Arab Development Society

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The ADS was established in 1945 and worked to assure the welfare of Palestinian refugees following the British withdrawal from Palestine in 1948. Using the remainder of the funds assigned to the ADS by the Arab League Economic Committee, combined with some personal capital, Musa Alami engaged a project to dig for water on the area of land earmarked for the project north-east of Jericho. After finding and digging 28 wells over the course of a few years, the land was cultivated and a small experimental farm was set up. By 1951 the farm was more or less established and was capable of large scale cultivation by 1955. The farm was used to accommodate, educate and give vocational training to orphaned children from the neighbouring refugee camps and communities. At the ADS, Palestinian boys learned how to farm, were schooled and also trained in vocational skills including vocational electrical skills, weaving, carpentry and metalwork.

The ADS is about to enter a new phase with the development of a 10-year plan to re-engage with the communities of Jericho and Palestine and to open up the project and farm and modernise its operations and ventures.