Dear all,
here I come with few updates after my recent visit in Gaza and my meeting with Sabah.
In my view, the situation appeared much calmer than in November, and Sabah's husband confirmed that internal security is better since inter-factional fighting has practically ended. Also, I saw myself that there are plenty of food and groceries in the street markets. So, it seems that there is no immediate food shortage. At the same time, most people are moving on donkey-carts, since fuel is extremely scarce and expensive. The Israeli only allow diesel gasoline to enter Gaza, which is used mostly for powering generators. I saw hundreds of cars lined-up in queue at gas stations, despite empty reserves. Also, in few places some clashes happened between the people and the Hamas police, which apparently was preventing the little gas available to be sold for keeping it for their own needs. There's no way to say if that was true, but the intensity of these confrontations was fairly limited. And that is all unrest I personally witnessed. Electric power still comes and goes, but it is available in most areas untill midnight. Is seems that Egypt is providing additional power to the local capacity.
Now, concerning our project, I discussed with Sabah the idea of starting some little income-generation activities by hiring unemployed people as support staff for the schools, for example as cleaners or gardeners. She said that this kind of help would be much more needed than the food packs. So, she suggested to reduce the number of food packs from 150 to 50, and to give some people the opportunity to work. This is really the most appreciated support, besides contributing to the schools expenses.
Practically, Sabah told me that the average salary for such jobs would be 400 NIS per month. Given that information we should plan at least for a one-year support, that would make 400 x 12 = 4800 NIS per year per worker. Let us say 5000 NIS. Now it is up to us, depending on the budget, to tell Sabah how many people we want to hire for the next year. After we give her an idea, then she will contact the schools, consider their needs and look for the appropriate people together with the teachers. I really think we should move into this kind of activity and reduce the food packs.
Also, I mentioned to Sabah the opportunity to find and support another school, and she said she would think about it. Finally, I gave her 1000 NIS as agreed with Andres in order to cover the expenses for Mother's Day. I have the receipt with me.
That's all for the moment.
All the best!
Andrea
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Mission Report Gaza, March 12, 2008
Brothers Andrea and Lorenzo and I were met by Sabah with taxi around 10.15 at the Gaza side of the checkpoint. We drove to the nursery school in Beit Hanoun and arrived about 10.30. This was one of the areas severely hit by the Israeli incursion of two weeks ago (and an area from which were fired many of the rockets aimed at Israeli towns). School was canceled for a week. The kids and teachers have been back for about a week now. Bishara Hamad, head of the school, welcomed us; school was in session.
We met Dr. Khalad Dahlan, a psychiatrist from the Gaza Community Mental Health Program. He told us how many of the children (and adults) are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress (PTS); in his visits to some of the families, the children would cower in the corner of the room, afraid to speak to anyone. For the week that they have been back in class, the teachers have done nothing but play games with them in order to work out some of the stress of these traumatized children. Judging from the squeals of laughter, they seemed to be succeeding, but I did notice some reservation from the kids when we strangers appeared in their class. Dr. Dahlan was explaining the programs they are setting up to help children and their families. There are some 130 children in this school alone. I wish those who turn to violence (Palestinians and Israelis) would realize how easily children are scarred. 
Our next stop was at the Sakehr school in the Sudjayha section of the city, one of the poorest areas, according to Sabah. We met with a number of the staff. Classes had ended for the day. This is the school where we have had most trouble getting receipts. The reasons: There are very few "established" stores in this area of Gaza. Often the food purchased for their programs is bought from vendors on the street. They have set up some sort of system to have the vendors sign a receipt. I don't know whether they are always successful, but Lorenzo will inform us. In addition the school makes a list of what is served in its breakfast program, and Sabah checks that list along with what has been purchased. They seem to be making a great effort to be as transparent as possible with the funds distributed to them. We met with a journalist and with a woman from the "Sakher Project", an educational group that gives educational assistance to our school and to a number of others. The head of the project was recently invited to a conference in Dubai. She was refused permission by Israel to leave the Gaza Strip. The space for the school is rented for about $160 per month. (He wants to raise the rent because he sees "foreigners" visiting the school and thinks that more money is easily available!) The Sakehr school has almost no area for play. They have permission to open the door to the backyard, a small area with an orchard. If the children want to use the space for play, it will mean more rent. One of the "outreach" programs of the school is to teach mothers how to prepare healthy meals for their families, although their choices are very limited. About 90% of families in Gaza are dependent on food aid from the UN and other international sources,a humanitarian crisis in itself, but there is still not enough food to go around. Food in markets is scarce and the prices have soared. The school is in need of fresh and brighter painting, but there is no paint to be had in Gaza (just as there are no building supplies to replace demolished homes, very few medical supplies, very little gasoline (almost all the gas stations we saw were closed), little electric power, and the like. 
From Sudjayha we visited Fawzi at an organization with which she is associated in central Gaza City. We were warmly greeted; they had just finished an award ceremony for five local women active in the area.
Andrea and Lorenzo were able to pick up some rugs, made by some of the women and requested by Italian visitors whom they are expecting. We heard an appeal from a man who is director of the organization: Please let people know what is going on here; we do not support the violence; we are trying to live in peace; we are normal human beings, NOT the caricature created by the media! 
From there we went to the Gaza branch of the Women's Affairs Technical Committee; Sabah does some work for this group. There was a meeting of university students who are trying to get some practical work attached to their study programs so that they may better integrated into society when they graduate.
The Committee has on-going programs for young women in computer training, focus groups on combating family violence and the like. From there we made a brief visit to the Missionaries of Charity with the promise of a longer visit next time for Mass. Then back to Erez. The crossing was relatively smooth, but I noticed they now stamp our passports going and coming -- as one Palestinian friend remarked: "It is like going into a foreign country." Indeed! All we met in Gaza expressed their deep gratitude for the programs run by Daughters of charity. I am sure Andrea will enrich the site with photos and videos.Don
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Our two Religion teachers in Gaza and their ministry
Ghada and Maha have been teaching the children of the Christian sector of the Beach Camp in Gaza for at least five years. They are both residence of the camp which consists of 24 families who are mostly Orthodox Christians. Ghada and Maha are both Latin Catholics and so they adopt their lessons to the Orthodox majority among the children. Ghada has studied Theology at Bethlehem University which is run by the Christian Brothers. Therese is an elementary teacher at the parish school and a mother of five children.
Intergrading into the lessons from scripture the two teachers use art work, baking for the preparation for feasts and outings. The parents are asked to participate at the big feasts to involve all the residence of the camp. The Little Sisters of Charles De Foucauld offer their large room for the occasions of the major feasts when the family joins in the fun. The Sisters continue to be very supportive of the activities offered by the two teachers. Fr. Manuel also appreciates the untiring energy given to the children by Ghada and Maha.
Many of the children cannot afford to go to the parish school and therefore go to public school which gives Islamic training and values. It is therefore very important that these 30 or 40 children receive a Catholic/Orthodox education and Christian values to be able to live as a minority people among a large and often aggressive Muslim majority.
We are proud of these two women who work against the odds to keep Christianity alive in the Christian section of Beach Camp, one of the largest refugee camps in Gaza. Monthly we finance their activities and give a small salary to each teacher.(pictures of activities of february 2008)
Monday, February 25, 2008
Mission Report GAZA, December 14-16, 2007
December 14, 2007
After a one and a half hour trip by bus from Jerusalem to Ashqelon and a taxi ride to Eretz crossing, we entered Gaza at around 11 am. Our friend taxi driver, Ahmad, was waiting for us inside. He drove us to Sabah’s home, a nice apartment at the 7th floor of a new building in the area of the football field. Both Sabah and her husband are currently employed: she is involved in several projects like ours, while her husband works in trade and distribution of medicines. They have two sons and two daughters, 10-16. At lunch we discussed thoroughly of the situation in Gaza: essential services like hospitals, power, water and fuel are extremely precarious, if not totally absent. High unemployment and tight restrictions on movement make life very harsh at psychological level. The majority of people are indigent. Sabah’s husband says: “We have no idea how all these families may survive without means of support.”
At around 15:30 we reached the school of the Latin Patriarchate. Father Manuel welcomed us in his studio and described to us his initiatives to teach and promote God’s word in his community: catechism, games, domino, readings… very interesting. And he’s really an expert with computers. Then, we joined some 50 people for mass. Father Manuel’s health is not sound, but when he started preaching he was like enlightened. After mass we moved by van to the church in the old city, where we found two bedrooms set. Then, after celebrating the evening prayers, we had dinner at light candle since there was no electric power.
December 15, 2007
We spent the whole morning at our schools, engaged in distributing food on behalf of our organization. The new school is called Shaaf, and it is located in the quarter of Sujaya. Since December 2007 it has officially become one of the three kindergartens which we support by providing breakfast to the children. That was the first place we visited. The teachers had bought the necessary equipment for making breakfast using a 500 NIS donation by an old lady from Mantova, Italy. We also tasted spaghetti with sugar and honey! But this school appears very bleak in all its aspects, including classrooms, furniture and materials. The next step of our support will be addressed towards the teachers themselves: together with Sabah, they will go to visit other schools so as to learn how to improve their activities, choose didactic materials and arrange the classrooms… In other words, they will get ideas on how developing some necessary updates!
Afterwards we witnessed some phases in the activity of food distribution, where we channel some 4500 Euro every month. There is a supermarket which prepares large bags with food items chosen by Sabah’s organization, depending on prices and stocks. This month they have prepared 100 bags worth 100 NIS, and 100 bags worth 200 NIS for large families. All in all, this activity supports 200 families. Once filled, the black bags are carried to a warehouse which we visited personally. There, we also inspected some bags which included rice, tea, sugar, sauces, tuna, cheese, soap, oil, cakes… The owner of the supermarket is also responsible for the delivery of bags: 100 go to Beit Hanoun, one of the poorest areas in the north of the Strip, and get distributed in a school which we used to support in the past. An extraordinary lady works there: Tawzia. Another 50 bags are delivered by the Women’s Association to poor families in Gaza City, who collect them directly at the warehouse, but we did not check on that. The remaining 50 bags are distributed by a very nice man, Mohammed, who is the director of the society for rural development al-Musadder, in the center of the Strip. His attitude is extremely warm and welcoming.
So, we had the opportunity to get a good idea of the whole food distribution. Still, there are some aspects we should further clarify, like the food distribution in the warehouse, the choice of the supplier, the shopping list, the role of the Women’s association. 200 bags seems to be many, but they are just a drop in the ocean. The people there - the women of Gaza city, Tawzia and Mohammed, whom Sr. Susan is very familiar with - directly know the families in need and carry out an excellent job. Indeed, being there for an extended time allowed us to live a great experience and to gain knowledge on the whole process.
After many meetings - and teas, and coffees, and light meals… - Sabah took us to meet a Christian lady, Ghada, who offered us another lunch! Ghada and another lady receive from us some 100 Euro per month in order to carry out after school activities at the place of the Sisters of Charles de Foucault. Activities, materials and light breakfasts are all managed with these 100 Euro. Sr. Susan knew very well these ladies, and she totally trusted them. They will soon send us a more detailed report on their activities. Together with them, at around 4 pm we returned to Fr. Manuel’s school, and afterwards back to our rooms, this time with the power on! The city is dangerous. They told us it is safer not to hang around in the evening, and not to accept car rides from anyone… The highest caution is necessary.
by Br. Andres Bergamini, translated by Andrea Merli
After a one and a half hour trip by bus from Jerusalem to Ashqelon and a taxi ride to Eretz crossing, we entered Gaza at around 11 am. Our friend taxi driver, Ahmad, was waiting for us inside. He drove us to Sabah’s home, a nice apartment at the 7th floor of a new building in the area of the football field. Both Sabah and her husband are currently employed: she is involved in several projects like ours, while her husband works in trade and distribution of medicines. They have two sons and two daughters, 10-16. At lunch we discussed thoroughly of the situation in Gaza: essential services like hospitals, power, water and fuel are extremely precarious, if not totally absent. High unemployment and tight restrictions on movement make life very harsh at psychological level. The majority of people are indigent. Sabah’s husband says: “We have no idea how all these families may survive without means of support.”
At around 15:30 we reached the school of the Latin Patriarchate. Father Manuel welcomed us in his studio and described to us his initiatives to teach and promote God’s word in his community: catechism, games, domino, readings… very interesting. And he’s really an expert with computers. Then, we joined some 50 people for mass. Father Manuel’s health is not sound, but when he started preaching he was like enlightened. After mass we moved by van to the church in the old city, where we found two bedrooms set. Then, after celebrating the evening prayers, we had dinner at light candle since there was no electric power.
December 15, 2007
We spent the whole morning at our schools, engaged in distributing food on behalf of our organization. The new school is called Shaaf, and it is located in the quarter of Sujaya. Since December 2007 it has officially become one of the three kindergartens which we support by providing breakfast to the children. That was the first place we visited. The teachers had bought the necessary equipment for making breakfast using a 500 NIS donation by an old lady from Mantova, Italy. We also tasted spaghetti with sugar and honey! But this school appears very bleak in all its aspects, including classrooms, furniture and materials. The next step of our support will be addressed towards the teachers themselves: together with Sabah, they will go to visit other schools so as to learn how to improve their activities, choose didactic materials and arrange the classrooms… In other words, they will get ideas on how developing some necessary updates!
Afterwards we witnessed some phases in the activity of food distribution, where we channel some 4500 Euro every month. There is a supermarket which prepares large bags with food items chosen by Sabah’s organization, depending on prices and stocks. This month they have prepared 100 bags worth 100 NIS, and 100 bags worth 200 NIS for large families. All in all, this activity supports 200 families. Once filled, the black bags are carried to a warehouse which we visited personally. There, we also inspected some bags which included rice, tea, sugar, sauces, tuna, cheese, soap, oil, cakes… The owner of the supermarket is also responsible for the delivery of bags: 100 go to Beit Hanoun, one of the poorest areas in the north of the Strip, and get distributed in a school which we used to support in the past. An extraordinary lady works there: Tawzia. Another 50 bags are delivered by the Women’s Association to poor families in Gaza City, who collect them directly at the warehouse, but we did not check on that. The remaining 50 bags are distributed by a very nice man, Mohammed, who is the director of the society for rural development al-Musadder, in the center of the Strip. His attitude is extremely warm and welcoming.
So, we had the opportunity to get a good idea of the whole food distribution. Still, there are some aspects we should further clarify, like the food distribution in the warehouse, the choice of the supplier, the shopping list, the role of the Women’s association. 200 bags seems to be many, but they are just a drop in the ocean. The people there - the women of Gaza city, Tawzia and Mohammed, whom Sr. Susan is very familiar with - directly know the families in need and carry out an excellent job. Indeed, being there for an extended time allowed us to live a great experience and to gain knowledge on the whole process.
After many meetings - and teas, and coffees, and light meals… - Sabah took us to meet a Christian lady, Ghada, who offered us another lunch! Ghada and another lady receive from us some 100 Euro per month in order to carry out after school activities at the place of the Sisters of Charles de Foucault. Activities, materials and light breakfasts are all managed with these 100 Euro. Sr. Susan knew very well these ladies, and she totally trusted them. They will soon send us a more detailed report on their activities. Together with them, at around 4 pm we returned to Fr. Manuel’s school, and afterwards back to our rooms, this time with the power on! The city is dangerous. They told us it is safer not to hang around in the evening, and not to accept car rides from anyone… The highest caution is necessary.
by Br. Andres Bergamini, translated by Andrea Merli
Sunday, December 9, 2007
GAZA VISIT, December 3, 2007
Andrea, Renzo and Sr. Susan went, yet Sr. Susan couldn’t get in. Sabah met the
two Brothers at the boarder. They began with a visit to Bet Hanoun school. With the prices of food skyrocking this last month the teachers could buy much less food with the amount of money which we gave them for the breakfasts. By example the prices of fruite is more than double than then the prices in Jerusalem. Before the prices in Jerusalem were much lower for fruit. We were present when the children received a banana each. They even waited for us to distribute them.
The price of gas has gone up so many children cannot be transported to school now. They asked for help to pay for the transport for this school only. Now the families pay 25 IS monthly for the transport and there are 40 children who need transport. Most of the parents cannot pay any of the cost. Can we contribute monthly 1,000 IS to cover this cost?
We went to the new school in the Shaaf neighborhood of 30,000 residence of Gaza city. Sabah explained to the directress and her staff, our system of collaboration. Especially how she is to use the 900 IS which we give them for the breakfast program. We will start to give them money for breakfast food in December. This school has almost nothing and the first need is dishes and silverware. For this we need to give them IS500 and for the pans and the hot plate they will need IS300.
Sabah insists that now in this difficult time it is very important that the children come to school to get their breakfast as there is no food for them at.
We continued on to Mussadar school. Mohamad still asks for an addition on their building to provide many more services to the school and to the local community. Sabah is looking to help find a benefactor for this.
We met Grada and Maha at the Missionaries of Charity and we paid the money for the last three months which we hadn’t had a chance to do before.
Sabah propose that each school signs a document created by the team giving the information essential for each school and declares the type of collaboration which exists between each school and our team. It should be dated from September until the end of May.
To be present for a distribution of the food in one school we will try to be there on December 15 th. And we will stay for three days, 14, 15, and 16. Sunday will be the day that Msgr. Sabbah will come to celebrate the feast of Christmas with the parish.
two Brothers at the boarder. They began with a visit to Bet Hanoun school. With the prices of food skyrocking this last month the teachers could buy much less food with the amount of money which we gave them for the breakfasts. By example the prices of fruite is more than double than then the prices in Jerusalem. Before the prices in Jerusalem were much lower for fruit. We were present when the children received a banana each. They even waited for us to distribute them.
The price of gas has gone up so many children cannot be transported to school now. They asked for help to pay for the transport for this school only. Now the families pay 25 IS monthly for the transport and there are 40 children who need transport. Most of the parents cannot pay any of the cost. Can we contribute monthly 1,000 IS to cover this cost?
We went to the new school in the Shaaf neighborhood of 30,000 residence of Gaza city. Sabah explained to the directress and her staff, our system of collaboration. Especially how she is to use the 900 IS which we give them for the breakfast program. We will start to give them money for breakfast food in December. This school has almost nothing and the first need is dishes and silverware. For this we need to give them IS500 and for the pans and the hot plate they will need IS300.
Sabah insists that now in this difficult time it is very important that the children come to school to get their breakfast as there is no food for them at.
We continued on to Mussadar school. Mohamad still asks for an addition on their building to provide many more services to the school and to the local community. Sabah is looking to help find a benefactor for this.
We met Grada and Maha at the Missionaries of Charity and we paid the money for the last three months which we hadn’t had a chance to do before.
Sabah propose that each school signs a document created by the team giving the information essential for each school and declares the type of collaboration which exists between each school and our team. It should be dated from September until the end of May.
To be present for a distribution of the food in one school we will try to be there on December 15 th. And we will stay for three days, 14, 15, and 16. Sunday will be the day that Msgr. Sabbah will come to celebrate the feast of Christmas with the parish.
Bank Leumi Le-Israel filiale 915
(Kiriat Yovel) IL010915
n° di conto 915-13074/01
codice SWIFT: LUMIILIT XXX
(Kiriat Yovel) IL010915
n° di conto 915-13074/01
codice SWIFT: LUMIILIT XXX
Sunday, November 11, 2007
A VISIT TO GAZA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2007
About 7AM, Brothers Lorenzo Ravisini and Andres Bergamini, recruited by Sister Susan as one of her last acts before her transfer to the Lebanon as part of the team of the Daughters of Charity Gaza Project (DOCGP), Andrea Mereli, of the Bethlehem University staff, and me began our journey to Gaza. This was my first visit since mid December 2006. Since then, I used all sorts of excuses not to go there because frankly I was afraid. Father Dom Moore, SJ, was my chief excuse, because with him here for the Spring semester I knew that Sister Susan would not have to go alone.
We made good time and arrived at Eretz Checkpoint by 8:30 AM. We proceeded to passport control where we had hardly presented our passports when we were ordered to go quickly to the 'protected’ room. (I knew then why I had not gone to Gaza in ten months). After 20 minutes or so, we were ordered to return to passport control to continue the process of getting into Gaza. Shortly after two of us had our passports stamped, 'Exit’, I received a mobile phone call from our faithful colleague, Sabah Saraj, to tell us that there was fighting in the nearby village of Beit Hanoun, which I knew as soon as we were connected because I could hear machine gun fire.. Undaunted, we braved the situation and agreed to continue rather than turning right around and going back to Bethlehem. Did we make a mistake? On reaching the outside, we were greeted by 3 Apache helicopters hovering overhead, with their noses pointed at Beit Hanoun and occasionally shooting rockets; we could hear the shwiiiiish and shortly after the boooooom. Sabah greeted us with all smiles and said: “Don't worry it is peaceful and quiet in Gaza City. This happens daily and we are used to it.” Not having the faith of Sister Susan, who would say: “This is God's work and He will protect us',” I kept saying that to myself all the time we were in in Gaza. However, being neophytes to such warfare, we decided to curtail our stay and visit only the two schools we wanted to see, Zakher Kindergarten in Shijyyia area of Gaza City and the Baram El Amal near Bureij Refugee Camp in the middle of the strip. It was impossible to visit Amjad Kindergarten in Beit Hanoun; we weren’t crazy enough to go there even though the shooting seemed to have ended.
The main purpose of this report is to comment on our visit to the two schools. First, we went to the closer school in Shijayya and on the way to the school, I observed the narrow, dirt and rutted roads, the poor condition of the houses and shops along the way and the obvious poverty of the area. Because of the economic situation, most of the families lost their resources and depend upon donations and food assistance from Social Services.. The school is in an old rented building rather dark, with 4 small overcrowded classrooms, two bathrooms and a hall, serving 123 children, ages 3,4,5. There are 120 chairs half of which are very old, a few old tables, no shelves, no desks, no toys, no dishes, no cups, no refrigerator. There are four teachers and two volunteers, mostly unemployed university graduates, some from that area. It is a marvel that these women can teach so many children in one classroom under such circumstances. We had a brief discussion with the manager of the Zakher Women’s Association, responsible for this kindergarten and two others, the principal of the school. It is obvious that the school is in need of help and this will be one of our main topics at our meeting next week.
We then traveled several miles into the middle of the Strip to visit Baram El Amal kindergarten in Bureij camp. As we rode through the camp, I could see that there were a fair number of cars, some trucks, but many donkey drawn carts—gas is very expensive when available—many people in the streets, some just sitting an chatting, some stores doing business, others closed, school children and adults moving to and fro, so all seemed rather normal. As we drove by the people shouted greetings and welcomed us. To me, it was encouraging to see that the people, in spite of the difficulties, seem to be managing, at least externally.. After listening to Sabah and Awatif, head of the Bud Flower Association, which is responsible for Baram El Amal school, I realized that people are hungry and that there are some abuses beginning to occur in the families.. I was impressed with the improvement over the months in the school.. My last recollection of it was that of the destruction caused by shootings, bombings and destruction of the land by the Israeli forces, which destroyed the school yard and fence protecting the children, most of the windows without glass, and other internal damage. Everything now is in very good condition, glass in all the windows, the walls painted a bright blue, posters in corridors , the classroom displaying educational charts and pictures, and just a resurrection. Much credit it due to the women and members of the association of their efforts in repairing and modernizing the school facilities.After a falafel sandwich, about 12:15 PM, we headed back to the checkpoint via the shore road to see the Mediterranean and the sandy coast of Gaza, (what a resort it would make if the situation were different!) , We arrived about 1:30 PM, earlier than original planned and after fifteen minutes or so were permitted to go to the checkpoint building. When leaving Gaza, the passports are collected at a place several hundred yards before the checkpoint, where the passports are collected and the names and numbers relayed to the Israeli personnel, who eventually give permission to approach. When we reached the building, we waited and waited and waited until one and a half hours later the doors automatically opened and we were allowed to enter the luggage, personal and passport controls area. Of course, no reason, excuse, or apologies were given. However, much to my surprise, I found the order and system of this new procedure more efficient than the old way. We completed the check-in about half an hour. If only we didn’t have to wait so long before they allowed us to enter. Again our passports were stamped, with ‘entry’ this time. We left Eretz about 4:25 PM and the closer we got to Jerusalem the more traffic we met. Having dropped the Brothers off at New Gate and Andrea Merli at Herod’s Gate. I arrive back in the community house about 6:20 PM, almost 12 hours since leaving earlier that morning.
Bro. Joe.
November 2, 2007
We made good time and arrived at Eretz Checkpoint by 8:30 AM. We proceeded to passport control where we had hardly presented our passports when we were ordered to go quickly to the 'protected’ room. (I knew then why I had not gone to Gaza in ten months). After 20 minutes or so, we were ordered to return to passport control to continue the process of getting into Gaza. Shortly after two of us had our passports stamped, 'Exit’, I received a mobile phone call from our faithful colleague, Sabah Saraj, to tell us that there was fighting in the nearby village of Beit Hanoun, which I knew as soon as we were connected because I could hear machine gun fire.. Undaunted, we braved the situation and agreed to continue rather than turning right around and going back to Bethlehem. Did we make a mistake? On reaching the outside, we were greeted by 3 Apache helicopters hovering overhead, with their noses pointed at Beit Hanoun and occasionally shooting rockets; we could hear the shwiiiiish and shortly after the boooooom. Sabah greeted us with all smiles and said: “Don't worry it is peaceful and quiet in Gaza City. This happens daily and we are used to it.” Not having the faith of Sister Susan, who would say: “This is God's work and He will protect us',” I kept saying that to myself all the time we were in in Gaza. However, being neophytes to such warfare, we decided to curtail our stay and visit only the two schools we wanted to see, Zakher Kindergarten in Shijyyia area of Gaza City and the Baram El Amal near Bureij Refugee Camp in the middle of the strip. It was impossible to visit Amjad Kindergarten in Beit Hanoun; we weren’t crazy enough to go there even though the shooting seemed to have ended.
The main purpose of this report is to comment on our visit to the two schools. First, we went to the closer school in Shijayya and on the way to the school, I observed the narrow, dirt and rutted roads, the poor condition of the houses and shops along the way and the obvious poverty of the area. Because of the economic situation, most of the families lost their resources and depend upon donations and food assistance from Social Services.. The school is in an old rented building rather dark, with 4 small overcrowded classrooms, two bathrooms and a hall, serving 123 children, ages 3,4,5. There are 120 chairs half of which are very old, a few old tables, no shelves, no desks, no toys, no dishes, no cups, no refrigerator. There are four teachers and two volunteers, mostly unemployed university graduates, some from that area. It is a marvel that these women can teach so many children in one classroom under such circumstances. We had a brief discussion with the manager of the Zakher Women’s Association, responsible for this kindergarten and two others, the principal of the school. It is obvious that the school is in need of help and this will be one of our main topics at our meeting next week.
We then traveled several miles into the middle of the Strip to visit Baram El Amal kindergarten in Bureij camp. As we rode through the camp, I could see that there were a fair number of cars, some trucks, but many donkey drawn carts—gas is very expensive when available—many people in the streets, some just sitting an chatting, some stores doing business, others closed, school children and adults moving to and fro, so all seemed rather normal. As we drove by the people shouted greetings and welcomed us. To me, it was encouraging to see that the people, in spite of the difficulties, seem to be managing, at least externally.. After listening to Sabah and Awatif, head of the Bud Flower Association, which is responsible for Baram El Amal school, I realized that people are hungry and that there are some abuses beginning to occur in the families.. I was impressed with the improvement over the months in the school.. My last recollection of it was that of the destruction caused by shootings, bombings and destruction of the land by the Israeli forces, which destroyed the school yard and fence protecting the children, most of the windows without glass, and other internal damage. Everything now is in very good condition, glass in all the windows, the walls painted a bright blue, posters in corridors , the classroom displaying educational charts and pictures, and just a resurrection. Much credit it due to the women and members of the association of their efforts in repairing and modernizing the school facilities.After a falafel sandwich, about 12:15 PM, we headed back to the checkpoint via the shore road to see the Mediterranean and the sandy coast of Gaza, (what a resort it would make if the situation were different!) , We arrived about 1:30 PM, earlier than original planned and after fifteen minutes or so were permitted to go to the checkpoint building. When leaving Gaza, the passports are collected at a place several hundred yards before the checkpoint, where the passports are collected and the names and numbers relayed to the Israeli personnel, who eventually give permission to approach. When we reached the building, we waited and waited and waited until one and a half hours later the doors automatically opened and we were allowed to enter the luggage, personal and passport controls area. Of course, no reason, excuse, or apologies were given. However, much to my surprise, I found the order and system of this new procedure more efficient than the old way. We completed the check-in about half an hour. If only we didn’t have to wait so long before they allowed us to enter. Again our passports were stamped, with ‘entry’ this time. We left Eretz about 4:25 PM and the closer we got to Jerusalem the more traffic we met. Having dropped the Brothers off at New Gate and Andrea Merli at Herod’s Gate. I arrive back in the community house about 6:20 PM, almost 12 hours since leaving earlier that morning.
Bro. Joe.
November 2, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)