winning fair trade organic olive oil, za'atar spice mixes, carob syrup, honey, olive oil soaps and baskets woven using traditional methods.
We strive to strengthen the economy of the Arab-Palestinian population in general and to enhance the empowerment of Arab women in particular. Our organization is a unique Arab-Jewish cooperation which shows that a solution to the Middle East conflict begins with creating real economic opportunities.
Lush Buying Presents: Sindyanna
The Lush buyers team visited our factory and visitor center and created a lovely video that shows how we produce our award winning olive oil, as well as a look into the basket weaving courses held at our visitor center. You can watch the video on the right hand side of the page or on YouTube.
Dedication of the Scottish Olive Grove
The Scottish Olive Grove, a joint agricultural project between Sindyanna of Galilee and the Church of Scotland was launched on December 18th. The project, on the lands of Yafi'a (south of Nazareth), will establish a modern olive plantation to benefit the Arab community in the Galilee region, with all income to be invested in community initiatives for promoting fair employment for Arab women. read more...
''Church of Scotland supports Israeli agricultural project'', an article about the opening ceremony was published on the site of Ecumenical News International (ENI). In the article Judith Sudilovsky writes: ''An Arab-Jewish agricultural project in northern Israel that helps empower women is a sign of hope for a people and a land.'' Right Reverend David Arnott, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland told Sudilovsky: ''The Church of Scotland is investing in the future of the people. This is giving the people dignity and respect... we are delighted to be involved in a Jewish-Arab cooperative project.''...
You can read the full article in ENInews site.
The photo above is of the Right Reverend David Arnott, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and Hadas lahav, manager of Sindyanna of Galilee. You can view more photos at http://bit.ly/uY43Np.
WFTO Human Rights Day Declaration
Human Rights Day (Dec. 9) marches were held in Haifa and Tel Aviv. The marchers created a human mosaic that included Arabs & Jews, young & old, teenagers & babies. All marched together under banners that reflected the wide range of problems in Israeli society: racism, workers' rights, discrimination of the Arab population, the exclusion of women from public spaces, air pollution, anti-democratic laws and more. The speakers at the rally emphasized the need to fight together for human rights and against any cases of oppression, discrimination and blocking of free speech.
We also received a Human Rights Day declaration from Carola Reintjes, the World Fair Trade Organization's Chief Executive:
''It is only two days ago that many citizens worldwide celebrated Human Rights Day (10 December). We invite you to examine the principles of Fair Trade and our common commitment to empower disadvantaged producers and their communities. The principles reflect and promote basic social and economic rights; business practices free from exploitation; women's rights, child rights, minority and migrant rights, rights of the disabled, and labor rights; gender equality; and environmentally sound practices.
In summary, Fair Trade is in its very essence a commitment to universal Human Rights. However, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights remains an abstract idea, an international convention far from the immediate reality of small producers’ organizations. Fair Trade is not perfect, sometimes facing enormous challenges in its practices, but is there anything better out there to ensure basic economic rights, sustainable production, decent work and fair wages, facilitating social and economic empowerment of small producers and their communities?''
Olive Oil from the Harvest in Tubas Has Arrived
The latest batch of excellent olive oil has arrived at our factory following the harvest in Tubas. Photos of the olive press facility in Tubas that produces oil for Sindyanna are on the right.
The olive oil is supplied to us through the Holy Tree Agricultural Cooperative in Tubas. The cooperative, which has support from the Grassroots Development Project of Japan (NICCO), includes 29 members and focuses on promoting the olive sector and the lives of olive farmers in the Tubas region. Visit their web site to learn more about their important work and see more photos on our Gallery page.
Ecumenical Delegation of Women Bishops
Last month the Ecumenical Delegation of Women Bishops (hosted by the UM Liaison in Palestine and Israel) came to our Visitor Center in Kfar Manda. Below is a part of their statement following the visit:
''Highlights of the pilgrimage were meeting with women throughout Israel and Palestine who are working to empower women, building bridges to new relationships and nurturing and caring for children. In Galilee we met with Arab women and Jewish women working together to empower women and build a better future in a community called Sindyanna of Galilee which teaches women how to weave baskets, make soaps and create other Fair Trade products for sale, all the while building relationships and friendships with one another.''
Read the full statement and view photos
Presentation about Sindyanna (in French)
After meeting Osnat from Sindyanna at a meeting in Italy, Anna Rosato, a student of Foreign Languages at the University of Bari in Italy created a wonderful presentation about Sindyanna as part of her course work. You can view it on the right side of this page. Thank you, Anna!
Sindyanna's Sept-Oct 2011 Newsletter
Sindyanna of Galilee sends our subscribers monthly updates regarding our wide range of activities, projects and new products. Read our latest Newsletter.
Sindyanna Joins Children of Peace
As an Affiliate we are now part of a worldwide network of conflict resolution and peace groups – the Coalition of Peace - most concentrated in Gaza, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon & the West Bank who share the notions of peaceful coexistence and cooperation, the protection of all children in Israel & Palestine, of reconciliation, understanding & dialogue and of building corridors of contact across the region. more...
The Extra Virgin of Peace
The Italian Food website Identita Golose, published an article about Sindyanna of Galilee by Luciana Squadrilli from Pandolea. Read the article: L'extravergine della pace: Dove non può la politica, può l'agricoltura. La lezione di una realtà arabo-israeliana in Galilea
The Protest in Israel is Continuing...
The social upheaval in Israel is the most important social movement in the history of the country (from WAC-MAAN website)
Seeds of Encouragement
We are proud to announce that we have received $50 Seeds of Encouragement stipends for the women from our Kufr Manda weaving project who participated in WAC's community garden in Haifa. (more)
Solidarity with Palestinian Workers
35 Palestinian quarry workers, working in an Israeli settlement, are on strike for almost two months. On June 16, the workers at Salit Quarries in Mishor Adumim (in area C, east of Jerusalem, in the Occupied West Bank) began the general strike.
The workers, organized with the independent Union WAC-Ma'an, are demanding an end to exploitation and humiliation, and insist on signing the first ever collective agreement between Palestinians workers and Israelis employees.
Help the struggling Palestinian Workers!
Be part of this historic achievement!
You can easily donate (even a modest sum) through Pay Pal, Click here
News from our Basketry project
New Japanese Partner
Palmyra, an online dates shop in Japan, has joined our partner Kagoamidori's Tokyo webshop, and started selling Syndianna’s baskets and using Dotan Goor-Arye’s pictures from Sindyanna's basket catalogue (on their home page and product pages).
Winner of the Prestige Gold Medal
and the Best Israeli Barnea Award
at the TerraOlivo 2011 challenge
The international TerraOlivo olive oil challenge took place in Jerusalem on 17-18 May 2011. Sindyanna of Galilee's olive oil, the only fair-trade organic olive oil in the competition, won the Prestige Gold Medal, as well as a special award as the Best Israeli Barnea Strain. This is the second time that Sindyanna's fair-trade olive oil has won this prestigious award (awards list). Liberomondo, our Italian partners, wrote about our awards on their web site.
New!! Sindyanna in Merian Live!
The German Travelguide Merian Live! mentions Sindyanna of Galilee in its Green section, which includes addresses of ecological places and organisations devoted to Fair Trade. http://amzn.to/iOTNrC
