PATRONS:
MADONNA
SIR DEREK JACOBI
ROYAL PATRON:
HH THE BEGUM
AGA KHAN
Copyright Children of Peace;
design and build by
THE AMERICAN FUND FOR CHARITIES
Supporting Good Causes Worldwide
PEACE PROJECTS
Each programme is designed to respect the traditions, values and customs of both
communities whilst notions of healing, friendship, mutual respect and cooperation
are encouraged. See a summary of the groups we have helped.
Children of Peace works with grassroots Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and
Community Based Organisations (CBOs) in Israel and in Palestine who share our mission
and our objectives. We regularly monitor all our projects and programmes and ensure
each meets our recommended outcomes where possible.
In many cases, Children of Peace acts as an important mediator - bringing groups
and individuals together who have been unable to make contact before. Click a link
on the right to see more,
(or scroll down, but it's a long scroll!).
ARTS PROJECTS
The Children of Peace Arts Project works with regional NGOs and local CBOs to develop
sustainable community based arts projects that respect the culture, values and traditions
of both Arab and Jewish communities in the region.
The Projects focus upon the visual, performing, dramatic and plastic arts including
theatre, dance, poetry, music and painting through shared experiences, exhibitions
and performances. Essential to the success of each project is the provision of well-trained
teaching staff, experienced carers, venues, equipment and materials.
Notable projects include support for the initiatives at the inspirational peace community
Neve Shalom-Wahat al Salaam, the ongoing educational programmes of Shani Choir of
Jezreel Valley, Beit al Musica - all Partners of Children of Peace.
FRIENDSHIP PROGRAMME
Inspired by Neve Shalom-Wahat al Salaam, Children of Peace will spearhead a campaign
across the region to teach Palestinian children Hebrew and Israeli children Arabic.
This is a surprising rarity in the region. Children are primarily taught English
as a second language but often cannot communicate with their closest neighbours.
We are all too aware of how the wrong tone of voice, inflection, lack of awareness
of local customs and misuse of words can all lead to misinterpretation and misunderstanding.
The Children of Peace Friendship Project would act as an important language teaching
programme to enhance our underlying mission, message and objectives.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Both Israeli and Arab children live in a permanent state of tension and stress. Life
in a war zone can be interspersed with unpredictable acts of violence, deprivation,
mental health problems, homelessness, starvation, interrupted studies and personal
tragedies. Sometimes, the situation is made worse by outside organisations and politicised
groups manipulating the situation for the worst of all possible reasons.
Children of Peace will only work with organisations that recognise that in all conflicts,
everyone is a victim.
We fully support the right of all Israeli and Palestinian communities to resolve
the underlying causes of conflict together, through cooperation and dialogue. Our
work is to help make that possible.
That is why we support the work of local NGOs and CBOs like OneVoice, the Abraham
Fund, The al-Quds Center for Dialogue and Democracy, the Palestinian Peace Coalition,
Combatants for Peace and the Peres Center for Peace.
EDUCATION
All our education programmes are are based upon mutual respect and tolerance, equality
between Israeli's and Palestinians, conflict resolution, awareness raising and respect
for each other's culture, faith and traditions. Affiliated Partner organisations
like Hope Flowers School in Bethlehem, Hand in Hand for Arab Jewish Education, the
Mar Elias Educational Institutions, The Jaffa Institute, The Galilee Society, the
Abraham Fund, WESAL Gaza, House of Grace, MAOF School, Peace Pre-School - Jerusalem,
Kings Academy - Amman, and Jezreel Valley Center for the Arts share these objectives
with Children of Peace.
By working with like-minded Israeli and Palestinian partners our educational programmes
aim to assist both Israeli and Palestinian pupils to resource and fund their education,
whilst also providing opportunities that benefit economically disadvantaged children
and youth.
HEALTH
Many children throughout the region suffer worrying levels of poor mental and physical
health due to economic deprivation, anxiety and stress, diet, limited health education
programmes and violence. This is well-documented in leading medical journals like
the American Journal of Psychology and The Lancet. Palestinian children have unusually
high levels of childhood diabetes and disabilities and Israeli children experience
variable amounts of anxiety, stress and emotion connected to living in a heightened
state of uncertainty.
Working closely with grassroots organisations like the al-Taj for Health and Heritage,
Benevolent Health Association for All (Gaza), Red Crescent Society Gaza, Physicians
for Human Rights, National Council for the Child (Israel) and the Peres Center for
Peace Medical Division, we aim to fund vital research work, medical care, local health
centres and importantly, training and training facilities for Palestinian doctors
and medical staff in Israeli hospitals and medical institutions to assist them in
their work with children.
SPORTS
In 2007, Children of Peace supported the Sports Program of the Peres Peace Center
which focused upon cross-border programmes where Israeli & Palestinian children joined
a soccer league and benefited from peace education programmes, language & computer
literacy classes, together with specialist sports coaching support from Israeli and
Palestinian staff.
We see the importance of sport for children in our conflict resolution work. Children
in conflict zones miss out on play opportunities and the healing message of inter-community
games and sporting endeavour. Following the recent Gaza conflict, the loss of play,
games and sport has been hard for the children as there are few gardens, parks or
sports facilities for the 750,000 children that live in Gaza.
Children on all sides need release and entertainment - the opportunity to switch
off from the consequences of conflict and they need to share the healthy fun and
achievement of meeting each other through sport
