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PATRON:
MADONNA
DAME JUDI DENCH
ROYAL PATRON:
HH THE BEGUM
AGA KHAN
Copyright Children of Peace;
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THE AMERICAN FUND FOR CHARITIES
Supporting Good Causes Worldwide
FIVE ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN AFFILIATES RECEIVE OUR GRANTS
The Trustees of Children of Peace are delighted to announce that five affiliates
in Israel and Palestine have just been awarded Children of Peace grants. As part
of our Coalition of Peace - which extends from Gaza to Jordan, from Israel to the
West Bank - each group carries out important work in protecting children and youth
in the region and all subscribe to our notions of peaceful coexistence, tolerance
and mutual understanding between communities in Israel and Palestine.
THE GROUPS
BHAA GAZA
NEGEV CO-EXISTENCE FORUM FOR
CIVIL EQUALITY
PEACE CHILD ISRAEL
PHYSICIANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
ST. JOHNS EYE HOSPITAL
THE GRANTS
BHAA/Gaza
Dr Mohammed Lehia, the General Director of BHAA/Gaza tells us that the organisation
was established in 1998. The work of BHAA/Gaza focuses on general health, charitable,
educational and social activities for Gazan communities and the children, providing
many services including maternity care and children's health, including surgery.
"The children of Palestine look to the world with hope that they may stand by and
assist them through their hardships, especially at this crucial time. We value highly
the great efforts Children of Peace is making to support our children and help put
a smile on their faces.
We ask you to increase your cooperation in the scientific, cultural and social fields.
It encourages us to remind you that our children are still suffering from a severe
shortage of food and clothing because of widespread poverty and difficult economic
conditions and the wars that passed, so we all hope for the alleviation of poverty
and pain for our children and to be messengers of peace, love and cooperation.
I implore you to support the Children of Peace and the inspirational work they do
for our children in Gaza. In the past Children of Peace has run an Appeal for us
and we appreciate their generosity."
Children of Peace Founder and Chairman, Richard Martin says " BHAA are a remarkable
organisation and one we are proud to help. Against all of the odds they carry out
inspirational work. Of the population of 3.8 million in Gaza, 60% are under the age
of 16 with families existing on less than $2 a day. This dreadful situation must
change and we must do everything we can to help wonderful people like Dr Lehia and
his team. "
NEGEV CO-EXISTENCE FORUM FOR CIVIL EQUALITY
The Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality (NCF) is a grassroots non-profit organization
in Be'er-Sheva. The NCF was jointly founded by Jewish and Arab residents to advance
the principles of partnership and equality between the diverse communities in the
Negev.
Karen Douglas, Resource Development Coordinator writes:
" The Negev Coexistence Forum
is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant from Children of Peace to
support a new initiative, the Video-Advocacy Project.
The project is a digital story-telling initiative that will provide a group of Bedouin
children with the skills, equipment and platform needed to use video as a means to
bring about positive social change. Through video photography, impoverished and disadvantaged
children will have the opportunity to speak out about their situation and be heard
by those who can make a difference.
The initial phase of the project, which has been kindly sponsored by Children of
Peace, will involve a series of workshops with 10 children to capture their images
and edit their materials into short films. It is envisaged that the second phase
of the project will consist of a travelling exhibition within Israel and abroad which
will feature the children's video work.
We look forward to our partnership with Children of Peace and sharing the visual
results of the project with you."
PEACE CHILD ISRAEL
Founded in 1988, PCI uses theatre and the arts as a tool for repair and advocacy
between Jewish and Palestinian communities throughout Israel. "Du-Drama" is a youth
programme comprised of weekly meetings at partnering (neighbouring) schools followed
by rehearsals for productions of bi-lingual plays that are performed by these young
leaders for thousands of student audience members in order to change attitudes, serving
as a positive role model for their peers and the communities.
Melisse Lewine-Boskovich from PCI tells us that:
"Peace Child Israel is thrilled and
grateful for the support that Children of Peace has decided to provide a grant to
our organization for the 2011 project: ‘Crossing the Segregation Divide’.
The grant is being applied to the process of producing the bi-lingual version of
"West Side Story" for performances for Arab and Jewish high school students in 2011
and 2012.
Thank you for this support which is coming at a time when many have turned their
eyes away from the efforts of peace-building among the future generations."
During the 2010-2011 season Peace Child Israel inaugurated four peace-building programmes
in six communities throughout Israel:
- Tel Aviv-Jaffa (two different groups of young people)
- Tira and Petach Tkvah
- Misgav and Sakhnin
The students met weekly and produced four different bi-lingual theatre productions:
These productions were performed for over 10,000 Jewish and Arab high school students
throughout the country. An external research agency was engaged to measure attitudinal
change of the audience members as a result of seeing the play. The findings were
spectacular. The teens, besides going through transformational processes themselves,
serve as leaders in the community.
PHYSICIANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
An important affiliate of Children of Peace, Physicians for Human Rights consists
of medical teams that carry out humanitarian work in the West Bank, running free
clinics for disadvantaged Palestinian families. The communities PHR work for include
Palestinians of the occupied Palestinian territory, Palestinian and Israeli prisoners
and detainees, Bedouin communities in the unrecognised villages of the Negev desert,
marginalised Israeli communities and undocumented people, migrants and refugees living
in Israel.
Building on over twenty years of joint concrete work by Israeli and Palestinian medical
professionals and activists, PHR are committed to an alternative vision of Israeli
and Palestinian society, based on human rights, medical ethics and social justice.
The work combines direct medical aid with advocacy for long-term policy change that
will end occupation and bring health and security to both peoples. Over 1,500 members
and volunteers, including medical professionals, medical students and human rights
activists.
This grant has been designated to fund medicines and medical supplies for the West
Bank clinic.
ST. JOHNS EYE HOSPITAL
One of the oldest charities working in the region, the St Johns Eye Hospital provides
valuable support for economically deprived Palestinians requiring special eye surgery
or treatment.
Established in 1882, St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital is the only charitable provider
of crucial eye care in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Patients are treated,
regardless of ethnicity, religion or ability to pay. A peace orientated and Christian
based organization the organisation advocates strong interfaith relationships and
supporters include both Jewish and Muslim institutions.
In a typical year the Hospital treated over 25,000 children under 18 across East
Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank.
The grant has been provided to assist in correcting squints amongst Palestinian girls.
Geof Jarvis of the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group, tells us that:
"Thank you so much for the wonderful news that Children Of Peace has awarded such
a generous grant towards our work treating young girls for squint in East Jerusalem
and the West Bank.
Our services in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) are more vital than ever
and the kind support of Children Of Peace will help us ensure that many hundreds
of young girls will be saved from potentially permanent sight loss over the coming
year.
Despite the chronic stalemate in negotiations towards a solution to the political
situation in the region, the St John Eye Hospital Group is very lucky to have the
support and sympathy of a good friend in Children Of Peace.
On behalf of all of our patients and staff, may I extend our warmest appreciation
of your interest in our work. "
FOUR NEW GROUPS JOIN OUR WORLDWIDE COALITION OF PEACE
The Children of Peace Coalition of Peace is a network of like-minded CBOs and NGOs
who share our notions of peaceful co-existence, human rights and grassroots co-operation.
Many of our affiliates have had little or no contact before and the coalition is
the ideal opprtunity for groups working for tolerance, reconciliation and the protection
of all children across the Middle East to open up corridors of contact to promote
open dialogue, understanding and greater trust.
Four new groups have just joined our growing network and they are:
Kings College, London Israeli-Palestinian Forum
A group of Jewish and Muslim university students, Kings College, London building
bridges between student societies to open up dialogue, debate and cooperation and
who wish to connect with like-minded students through a Higher Education version
of our SchoolsLink programme.
The Israeli-Palestinian Forum has adopted the following principles:
EDUCATION - We want to try and find a way to make education on the debate as near
to objective as possible. We want people to learn from both sides of the debate about
the truth and to reject any biased exposure or propaganda they may have been subjected
to. Thus we hope to look honestly at divergent narratives from all sides, and to
strive to determine fact from fiction, myths from grievances, support for one side
from hate for the other.
DIALOGUE - We believe that positive and constructive debate is vital for Jews and
Arabs, Zionists and anti-Zionists, Left and Right, Religious and Non-Religious to
come together. Thus, we hope to establish a safe environment for ongoing constructive
dialogue between all related parties, providing the opportunity to appreciate other
viewpoints of the conflict. We will create dialogue groups focusing on important
issues within the conflict in order to achieve this aim
ACTIVISM - We want to develop projects and initiatives both within the UK and in
the Middle East that encourage enemies to talk and find ways to peace through grassroots
initiatives. If there is to be a political solution to the conflict, the relationships
between human beings also need to improve, and we need to find a path towards a process
of reconciliation.
Running For Peace
A Canadian-based Palestinian organisation that wishes to reach out to Israeli children
through Children of Peace by fundraising for sports equipment for disadvantaged Israeli
children.
Founded by Adib Abuhassira, Running For Peace wants to reach out to underprivileged
children living in Israel. Child protection agencies in Israel tell us that dozens
of Gazan children wander the streets in Israel begging and there are Jewish children
from North Africa and from the Falasha culture who are economically deprived, alongside
other immigrant groups who have been missed by the larger state agencies.
Adip wants a new message to be heard:
" I am desperate to help underprivileged children
living in Israel but have no way of entering into Israel because of the fact that
I am a Palestinian from Gaza but despite the harsh obstacle I still wanted to help
so I researched online and found the Children of Peace website. When I read some
information on the projects that Children of Peace has organised to help Israeli
and Palestinian youth, I became really interested in the charity."
Children of Peace Chairman and Founder, Richard Martin says:
" If anyone symbolises
hope for the future, it is Adib Abuhassira whose message is of reconciliation, humanity
and trust. As a Gazan born Palestinian, his organisation wishes to reach out to Israelis
and he speaks for the majority of Israelis and Palestinians who just want peace,
security, dignity and a future without hate and conflict. Like Dr Abuelaish, of Daughters
for Life - another affiliate - Adib deserves our full support."
Sindyanna, Israel
Established in 1996, Sindyanna of Galilee is a registered non-profit organization.
Led by women striving for social change, it operates in the Arab population of the
Galilee region in northern Israel, and seeks to help growers and producers from the
Palestinian Occupied Territories.
Furthermore, Sindyanna combines commercial activity with work in the community, thereby
enhancing the empowerment of Arab women while developing the olive industry. In their
warehouse in Kufr Kana they produce award-winning fair trade organic olive oil, za'atar
spice mixes, carob syrup, honey, almonds and olive oil soaps.
Over the years Sindyanna of Galilee has initiated a number of projects based on their
core values of land preservation, environmental considerations, and commerce according
to the principles of fair trade.
The main ongoing project is "Oasis" where, in partnership with Al-Juzur from Kufr
Ara, Sindyanna planted a modern organic olive plantation over an area of 10 hectares.
The project was supported by Italian Fair Trade organizations symbolizes the goals
of fostering cooperation between Arabs and Jews and international support.
The Sindyanna Visitor Center is located in Kufr Manda in the Galilee. The centre
is combined with a professional basketry workshop for Arab and Jewish women. Every
member is economically empowered to become an independent and constructive member
of society. The centre has become a meeting point for Arab and Jewish women and provides
a unique view into the world of working Arab women.
Sindyanna symbolizes a unique cooperation between Arabs and Jews, striving to strengthen
the economy of the Arab-Palestinian population, both in Israel and in the Occupied
Territories.
The Sir Charles Clore Community Centre in Acre
The Director of the Sir Charles Clore Arab-Jewish Community Centre in Acre, Mohammed
Fahili is proud that a significant number of the Center’s supporters live in the
UK. They understand the importance of this independent, grass-roots project in Acre,
Northern Israel - a mixed city, where Arab and Jew live side by side in relative
peace with very few opportunities to meet in a neutral place on a regular basis.
Clare King Lassman of the Centre tells us:
“This Centre welcomes all people from across Acre to join activities that are run
in a spirit of tolerance and respect. When one UK supporter told us about Children
of Peace, it was clear that there was a natural partnership. We are so honoured to
have been accepted as an affiliate of this important organisation.
Some 1,500 children, youth and women enjoy our educational, recreational and cultural
activities each week. Most are heavily subsidised so no one is excluded because they
can't pay. In our programming we take every opportunity to build friendship and trust.
We offer the Centre to any organisation interested in building bridges between communities
and often act as a non-partisan venue. We are proud of our close links with Jewish,
Muslim and Christian individuals and communities outside of Israel, specifically
in the UK and US.”
THE CHILDREN OF PEACE INTERVIEW -
MOHAMMED AMIN
In the latest interview of our series, Professor Sarah Brown - a Trustee of Children
of Peace - interviews Mohammed Amin, a Friend of Children of Peace and a distinguished
British Muslim of Pakistani origin who has lived in the UK since the age of one.
Despite growing up in a very poor family, he passed the 11+ exam to attend a state
grammar school and then graduated in mathematics from Clare College Cambridge and
became Price Waterhouse's first Muslim partner in the UK. He retired at the end of
2009.
SB: It is clear that you have great sympathy for all those affected by conflict in
Israel/Palestine. What sparked your interest in the region?
MA: I have followed current affairs from an early age, and was sixteen when the Six
Day War took place. Accordingly at least since then I have closely followed Middle
East developments in the news. My being a Muslim makes me naturally sympathetic to
the Palestinian position, but having read the Bible from cover to cover and knowledge
of the history of European Jewry means that I can also sympathise with the Jewish
viewpoint. After I visited Auschwitz in 2009 I wrote about how much awareness of
the Holocaust has affected me.
In recent years have been reading more books about the twentieth century history
of Palestine. In 2004 along with others I helped to set up the Muslim Jewish Forum
of Greater Manchester which has also increased my interest in the Middle East.
SB: You recently visited Israel for the first time. Can you tell us a little about
that trip?
MA: We had a mixed group of nine Muslims, six Christians and two Jews, organised
by FODIP (Forum for Discussion of Israel and Palestine) and spent about nine days
in Israel and the West Bank with a fully scheduled itinerary. The historic nature
of the Holy Land is very inspiring. Amongst other things we walked in Capernaum where
Jesus taught, we visited the churches of the Annunciation, the Nativity and the Holy
Sepulchre, as well as the Dome of the Rock, the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Ebrahimi Mosque
where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives are buried. Amongst more modern locations,
we visited the Ghetto Fighters Museum, Yad Vashem, Mount Herzl and the mixed Muslim
Jewish village Neve Shalom Wahat Al Salaam.
Having tea at the home of a kindertransporten survivor in his eighties who told me
about his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren made real the saying that
to save one life is to save a world.
The most depressing part of the visit was the centre of Hebron. A terrible massacre
of Jews took place there in 1929. Today a small number of Jewish settlers have made
a point of occupying the centre of Hebron with IDF protection and have made life
a misery for the many Arabs who live there.
SB: Did anything particularly interest or surprise you?
MA: I found Yad Vashem very moving and wrote about it on my website.
Geographically what struck me most was the amount of open space. I was very aware
of the population of Israel and the West Bank, yet driving around in our coach in
Israel and the West Bank, what struck me was the amount of relatively empty countryside.
I found that Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs and Palestinians were all pessimistic about
the future, but surprisingly despite the power imbalance it was Israeli Jews who
seemed to feel most pessimistic. I came away with the strong belief that they need
strong outside help to make peace, as for both sides avoiding difficult issues is
much easier than taking the hard decisions needed to reach a peace agreement.
SB: Can you tell us a bit more about the work of FODIP, and how it works to promote
dialogue on the topic of Israel/Palestine between those of different faiths?
MA: I came across Jane Clements, FODIP Director, when she came to Manchester to facilitate
a mutual listening event organised by the Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester
in the wake of the Gaza conflict (Operation Cast Lead). FODIP states: "Its remit
is to host and facilitate sensitively inter faith dialogue on the Israeli Palestinian
conflict, within and between Jews, Christians, Muslims and others in the UK, and
to promote co-operation through dialogue." I was unable to attend the Manchester
listening event, but those who did found it worthwhile. The trip FODIP organised,
with the programme of people that we met, certainly broadened our understanding of
the issues and facilitated dialogue.
SB: What kind of resistance do you encounter (if any!), from those who are passionate
supporters of either Israel or the Palestinians, and how do you deal with it?
MA: The biggest obstacle I encounter is people who take entrenched positions that
rule out all compromise. For example Jews who insist that God gave them title deeds
to all of Palestine or Muslims who insist that once a land has been ruled by Muslims
it must always be ruled by Muslims. Fortunately such ultra-extremists are few in
number.
The more common problem is mutual ignorance of history, or rather adherence to a
one-sided historical narrative which takes no account of the past faults of one's
own "side." I believe that everyone should study the history, not because we can
change or rectify it, but a knowledge of the history eliminates any belief that only
the "other side" has done anything wrong.
SB: How did you find out about Children of Peace, and why did you decide to become
involved with the charity?
MA: I was approached out of the blue by your Chairman and Founder Richard Martin
to become a Friend. Given my interest in the subject, once I looked at the website
to see how Children of Peace operated, its objectives and its existing line-up of
friends, coming on board was an easy decision.
MEET THE TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees recently met in central London at the Peace Federation building
and this picture records this important meeting:
Left to right: Clare Bolt, Richard Montagu, Martin Taylor, Trevor Mepham,
Jessica
Woolley, Richard Martin, Sarah Brown, Dominic Martin,
Claire Packham and Antonia
Leslie.
SHANI CHOIR UPDATE
We are delighted to announce that the Shani Choir - a mixed choir of Christian, Jewish
and Muslim girls from the region - will be given the honour of opening the prestigious
Three Choirs Festival in Hereford, UK on 20th July 2012 - just prior to the UK 2012
Olympics.
This is a first for the United Kingdom and there is great interest in this important
event at the Festival. Tickets can be purchased from the Three Choirs Festival Box
office once ticket sales go online.
To donate towards our sponsorship of this wonderful visit, please go to:
Donate to
our Just Giving Account
The Shani Choir Committee has been formed to raise funds, organise and manage the
visit. The Committee is headed up by former Mayor of Hereford, Councillor Marcelle
Lloyd Hayes who so successfully led our 2007 Gaza Appeal. Other members include Trustee
Trevor Mepham, Richard Claridge, Gail Hume, Janine Martin, Althea Mackenzie, Steven
Fedor and charity Founder Richard Martin.
Our first target is to raise £10,000 to cover numerous costs from travel and insurance,
to coach hire and other cultural activities. Thank you so much for your support.
