The Zahrat Al-Yasmeen kindergarten is located in the Lajee Center at the entrance to the Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem Palestine. Space was found in the lower level garages in an existing building to accommodate two classes of 25 children each. From an initial sketch in November 2018 a program was developed in 2019 and the school opened in August 2020.

Design principles (from the school mission statement):

“The design of the kindergarten will create a physically and psychologically safe and secure environment, open to nature. Classrooms will be bright and colorful, and spatially flexible to support dialog between teachers and students singly or in groups. The classrooms will be open to fresh air and natural light as much as possible, with close proximity to generous outdoor play space.”

Construction was undertaken with direct labor and throughout the Covid-19 crisis, the great majority of the workers coming from the refugee camp. For a fuller story please refer to my article “Dear Yasmeen” in Places Journal. We continue to build, and continue to expand and reinforce the teaching staff. The first graduation day of the 5 year olds took place in June 2022, an immense accomplishment and a great joy to the parents and children, and the teachers, who live every day under an aggressive occupation. This is an example of architecture playing a modest role in upholding an enlightened and creative educational program in the midst of dangerous and oppressive circumstances.

Since the Fall of 2023 a local team has taken on the design and construction of a third classroom. Rowayd Alazzeh (engineer, from Aida Camp), Ameera Asad (architect, from Deheisheh Camp) and Mejd Azzeh (project manager, from Aida Camp). This team of young graduates taking on new responsibilities exemplifies the philosophy of the Lajee Center which supports young people in finding their own agency.

This initiative has since 2024 developed into Design Palestine, a team consisting of US and Palestinian architects, landscape architects, engineers, geographers, designers and artists. In addition to the kindergarten, projects support the ongoing Health, Education and Environment programs at the Lajee Center and elsewhere. The initiatives include a play yard, a community health clinic, a women’s center, a gym, and rooftop gardens. An international student design competition was held in 2025 for the “Olive Grove”, the only open space available to the residents of Aida Camp which has now been refurbished as recreational and quiet space for all generations.

Planning for future work in other refugee camps is actively proceeding. The core principle of the Design Palestine program is that every project is an opportunity for building community decision making.