Meet the Incredible School Girls Behind Palestine’s First Not-For-Profit Vegan Cafeteria

A group of Palestinian schoolgirls have embarked on an ambitious project to establish the
very first not-for-profit, vegan cafeteria in Palestine. The girls are participants in the “Youth for Change” (formerly known as “Young Palestinians for Animal Rights”) program which empowers young people to make positive changes for animals and the environment in their local community. The profits from the cafeteria, to be named “Sudfeh” (meaning “serendipity” in Arabic) will be split equally between animal welfare causes and a scholarship fund at the university where the cafeteria will be based.

How the Idea Was Born

One Green Planet caught up with these brilliant young vegan trailblazers to find out more about the project with one of the group members, Siham, telling us: “We are aware that lots of young people have a diet that is really heavy on meat; and particularly factory-farmed meat. We thought the idea of establishing a vegan cafeteria in one of the country’s busiest universities would be a good chance to reach young people, offer then an alternative and encourage veganism.”

Determined to achieve their goal, the girls, supported by their mentor in the Youth for Change program, Mohammad Arore, called a meeting with the president of Al Quds University, Palestine. They not only convinced the president to give over a space on campus, rent-free, to establish Sudfeh, but also came to the agreement that the profits from the initiative would be donated to good causes.

Group member, Jewa, said, “When we met the president of the university I felt that this was our chance. This was our one moment to tell him exactly what we wanted. I was so surprised to find that, rather than dismissing us, he dealt with us with respect and was really welcoming of our idea. I was so happy!”

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