11 February 2008. Manar, along with her husband Ahmad and six children, were among the lucky recipients of assistance from CARE, that helped them meet their family needs, but most importantly, it was help that works in a sustainable manner. In 2004 Manar received three sheep, animal feed for six months, and farming tools. In addition, she attended training in animal husbandry, food processing of dairy products and making yogurt; and another training workshop on how to plant fruits and vegetables in her home garden.

Today the sheep and home garden are helping Manar to cover some of her family expenses. Manar explained: "I am selling a few sheep; milk and yogurt- the produce tastes very good, and the neighbors are placing orders. Now I am making approximately $ 100 per month!" Manar added: "As a mother I am happy, because I have food for my children."

The family is living in the village of Birqeen on the outskirts of Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank. The help they received is extremely valuable, because Ahmad was unemployed between 2000 - 2004, and he had worked in whatever became available to him in the community and nearby villages, but income was very low, up until the family received help through CARE's food security project.

There is another happy family in the village of Jaba', namely Rabiha and Hatem, who found employment and a sustainable income through help from CARE. In their village, unemployment is vivid with many men sitting aimlessly at the roadside, drinking coffee and talking to each other, because they have nothing else to do - they had lost their jobs in Israel.

It 2003 Rabiha could not have imagined the tremendous change that will take place in her life. She received three sheep from CARE, animal feed for six months, and farming tools. In addition, Rabiha attended training in animal husbandry, food processing of dairy products and making yogurt and cheese. The family's living improved. Starting with three sheep, the number increased to 17 heads in 2007, and the family started selling sheep; milk, cheese, and yogurt; and they were making a steady income. Rabiha's husband, Hatem, sold a few sheep and he opened a small grocery store in Jaba,' thus improving the family's ability to sustain itself through a steady income.

Rabiha is now confident about the future. She explains: "I have a daughter in her third year in the university, now I can cover her tuition cost for 13 credit hours, and I will not let her down," Rabiha wants to cover the university expenses until her daughter becomes a school teacher and can earn income on her own.

A similar success and sense of optimism were expressed by Nada, in the village of Aqqaba. Nada is now running her own business - something unusual by local standards. In July 2007 Nada had received a 70 square meter green house, and she attended training in agriculture, farm management, and how to maintain a green house. Less than one year has passed, and Nada is sending her tomatoes for sale in the village market, and she is earning income that covers some of her family's running costs. Nada has two daughters and five sons, and the training she received is making a difference in their lives, because now she can cover some of their daily expenses.

The same optimism is shared by another person in the village of Jaba'. His name is Basem. He did not receive sheep or a greenhouse, he had received five beehives instead, and he, along with 45 farmers from Jaba', had attended training on how to manage the honey and beehives.

In March 2007 Basem attended training on the various types of bees, diseases that will affect them, how to increase the number of bees, and how to make candles that he can sell in the village, in addition to marketing skills. One year later Basem has eight beehive cells instead of five, he managed to sell 12 kilograms and to make $ 160, and now he is collecting wax from the beehives, so as to make candles for sale in Jaba'.

In the village of Fandakoumiyeh, it has been a few months only since Widad received six sheep. In December 2007 she attended training in animal husbandry and dairy food processing. Widad and her two sisters are living with their terminally ill mother. Widad herself has serious health problems. The three daughters are not married and they are unemployed. Two of them are illiterate. The only property the family owns is a small plot of land with a few olive trees.

According to Widad: "I attended training, now I can make cheese and yogurt so the family can eat. In the past we ate cheese only when our relatives gave us some." Widad is planning to sell the jar of yogurt for 1.5 dollars, and if she can sell two jars per day, she will earn enough money to buy bread and a small chicken so the family can eat. Widad believes that no matter how small the amount is, at least she is working and earning income on her own.

Widad had to sell two sheep so she could take her mother to hospital. Widad is saying it was hard for her to sell the sheep, but she had no choice, and that she wants to do everything possible to keep the other sheep, and she is hopeful their number will grow.

CARE has been implementing an emergency food security assistance project for Palestinians since 2001. Now CARE is in the seventh such project. Activities are conducted in cooperation between CARE West Bank and Gaza and CARE Austria, and funding is provided by the European Commission's Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid. CARE is helping vulnerable households, and women in particular, by giving them sheep, beehives, and greenhouses; and offering training in food processing, greenhouse management, and beekeeping; so the families' capacity to sustain themselves will be strengthened and they will have hope for the future.