Setting up a community-based third place in Bethlehem

In the southern West Bank, within the occupied Palestinian territories, the district of Bethlehem and its 170,000 inhabitants live isolated, hemmed in by the separation wall and military checkpoints that restrict movement. The war that began in late 2023 exacerbated this isolation and paralyzed tourism, the city's primary source of income, pushing unemployment above 45%.

In this context, the Alliance Française of Bethlehem (AFB) remains a rare place of openness and encounter, where 400 learners continue to take free French classes and participate in cultural activities. The Ahlan-Bethlehem association has been supporting it since 2018 (training, student mentoring, trips to France) and now wishes to support it in a new phase.

AFB has identified a strong need among its members: a welcoming and safe space to meet and recharge, away from the feeling of confinement. Its premises, located in the city center and extending into an outdoor area, already attract young people and their families but remain underutilized. The project aims to transform it into a true community hub, open to all.