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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
DAME JUDI DENCH BECOMES
CHILDREN OF PEACE PATRON
(picture: Carolyn Djangoly)
The distinguished and much admired British actress, Dame Judi Dench has become a Patron of Children of Peace. She joins our other Patrons - Madonna and our Royal Patron, HH The Begum Aga Khan.
Giving her reasons for acting as a Patron to the charity, Dame Judi says:
"Children of Peace is engaged in a noble cause - to protect all children in Israel and Palestine, regardless of culture, faith, gender or heritage. It is a cause for peace and reconciliation that I support with all my heart. I applaud them in their work and I am honoured to become a Patron."
Dame Judi is rightly regarded as one of the most significant British theatre performers, working for the National Theatre Company and the Royal Shakespeare Company. In television, she achieved success in the series A Fine Romance from 1981 until 1984 and in 1992 began a continuing role in the television romantic comedy series As Time Goes By.
Her film appearances include M in GoldenEye (1995), a role she has played in each James Bond film since. She received several notable film awards for her role as Queen Victoria in Mrs. Brown (1997), and has since been acclaimed for her work in such films as Shakespeare in Love (1998), Chocolat (2000), Iris (2001), Mrs Henderson Presents (2005) and Notes on a Scandal (2006), and the television production The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2001).
Regarded by critics as one of the greatest actresses of the post-war period, and frequently named as the leading British actress in polls, Dame Judi has received many award nominations for her acting in theatre, film and television; her awards include ten BAFTAs, seven Laurence Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Golden Globes, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award.
Chairman & Founder Richard Martin says:
" We are all delighted that Dame Judi has become a Patron of Children of Peace. She is a generous and kind supporter of our work and we look forward to receiving her support in years to come."
THE ROAD TO PEACE - ARTIST SAJIDA ASIF SUPPORTS CHILDREN OF PEACE
Between 7th - 28th August 2010, Birmingham based artist Sajida Asif will be exhibiting her remarkable paintings at the Gallery Space/Community Room at the Ward End Library, Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham B8 2HF.
Sajida's work attempts to explore issues of war and peace in the contemporary world through her perspective as an artist and as a British Muslim. Sajida is donating the proceeds of all sales to four charities of her choice: War Child, the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association, Amnesty International and Children of Peace.
Sajida says:
"When I first learned about the work of Children of Peace, I was very much inspired by their ideology. Their aims are to support Israeli and Palestinian children and their communities, to build a more positive and trusting future and community for the children. The significance of this work, this aim, must not be underestimated. As my own art practice promotes peace between all nations and people, this charity has become very important to me. Therefore, I will continue to support their good work even after this fundraising exhibition, recognising the importance of children being able to live in a peaceful and loving society."
The charity is honoured to receive Sajida's support and representatives of the charity, including the Chairman will attend the Private View on 6th August. Supporters of Children of Peace are welcome to visit the exhibition which runs from 7th August. Gallery opening times: Mon Noon - 7pm, Tue, Thu, Fri & Sat 9am - 5pm, Wed & Sun - closed.
Chairman Richard Martin says:
" Sajida's work is both beautiful and compelling. It is a powerful message of hope, of peace and of understanding. I am proud that she is one of our supporters."
10K LONDON RUN TAKES THE ROAD TO PEACE TOO
Left to right. Standing back: Graeme Renfrew, Emma Cohen, Antonia Leslie, Jeremy
Austin, Clare Bolt, Olivia Taylor, Dominic Martin, Alex Johnson, Tori Monkman.
Front:
Catherine Usher, Nicky Cohen
On Sunday 11th July 2010, ten members of the Children of Peace running team ran 10K through the centre of London in searing heat to raise funds for Children of Peace.
This is the third year runners have entered the 10K London Run in support of the charity and despite very high temperatures, many of the entrants beat their previous year's running time. 25,000 runners entered this year's race which takes in famous London sights including Pall Mall, Tower Bridge, Piccadilly, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye and Big Ben.
The ten runners - Dominic Martin, Emma Cohen, Jeremy Austin, Tori Monkman, Clare Bolt, Catherine Usher, Olivia Taylor, Antonia Leslie, Graeme Renfrew and Nicky Cohen - have raised over £3000 to date (including Gift Aid) - surpassing even 2009's excellent achievement.
The team were greeted by Chairman Richard Martin, his wife Janine, Events Committee Deputy Chair Alex Johnson, Events Committee Member Noa Ward and supporter Hilary Turner-Samuels.
STAND UP FOR PEACE 2 REPEATS 2009 SUCCESS
(photos: Nathan Forrest)
Paul Foot
Stand Up for Peace - the Children of Peace annual comedy fest - took place at the Cockpit Theatre in London on Thursday 15th July 2010. With an audience of well over 100 supporters, an evening of hilarity and fun showcased some of the most edgy, exciting and talented stand up comedians around.
Months of hard work, planning and scheduling by the Events Committee, were amply rewarded by over two hours of sheer entertainment from ten acts, including headline acts Simon Munnery and Paul Foot, together with leading performers The Apidistras, The Unexpected Items, Clare Ward & Jen Brister, Diane Morgan, Eirlys Bellin and Rachel Stubbings.
Richard Morris
Richard Morris - currently warm up for Ricky Gervais - provided the links. An outstanding compère, his much admired humour and style is always popular with our audiences. Richard Martin, Chairman & Founder, spoke briefly about Children of Peace following the intermission and numerous guests signed up for more information about the charity. Many leading supporters attended the event, including leading singer Sophie Ellis Bextor, a Friend of Children of Peace.
Clare Ward & Jen Brister
Stand Up for Peace is now an annual event and very much part of the London Summer scene. The Times announced that Stand Up for Peace was one of the 5 best things to do in London that week. The event acts as an important awareness raiser - particularly amongst young people - bringing the Children of Peace message to a whole new group of supporters.
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PEACE PRESCHOOL CHILDREN OF PEACE GRANTS
Following our 2009-10 Schools Aid Appeal, the Trustees of Children of Peace have awarded the Jerusalem YMCA Peace Preschool a grant to assist them in their work in educating 120 Christian, Jewish & Muslim children together in a safe, secure and caring environment. This unique pre-school encourages coexistence between Arabs and Jews on a daily and ongoing basis, as a normal part of life for the children and parents. It also aims to enable the development of tolerance and understanding, while preserving the distinct characteristics of each child and his/ her religious and cultural identity.
Adena Levine, Director of the Pre-School tells us:
"During these difficult days of uncertainty, division and violence, the Peace Preschool at the Jerusalem International YMCA continues to bring together 120 children and their families - Christians, Jews and Muslims, religious and secular, in an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence.
The goal of the JIY's Preschool is to provide our children with an environment in which they feel welcome and safe. The multi- disciplinary staff is made up of professionals from all three faiths, who are unified in their commitment to strengthening and empowering each child.
The respect they share for the customs and traditions of each other is mirrored in a curriculum that is rich with activities designed to teach, at an early age, the value and intrinsic worth of each child.
Parents, siblings and grandparents are all integral to the success of the Peace Preschool and share in the celebration of festivals and holidays. With so many religions represented, it is rare to have a week go by without a special activity and the sounds of laughter.
Our hope is that the healthy relationships that are being developed now will grow into strong bonds of mutual respect in the future."
The grant will help in the purchase of resources, including games and play-learning equipment, much needed by this wonderful school.
MAHMOUD JABARI SENDS
A MESSAGE OF HOPE & OF PEACE
Mahmoud Jabari is a Friend of Children of Peace and has been invited to establish a Youth/Peace Ambassadorial Programme for Children of Peace between Israeli and Palestinian youth. In this thought provoking and highly personal article, he calls for a change of attitude by the youth of both communities to open the door to peace.
It's time to stand up and say "No more invoking"
By: Mahmoud Jabari
Global Teen Leader and Peace Activist
Palestinian Territories
www.lensforchange.weebly.com
Here I am, standing in the Southern West Bank city of Hebron, which will be part of the future State of Palestine, that will live side by side with the state of Israel. It has been very long time since I started to feel a disconnection between myself as a human being with peaceful and democratic beliefs and my own religion - which I see how it's practiced around me - as a Muslim.
Peace is Possible.
So let's think about the future. Let's have the presence of mind to change that future, by trying to understand and try living side by side with the State of Israel; all of these words have been getting inside my mind and other thousands of minds when we think deeply about the importance of ending this violence and it's harmful consequences for both sides.
Yet, sadly and tragically - when you visit a mosque on a Friday service and listen to the extremist lessons given to attendees about (Al-Jihad) you realise how far removed these interpretations are from the real meaning according to the holy book of Al-Quran. The holy book spreads a message of peace and understanding, tolerance and wisdom. Yet extremists give lessons about standing against projects that aims to solve the conflict - such as the creation of the Palestinian State.
I want to change our thinking and encourage the idea that human beings must understand that terror and violence is never a solution and always is a threat to global peace.
It is very depressing, to say the least, when one observes young Muslims and even adults listening carefully to the Liston teller and saying (Ameen) which means "god wish" when he asks God to uproot Jews or to destroy the West. It is at such moments, that I feel the disconnection getting deeper and deeper. I can no longer remain silent. Religion cannot and must not be used to invoke hatred between nations.
I am not proposing this just to overcome unfair stereotypical images and irrational hatred towards the Muslim world. I put it forward to all those of us who seek peace in our region to develop awareness of peace programs in the region that have a clear goal, especially in such a region like the Palestinian Territories which urgently needs a people with peaceful intentions and visions.
Last week, I was quite depressed to learn that Hamas will never allow the Holocaust to be included in our student's curriculums. Selective knowledge is the path to tyranny. If this is allowed to happen, it confirms that Hamas is not concerned about building bridges with the world. Rather, they simply want to promote ignorance, misunderstanding and hatred - making us, the Palestinians part of the problem and not the solution. While this is completely wrong, our problem is with those who still wish to maintain the occupation and want to keep the siege around Gaza strip as much as it's with those who want to keep using violence and shooting rockets toward Israeli civilians.
In an article which did not get published, I once tried to advise the Palestinian prime minister Dr. Salam Fayad to consider how young people can work towards the Palestinian State. I felt that young Palestinians had a crucial role to play in building a better image of our people for the future well-being of Palestine. Young people should be encouraged by the authorities to play more of a leadership role and show the world how forward thinking, humane and open minded we are.
I would hope that new ways of building peace and opening up hearts and minds can take place amongst Israeli youth too, where even under an Netanyahu government , the Israeli people should rethink their government policies wherever religion might be used to promote hatred.
I am trying to draw the world's attention to the most serious stumbling block to peace between the two sides - the misinformation and dominance of political extremists and religious fundamentalists in both communities. Young people in Israel and Palestinian yearn for peace and a normal life and if we really want to develop a future of peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis - which should include a seed of hope and readiness for understanding between the two sides - then world leaders must be made aware of what is really influencing young people at places of worship, schools and public places.
I believe that there should be action taken by young people for other young people, concentrating on giving both sides a clear and active role in the political process.
Young Palestinians and Israelis are excluded from the political process and any future progress must include a free and open education system that raises awareness and expectations and limits the damage caused by ignorance and religious hatred - wherever is comes from.
It is our human duty to build peace in all societies and to encourage hope in the mind set of tomorrow's leaders.
I call upon all Israeli and Palestinian youth to send out a shared message of peace and reconciliation before the world community.
Here's an idea: why not have an Israeli-Palestinian youth congress that can influence both of our governments with a mission to send out a unified message of peace to the whole world?
Mahmoud Jabari, Children of Peace Youth Ambassador
CROSSING QALANDIYA
BOTH WRITERS BECOME FRIENDS OF
CHILDREN OF PEACE
One of the year’s outstanding books – Crossing Qalandiya – is the story of a remarkable friendship between two women across the divide – Israeli Daniela Norris and Palestinian Shireen Anabtawi.
It is the story of how they met by chance and how – despite the conflict – they begin to write letters, exchanging ideas, thoughts, recipes, anecdotes – bringing to each and every one of us – the human consequences of the conflict through a series of profound and personal viewpoints and experiences.
This moving and illuminating book has been captivating all of us and we see it as a beacon of hope in the wilderness of the Israeli – Palestinian conflict. Both writers are donating 5% of sales to Children of Peace, a charity they both strongly support.
In acknowledgement of their work for peace, reconciliation and understanding Shireen Anabtawi and Daniela Norris have both become Friends of Children of peace, joining other distinguished supporters.
We highly recommend this book to all of our worldwide supporters.