NEWS DESK

SHINING A LIGHT AT THE END OF A LONG, DARK TUNNEL

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ARAB-JEWISH YOUTH ORCHESTRA JOINS US

SHANI CHOIR ON COURSE TO JOIN FESTIVAL

SUCCESSFUL PEACE FAIR IN KINGSTON, SURREY

JULIE CIGMAN & MARTIN SIMON JOIN US AS FRIENDS

RACING 4 PEACE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

BOOKS FOR PALESTINIAN CHILDREN IN LEBANON

THE 2011 10K RUN BEATS PREVIOUS RECORDS!

SHANI CHOIR INVITED TO PRESTIGIOUS THREE CHOIRS FESTIVAL

THREE NEW TRUSTEES JOIN OUR BOARD

CHAIRMAN MEETS 16 PALESTINIAN TEACHERS

KARL JENKINS CBE & DAVID BADDIEL JOIN US AS FRIENDS

THE CHILDREN OF PEACE INTERVIEW II: AFTAB AHMED, DIRECTOR, ROYAL ISLAMIC STRATEGIC STUDIES CENTRE IN JORDAN

SUPPORT OUR 2011 10K LONDON RUN

THE CHILDREN OF PEACE INTERVIEW I: MAHMOUD JABARI, YOUTH AMBASSADOR

THE EGYPT EFFECT: MAHMOUD JABARI LOOKS AT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR ISRAEL & PALESTINE

MOHAMMED LEHIA, GAZA DOCTOR TALKS TO CHILDREN OF PEACE

THE 2010-11 ABIR ARAMIN GIRLS BURSARY AWARD UPDATE

THE CHILDREN OF PEACE INTERVIEW WITH HADAR SELA: AN ISRAELI MOTHER’S PERSPECTIVE

CHAIRMAN VISITS COLEBOURNE SCHOOL'S "PEACE WEEK" IN BIRMINGHAM, WRITES SAJIDA ASIF

DAUGHTERS FOR LIFE AFFILIATES TO CHILDREN OF PEACE

REVIEW: ROAD TO JERICHO - LARA MEPHAM

ANTONIA LESLIE & JESSICA WOOLLEY - OUR NEW MEMBERSHIP SECRETARIES

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER SUPPORTS CHILDREN OF PEACE

CHILDREN OF PEACE WORKS WITH SHIRAA TO BRING HOPE TO WEST BANK CHILDREN

ISRAELI STAR LIEL KOLET PRESENTS OUR 2010-11 ABIR ARAMIN GIRLS BURSARY AWARD

WE APPOINT KIDWELLS AS OUR LEGAL ADVISERS

THE CHILDREN OF PEACE INTERVIEW - LABOUR FRIENDS OF ISRAEL

SHIREEN ANABTAWI & DANIELA NORRIS BECOME GOODWILL AMBASSADORS

THE PLIGHT OF THE BEDOUINS IN ISRAEL

JOIN OUR TWITTER & FACEBOOK GROUPS

NICK CLEGG - BRITISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SUPPORTS US

WE DONATE TO THE BETHLEHEM STAR CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION

MIFALOT, ISRAEL JOINS US AS AN AFFILIATE

THE CHILDREN OF PEACE INTERVIEW: PEACE ACTIVIST BASSAM ARAMIN

BRITISH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT SUPPORT CHILDREN OF PEACE

CROSSING QALANDIYA WRITERS VISIT STEINER ACADEMY

KATHRYN PLAYA BECOMES A FRIEND

CHILDREN OF PEACE DONATES TO ISRAELI & PALESTINIAN AFFILIATES

TWO GIRLS TO RECEIVE OUR ABIR ARAMIN BURSARY

TWO LEADING PEACE GROUPS JOIN US AS AFFILIATES

THE CHILDREN OF PEACE INTERVIEW: PROFESSOR RAPHAEL WALDEN

PEACE CHILD ISRAEL BECOMES AN AFFILIATE

THE CHILDREN OF PEACE INTERVIEW: SAJIDA ASIF

NEW FRIENDS JOIN CHILDREN OF PEACE

WE HAVE MORE TO UNIFY US… writes Mahmoud Jabari

JOIN OUR TWITTER & FACEBOOK GROUPS

DAME JUDI DENCH JOINS CHILDREN OF PEACE AS A PATRON

SAJIDA ASIF HOLDS EXHIBITION IN SUPPORT OF OUR CHARITY

10K LONDON RUN TAKES THE ROAD TO PEACE

STAND UP FOR PEACE REPEATS 2009 SUCCESS

PEACE PRE SCHOOL RECEIVES CHILDREN OF PEACE GRANT

MAHMOUD JABARI WRITES ABOUT HOPE & OF PEACE

CROSSING QALANDIYA WRITERS JOIN US AS FRIENDS

PEACE PRE SCHOOL RECEIVES CHILDREN OF PEACE GRANT

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: AGM JUNE 26th 2010

MAHMOUD JABARI WRITES ABOUT HOPE & OF PEACE

TWO NEW GROUPS JOIN US - THE STEERING CENTRE FOR DEMOCRACY (BETHLEHEM) & BETHELEHEM STAR CHARITABLE SOCIETY

YASMIN LEVY - GOODWILL AMBASSADOR HOLDS INSPIRATIONAL WORKSHOP

WE APPOINT A FUNDRAISER

STEINER SCHOOLS JOIN US

CROSSING QALANDIYA - WRITERS DONATE TO US

OUR WINTER APPEAL 2009-10 SCHOOLS AID GIVING CHILDREN A CHANCE

Z OE HELLER & YOTAM SOLOMAN: NEW FRIENDS OF CHILDREN OF PEACE

JOIN OUR GROWING FACEBOOK GROUP

SIR DEREK JACOBI BECOMES PATRON OF CHILDREN OF PEACE

SHIRAA ORGANISATION JOINS CHILDREN OF PEACE

AFFILIATE FOCUS: THE JEZREEL VALLEY MUSIC CENTER

CORK STREET CONTEMPORARY ART OPEN PRIVATE VIEW IS GREAT SUCCESS

TRUSTEES AGREE MAJOR CHANGE FOR CHILDREN

LOOK OUT FOR OUR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE

MUSICIANS FOR PEACE TEAM UP WITH US

CORK STREET OPEN EXHIBITION - ARTISTS SHOW UP FOR
CHILDREN OF PEACE

THREE GROUPS RECEIVE OUR SMALL INTERNATIONAL GRANT

ISLA BLAIR, SIMON CALLOW, JULIAN GLOVER AND JANINE MARTIN
JOIN AS FRIENDS

NEW AFFILIATE -
MAOF SCHOOL, ISRAEL

OUR 10K LONDON RUNNERS
EXCEED PERSONAL BEST

67 WEST BANK CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM THE 2008 WINTER APPEAL

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE -
A GREAT SUCCESS

UNIVERSITIES AND STUDENT GROUPS SUPPORT CHILDREN OF PEACE

PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR GIVES US
FULL SUPPORT AND JOINS AS FRIEND

MATT LUCAS, PHILIP GLENISTER & AMELIA QUINLAN - NEW FRIENDS

SAHAR SHALALLDA AND DEJITSU WASSI - RECEIVE THE ABIR ARAMIN GIRLS' EDUCATIONAL BURSARY

STAND UP FOR PEACE - A BRILLIANT EVENING - A FUNDRAISING TRIUMPH!

NEW AFFILIATE - THE PEACE PRE-SCHOOL AT THE YMCA, JERUSALEM

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE - JUNE 2009 - IS A SELL-OUT SUCCESS

10K LONDON RUN - SUPPORT OUR TEAM

CORK STREET - CONTEMPORARY ART SHOW TO RAISE FUNDS THIS AUGUST

THE AMERICAN FUND FOR CHARITIES CHOOSES US FOR NEW WEBSITE

COUNTESS OF CHICHESTER, SHEIKH MANASRAH, MANAL TIMRAZ JOIN US

STAND UP FOR PEACE: A NIGHT OF COMEDY ON 23RD MAY

OUR 2009 ABIR ARAMIN GIRLS' BURSARY FOR ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN GIRLS

WESAL - GAZA SCHOOLS JOIN CHILDREN OF PEACE AS NEW AFFILIATE

AFFILIATE FOCUS: HAND IN HAND FOR ARAB-JEWISH EDUCATION

CORK STREET - CONTEMPORARY ART SHOW TO RAISE FUNDS THIS AUGUST

BRITISH ACTRESS SAMANTHA MORTON JOINS CHILDREN OF PEACE AS A FRIEND

"ANGEL OF MOSTAR" SALLY BECKER BECOMES GOODWILL AMBASSADOR TO CHILDREN OF PEACE

KING’S ACADEMY, JORDAN TO BE KEY PARTNER OF CHILDREN OF PEACE

ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN RACING DRIVERS RACE FOR PEACE

HELPING THE CHILDREN - SAINT JOHN

OF JERUSALEM EYE HOSPITAL GROUP

AFFILIATE FOCUS – HANNAH WEITZER LOOKS AT THE WORK OF WINDOWS

CORINNE BAILEY RAE GIVES STRONG SUPPORT TO CHILDREN OF PEACE

JEWISH SIXTH FORMERS CHOOSE CHILDREN OF PEACE AS THEIR 2009 CHARITY

BORIS JOHNSON - THE MAYOR OF LONDON GIVES HIS SUPPORT FOR OUR WORK

CHILDREN OF PEACE SETS UP NEW FACEBOOK PAGE

AMERICAN DONORS CAN NOW GET TAX BREAKS IF YOU GIVE TO CHILDREN OF PEACE

2009 - THE UNITED NATIONS YEAR OF THE CHILD

GORDON BROWN SENDS PERSONAL MESSAGE OF SUPPORT

HELENA BONHAM CARTER
TIM BURTON
AND SOPHIE ELLIS BEXTOR
JOIN AS FRIENDS

GOODWILL AMBASSADORS MANSOOR & VALERIE IJAZ ON
WHY THEY ENDORSE OUR WORK

VICE-PRESIDENT
JOE BIDEN SUPPORTS
CHILDREN OF PEACE

DONATIONS TO FIVE REGIONAL PARTNERS

INTERNATIONAL STAR YASMIN LEVY BECOMES GOODWILL AMBASSADOR

THREE LEADING ACADEMICS
JOIN AS FRIENDS

TEAM CHILDREN OF PEACE TRIUMPH

GAZA AID SHIPMENT REACHES THE CHILDREN

AMERICAN SENATOR JOSEPH BIDEN SUPPORTS US

HOUSE OF GRACE JOINS CHILDREN OF PEACE

10K TEAM RAISES MONEY FOR CHILDREN OF PEACE

JEFF GOLDBLUM MEETS SIR DEREK JACOBI IN LONDON

BASSAM ARAMIN BECOMES CHILDREN OF PEACE GOODWILL AMBASSADOR

DOMINIC MARTIN BECOMES SPORTS COORDINATOR - MADELEINE McGIVERN OUR VOLUNTEERS COORDINATOR

JULIA SAWALHA JOINS CHILDREN OF PEACE AS A FRIEND

MESSAGE FROM TONY BLAIR
March 2008

EMMA THOMPSON, GREG WISE, IMELDA STAUNTON AND JIM CARTER BECOME FRIENDS OF THE CHARITY March 2008

BRITISH ARTIST HOLDS CHARITY NIGHT March 2008

GAZA EMERGENCY APPEAL SENDS AID December 2007

HEREFORD FOOTBALL CLUB SUPPORT December 2007

STARS OF STAGE AND SCREEN ATTEND THE FIRST LONDON EVENT November 2007

OUR GAZA FRIENDS CALL ON CHILDREN OF PEACE TO HELP October 2007

CHILDREN OF PEACE SUPPORTS ONEVOICE DAY OF PEACE
October 2007

MIDDLE EAST DELEGATION REPORTS TO DISTINGUISHED GUESTS April 2007

CHILDREN OF PEACE SOCCER TEAM WIN WORLD CUP! March 2007

CHILDREN OF PEACE DELELGATION MEETS 13 ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN GROUPS March 2007

CHILDREN OF PEACE REMEMBERS ABIR ARAMIN January 2007

BIG LOTTERY FUND AWARDS FIRST INTERNATIONAL GRANT TO CHILDREN OF PEACE December 2006

CHILDREN OF PEACE ENJOYS A SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH Nov. 2006

PATRON:
MADONNA
DAME JUDI DENCH

ROYAL PATRON:
HH THE BEGUM
AGA KHAN

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THE AMERICAN FUND FOR CHARITIES

Supporting Good Causes Worldwide

WANGO, World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations

THE ARCHIVES

AUGUST 2009...

ARTISTS SHOW FOR CHILDREN OF PEACE

Red Wood by Janine Martin

Artists from around the world will be showing their work at the Cork Street Open Exhibition, near Bond Street in London in aid of Children of Peace between 6th and 14th August 2009. The work will include 100 paintings, photographs, sculptures, mixed media and prints by internationally collected artists. 25% of all sales will be donated by the organisers to our charity.

You can rub shoulders with the stars by joining us at our glitzy Private View at 7.00pm on 5th August. The Exhibition will be officially opened by Sir Derek Jacobi and Samantha Morton*, both Friends of the charity and a host of celebrities will be present to view the work, and enjoy the free champagne tasting provided by celebrated wine dealers, Mundivini Wines.

But hurry! Ticket sales are strictly limited, so we advise you to order your tickets straight away. It's just £20 per person and £35 per couple. All ticket sales and 25% of artwork sold will be donated to Children of Peace.

(* Samantha Morton will attend subject to commitments.)

THREE GROUPS RECEIVE OUR SMALL INTERNATIONAL FUND

Following our successful Stand Up for Peace comedy night on 28th May 2009, the Trustees have awarded three affiliates - in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank our annual Small International Fund grants.

Chairman & Founder Richard Martin tells us:

"Many smaller grassroots groups in the region are often missed out by the big foundations and grant providers. Small NGOs and CBOs find it hard to attract funding for vital core and operational costs. That is why we set up our Small International Fund to support smaller but very effective groups carrying out hugely important work. We are delighted to help."

The three organisations that benefited from the 2009 Children of Peace Small International Grants are Hand-in-Hand for Arab-Jewish Education, Israel; Hope Flowers School, Bethlehem, West Bank and the Benevolent Association for All, Gaza.

Amin Khalaf, joint Founder of the Hand in Hand group of schools, says:

"It is a great privilege for us to receive this recognition and to have friends and partners such as Children of Peace. It adds to our strength in working for peace here in Israel. Your generosity, especially in these tense times, gives us more reason to remain strong in our conviction that this Jewish-Arab educational project is making a significant difference to coexistence in Israel at a time when a difference needs to be made."

Dr Mohammed Abh Lehia, the Director of the Benevolent Association for All in Gaza, says:

"It gives me great pleasure to present my deep gratitude for your continual efforts in helping the children and for your work in bringing them together. History will never forget your goodness and sincerity in overcoming the suffering and pain of the children and your continual efforts to encourage children around the world to exchange culture, activities and information with each other. Our children's situation in Gaza is still bad. We are praying to God to spread love and peace around the world and to bless your good deeds for them."

FOUR NEW FRIENDS JOIN CHILDREN OF PEACE

In just the last few weeks, four new Friends have joined Children of Peace, lending their full support for our work. Leading stars of stage and screen Isla Blair, Simon Callow and Julian Glover have told us how honoured they all are to support our charity and Isla Blair says that she is "deeply concerned and very sympathetic to the children in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank." Both Isla and Julian Glover have said that the charity “can count on us to support the charity and the children whenever they can." We are delighted to welcome such wonderful supporters.

They are joined by internationally collected artist Janine Martin, who has been a steadfast friend of the charity over many years. Janine has donated funds in the past from her One Woman Show at The Courtyard, Hereford and is participating in the Cork Street exhibition this August, in London.

MAOF JOINS US AS AFFILIATE

The MAOF organisation was founded in 2004 to offer every child, regardless of economic, faith or ethnic background the best quality education available.

Since September 2005, MAOF has been running an Arab-Jewish centre in one of Beer-Sheva's poorest districts - the Gimel neighbourhood in Israel. The children choose the learning activities based upon their own personal interests. They enter the world of imagination through the theatre and book sections, discovering the wonders that knowledge brings, particularly in science and the environment, expressing their inner world through the arts.

Children also experience individual guidance from trained staff and any disputes or conflicts are resolved through mediation and dialogue.

The MAOF Association joins a growing number of educational organisations across the region - in the Gaza, Israel, Jordan and the West Bank - dedicated to providing excellence for all and committed to the academic, social and emotional welfare of all children - as part of our growing SchoolsLink programme.

CHILDREN OF PEACE TEAM RUN

Sir Derek Jacobi and Chairman Richard Martin with Team members

Children of Peace fielded two teams of runners in our second year as participants of the 10K London Run this July 12th 2009. Over 25,000 runners entered the Run, representing numerous charitable causes on a glorious summer day in central London. The team completed the run in style with many beating their previous personal bests. They were greeted by supporters near the finishing point at The Mall, including Sir Derek Jacobi, Chairman Richard Martin, Friend Janine Martin, Olivia Taylor and Alex Reed - both members of the Events Committee.

Team Children of Peace 2009

Sports Coordinator, Dominic Martin said:

"Every member of the 2009 running team ran a terrific race and kept up a great pace throughout. They all have much to be proud of - raising over £3500 for the children. We will be back next year and many of us intend to beat our personal bests in 2010!"

OVER 60 CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM YOUR HELP

The Children of Peace 2008 Winter Appeal focused upon the needs of children at the Hope Flowers School, near Bethlehem. Many of the children come from refugee families or poor farmers. The staff at the school expressed their concern that many of the children were arriving at school during wet and cold winters in summer clothing, simply because their parents were too economically deprived to afford warm winter clothing.

That is why we launched our Winter Appeal - Send a Parcel to Bethlehem. In all over sixty children benefited from your generosity - receiving warm clothing, bedding and toys.

YOUNG PEOPLE INSPIRED BY CHILDREN OF PEACE

Children of Peace receives messages of support from young people every day and it is particularly encouraging to our hardworking team.

"We work in a difficult terrain and it is great for us to know that young people - the next generation - are greatly inspired by our message for peace and our conflict resolution work in Israel & Palestine" says Chairman & Founder, Richard Martin.

In recent weeks, four universities have added us to their Rag fundraising groups, including Exeter and Lancaster. Over £1000 was donated to the charity by Lancaster University students, who worked for at a charity beer festival over a period of two years. RAG President Emily Campbell writes:

"After looking at various charities we decided that Children of Peace was a worthy cause close to our hearts."

Jewish and Muslim student societies at Universities, schools and colleges are regularly in contact with us, offering support, fund raising and helping to spread the word on Facebook and on Twitter. We welcome their support.

HOPE FOR PALESTINIANS: CHILDREN OF PEACE JOIN EXHIBITION AT LUDLOW METHODIST CHURCH

Children of Peace participated in an exhibition entitled: Hope for the Palestinians organised by Laurence Taylor and Pamela Thompson – representing a number of local Christian communities - at the Methodist Church, Ludlow in Shropshire, England. The exhibition brought together various groups working in the region, including Sabeel, EAPPI and Christian Aid. Over 150 visited the exhibition which was designed to raise awareness of the conflict and was set up by seekers “who are troubled by the continued suffering and fears of the people in Israel and Palestine”.

The exhibition asked its visitors to keep an open mind and to move towards a more informed a realistic sympathy of a very complex situation. It was opened by the Mayor of Ludlow, Martin Taylor-Smith.