EVS Group B

This is an early picture of Group B looking really cold on Hampstead Heath :)

A Sunday Lunch time at CADFA...

On Sunday 27th of January CADFA organised a lunch. This day was organised in order to let volunteers talk about the volunteering experience. This event was open for everybody. Indeed, we had CADFA’s members but also peope who are not yet CADFA’s members. This day was an opportunity for me to talk about my voluntering experience with CADFA but also an oppotunity for Noor and Tamara who are from Palestine. At the end, the English volunteers who had come back after 3 months in Palestine spoke about the same subject.

This day allowed all of us for I think everybody share our experience and meet new people. 

One of our Palestinian volunteers writes...

Ehab was our first Palestinian volunteer to finish his term here

(Above he is getting his Youthpass certificate).

He writes...

I came to London through the EVS (European Voluntary Service)  which is one of Youth in Action projects. I stayed for three months.  During my time I worked with CADFA (Camden Abu Dis Friendship  Association) on two projects: the first one was Arabic teaching in schools and in the evening a class  for adults, and the second one was agriculture.

The first project went very well , and I had many student coming regularly in both schools and evening class , however my second project did not go as well as the first one, because of the  rainy and cold weather of London ,that did not allow us to do  outdoor planting project in the school gardens.

I used to go to a three schools a week (Acland Burghley, Hampstead and Maria Fideles )where I used to teach Arabic and  tell the students about Palestine. Also I used to take part in the after school club in London Wildlife Trust in Hackney borough where I used to help in teaching students. The work I was doing was very challenging because of the difficulty of the Arabic language and the lack of information that people have about Palestine because of the media.

During my first month I lived in Camden and for my second and third month I lived in Hackney, with Sally Haywell.

In my first day in London I was very amazed by everything, the old buildings, the buses, the trains and the technological development of the city.  At the beginning I started becoming very stressed from it because it life in it  was very fast and crowded, also the difficult of the transport  system, but with time I became used to it and I start enjoying its beauty and cultural diversity. After that I start seeing the difference between life in England and life in Palestine and how  it feels to leave free with no fear or restriction on your movement or beliefs.

It is very amazing to be able to move and travel with safely with no worries, which is a lot different from what I am used to in Palestine, therefore I made the most of it while I was still in England, I visited many cities and areas to try to see the most of England.

Most of the English people are really nice ,they are very helpful and kind ,but the sad thing is that most of them so not appreciate the freedom and the luxury and independence they are leaving in, also most of them don’t know  about what is happening in the world outside England especially the things that arecaused by their own government.                                       

New volunteers in the CADFA office, Camden

In Abu Dis before leaving

In London before the welcome meal

Volunteers training... some going to Palestine,
some just arrived in London

Ehab telling people why he is here

The really exciting news this week is the arrival of our four EVS volunteers from Palestine and France: Noor, Sabrina, Tamara and Ehab.  Look forward to working together...

My Time At CADFA

Tomorrow is my last day volunteering at CADFA. I have only been here three weeks but those weeks have been thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring.

At first, I was rather daunted as I had never before volunteered at a charity. Now, however, I am confident about volunteering and am fully aware of the situation in Palestine. CADFA gave me the opportunity to find out more.

I have been helping to raise money for the Football Visit which is happening soon, by selling Palestinian goods on a fundraising stall. Thank you to all the people who bought from us.

I hope that I can come and volunteer again at some point, but until then...

Goodbye!

CADFA staff, volunteers from London and from France +Palestine Sept 12

Special big welcome to Sabrina, Ehab, Noor and Tamara - our first EVS volunteers in London

BOOK REVIEW: ‘For Hammam’ - A Handbook for Young People on Human Rights in Palestine

‘For Hammam’ is a compilation of information on the Palestinian-Israeli situation, stories from the children of Abu Dis, and activities to involve the reader.

The title comes from the touching story of a boy, Hammam Mohsen from Abu Dis, who was shot in the back of the head three times by an Israeli soldier and subsequently paralysed on the right side of his body. ‘For Hammam’ describes in two words what the book encompasses; it shows the longing to help and the hurt which is being experienced in Abu Dis.

This book is aimed towards young people between the ages of 13-18. The relatively short explanations and simple layout make it easier for young people to read and enjoy. It is highly informative, with maps of the region and photographs to illustrate the points addressed in the book. The fact that it is written in both the English language and Arabic allows it to be more accessible to not just the young people of Britain but also the youth of the Middle East.

The stories from the children living in Abu Dis who had taken part in the Young Ambassadors Programme organised by the Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association (CADFA) showed the truth behind what is happening in Palestine and how difficult the situation is. Many of the stories described how the children themselves or their friends had been badly treated by the Israeli soldiers; they had been beaten or put in prison for crimes they did not commit. I found that the stories put into perspective everything that I had heard about Palestine. I was horrified by the way the children are treated and am hopeful of the introduction of Human Rights into these young people’s lives.

Before reading this book, my knowledge of the history behind the Arab-Israeli conflict was limited. Now, I feel as though I have a better understanding of the background and the present situation of the conflict. I liked the way in which the book was arranged and written. I would recommend this book to young people who are interested in finding out about Palestine, like I was.