Sawaed19 Launches the Sumud Network: A People-to-People Bridge Between Ireland and Palestine

New initiative supports Palestinian NGOs through international solidarity, knowledge exchange, and sustainable economic collaboration

Palestine – Feb 11, 2024 – In a bold step towards building meaningful international solidarity, Sawaed19 proudly announces the launch of the Sumud Network, a People-to-People initiative that connects Palestinian civil society organizations with Irish nonprofits. The network, named after the Arabic word Sumud meaning steadfastness or resilience embodies the Palestinian spirit of perseverance and aims to transform solidarity into action.

This initiative by Sawaed19 seeks to create a strong bridge between NGOs in Palestine and Ireland by fostering partnerships rooted in mutual respect, cooperation, and shared learning. As part of the launch, the Sumud Network will facilitate direct connections between Irish and Palestinian nonprofits, enabling them to understand each other’s work, contexts, and goals. Through this bridge, organizations will gain access to new spaces of collaboration where experience is exchanged, resources are shared, and solutions are co-created.

In addition to fostering collaboration, the network is also committed to empowering Palestinian NGOs by providing them with exposure to the Irish nonprofit ecosystem. These interactions will allow Palestinian organizations to strengthen their institutional capacities, scale their impact, and participate more confidently in international civil society spaces. Crucially, the initiative also supports economic sustainability by helping establish sales points for Palestinian NGO products in Ireland, giving them access to broader markets while reducing reliance on conditional funding. This move marks a shift towards self-sufficiency and dignified income generation for NGOs in Palestine.

Another dimension of the Sumud Network is its effort to encourage volunteering for Palestine from Ireland. Irish individuals are invited to engage in virtual volunteering with Palestinian organizations, supporting their missions remotely or through awareness campaigns, workshops, and fundraising events in Ireland. This shared activism not only supports Palestinian causes but also cultivates a deeper sense of global citizenship and solidarity.

“Sumud is not only a concept, it’s our daily reality,” said Hiba Awaysa, CEO of Sawaed19. “This network is a step toward building a new form of partnership between Palestine and the world, one that centers human dignity, local leadership, and shared purpose.”

Hiba Awaysa

The launch of the Sumud Network represents a strategic leap in cross-border cooperation between civil society actors in two regions connected by values of justice and peace. As Palestinian NGOs continue to operate under increasing pressure and diminishing international visibility, Sumud offers them a renewed space of hope—where global support is not just symbolic, but transformative.

To mark the launch, Sawaed19 published a visual announcement on Instagram featuring the visual identity of the network and a glimpse into its objectives:
📸 Instagram Launch Post

The Sumud Network is not simply a project—it’s a call to action, inviting Irish and Palestinian organizations to co-create a future of resilience, dignity, and solidarity.🔗 Learn more about the initiative here: https://sawaed19.net/en/Sumudnetwork/