In late 1998, a group of Palestinian professionals and refugee camp residents in the West Bank initiated dialogue on the importance of bringing computer and internet technology into Palestinian refugee camps. Across Borders Project (ABP) was launched in February 1999, under the umbrella of Birzeit University (BZU), with the aims of (i) enhancing educational and vocational training opportunities for camp residents and (ii) building, otherwise inexistent,  internet linkages between Palestinian refugees spread around the world.

In February 1999, ABP initiated a pilot project in Dheisheh Camp (Bethlehem, West Bank).  In conjunction with local camp-based institutions, an Internet center was established, equipped with 15 computers.  The ABP organized internet and computer training courses through the BZU Information Technology Unit and taught hundreds of children how to use computers, specifically email and internet to communicate directly and swiftly with the rest of the world.   A bilingual (English/Arabic) web-site was also created, packed with useful and insightful information about Dheisheh camp and its refugees. The Across Borders initiative was met with enthusiastic support in the camps, and was able to attract the interest and support from the donor community. At present, 8 centres are operational, 2 in Gaza, 4 in the West Bank and 2 in Lebanon. Negotiations are currently taking place for the two centers in Lebanon to be managed by a Lebanese NGO known as the Arab Resource Collective (ARC) a thing that will promote the decentralized nature of the project.  Since start-up the Across Borders Project has established a presence and a reputation that attracted international attention. In the face of considerable logistical, administrative and security difficulties, it has established a respected website, and a presence in two countries.