Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Events in september 2008
With the time for schools to open Hamas gave some of the schools the keys to allow them to open. Each room had to be repainted due to the damage and graffiti. The children gradually returned but had to sit on the floor due to no chairs and tables. Tape recorders, books and everything in the kitchens were gone. We bought those schools supplies, so that the four schools would have something to begin with. This month we were able to visit only once. We also visited two very poor families. One was living four years in two tents, a family of 10, as their home had been destroyed. The father had just died six months before of a heart attack. This family received the monthly food coupons from our program. They were all very thin, as our food only lasts about ten days.
Monday, September 1, 2008
August 2008 events
The situation for our schools became critical as Hamas entered the schools at night and in some broke windows and in all wrote graffiti on the wall. They proceeded to take everything out and in one of our schools burnt the books and furniture in the play yard. They took the keys or boarded up the schools not allowing anyone to enter
Monday, July 7, 2008
Report: trip to Gaza June 30 08
Early on June 30th, Bro. Andres, Andrea, and I, Fr. Don M., drove to Gaza, using PBI’s Honda. We got through Erez in good fashion, with a reminder to be back by 4 PM since the crossing closes at 7 PM. Sabah met us on the Gaza side, with Admon our regular cab driver. We drove first to the Sakher School in the Sujjaya section of Gaza City. These 60 nursery school children were in the second week of a two week session of summer school. I am amazed at how much joy they get from so little. The teachers at the school (volunteers?) are an inspiration to the kids. Most of the children (and a few of the teachers) were wearing summer school baseball caps and white T-shirts with black trim around the V neck and a black logo on the front “Children for the Future” (in English and Arabic), and on the back “Daughters of Charity Gaza Project” – a very well designed T-shirt. The children were in three different groups playing games, or learning some sort of songs or sayings that they would shout out with great glee. The Sakher school has two such two-week summer sessions, including either breakfast or lunch, and trips to the sea (not sure how many).
The second school we visited was the Light and Hope School (Nur al Amal?), also in the Sujjayah section of Gaza City. We funded this school because the nursery school in Beit Hanoun (our usual target school) already had sufficient funding from Anera and other NGO’s for their summer sessions. This summer school was for 60 children about 8-10 years old, again with the same T-shirts and caps. It seemed to be more “professional” in its approach, perhaps because of the age differential. One class I watched in a darkened room was doing some impromptu play-acting, with two children in the center of their circled classmates, responding to different prompts from the teacher. Another class I watched seemed to be learning dancing. Later, after lunch had been served, this class put on a lovely performance of folk-dancing for all to watch.
These were two of the seven schools funded by our donors with 5000 NIS each. We did not have time to visit the others. One question raised (presuming we have the correct information) The Light and Hope School was only having one summer session of two weeks for 5000 NIS, the Sakher School was having two such sessions with the same 5000 NIS. What about the other five schools. My impression was that they were to have two such sessions for the kids. Why the discrepancy? Perhaps we were not explicit in what we expected for the 5000 NIS given to these seven schools. We will verify what was done in all seven schools and then make more explicit directions for future summer sessions.
We also visited two of the needy families we support living in the Beit Lahiya section close to the Israeli border. What was encouraging, in addition to the obvious bond between parents and children and among the children themselves, was Sabah’s report that the move to food vouchers which we adopted in the last months in place of food stuffs delivered to the families, was deeply appreciated. Each family can choose from 25 approved items, and this enables them to adapt the help more to their own needs. We hope to continue this program through December, assisting a total of 150 families associated with the three schools we were helping. This program of family assistance comes to 30,000 NIS per month. Sabah thinks it is working quite well.
Our final stop was with the Missionaries of Charity for Mass and a visit with some of their handicapped children. I don't know to what extent we are giving them assistance. In all cases all were delighted with Sister Susan’s imminent return and are looking forward to welcoming her back. Fawzia joined us for some of the visits we made, and we did stop by briefly at one of the womens council groups with whom Sabah is connected.
The second school we visited was the Light and Hope School (Nur al Amal?), also in the Sujjayah section of Gaza City. We funded this school because the nursery school in Beit Hanoun (our usual target school) already had sufficient funding from Anera and other NGO’s for their summer sessions. This summer school was for 60 children about 8-10 years old, again with the same T-shirts and caps. It seemed to be more “professional” in its approach, perhaps because of the age differential. One class I watched in a darkened room was doing some impromptu play-acting, with two children in the center of their circled classmates, responding to different prompts from the teacher. Another class I watched seemed to be learning dancing. Later, after lunch had been served, this class put on a lovely performance of folk-dancing for all to watch.
These were two of the seven schools funded by our donors with 5000 NIS each. We did not have time to visit the others. One question raised (presuming we have the correct information) The Light and Hope School was only having one summer session of two weeks for 5000 NIS, the Sakher School was having two such sessions with the same 5000 NIS. What about the other five schools. My impression was that they were to have two such sessions for the kids. Why the discrepancy? Perhaps we were not explicit in what we expected for the 5000 NIS given to these seven schools. We will verify what was done in all seven schools and then make more explicit directions for future summer sessions.
We also visited two of the needy families we support living in the Beit Lahiya section close to the Israeli border. What was encouraging, in addition to the obvious bond between parents and children and among the children themselves, was Sabah’s report that the move to food vouchers which we adopted in the last months in place of food stuffs delivered to the families, was deeply appreciated. Each family can choose from 25 approved items, and this enables them to adapt the help more to their own needs. We hope to continue this program through December, assisting a total of 150 families associated with the three schools we were helping. This program of family assistance comes to 30,000 NIS per month. Sabah thinks it is working quite well.
Our final stop was with the Missionaries of Charity for Mass and a visit with some of their handicapped children. I don't know to what extent we are giving them assistance. In all cases all were delighted with Sister Susan’s imminent return and are looking forward to welcoming her back. Fawzia joined us for some of the visits we made, and we did stop by briefly at one of the womens council groups with whom Sabah is connected.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Visit to Gaza on Thursday, June 5, 2008
Brother Lorenzo and myself - Brother Joe - met Sabah and Ahmad, the taxi driver, about 9:30AM. Passage through the checkpoint was rather smooth. We went immediately to the Main Center of the Daher Associate in Shijayyia . We help the Zakhar Kindergarten one of the nursery schools they sponsor in Sha’af area. After a discussion with Sabah about the conditions for summer camps and record keeping, Br. Lorenzo gave the principal NIS1,200, the stipulated cost of one summer camp, and promised on return to Bethany to see if funds were available for supporting a second summer camp since they work with over 120 children in the kindergarten, far too many for one camp.
From there we went to the Arab Palestinian Front, Main Center where we met Fawziyya who runs the kindergarten In Beit Hanoun and also participates in the emergency food distribution. It was safer to meet Fawziyya in Gaza City, as well as the fact the since kindergartens have been closed for several weeks, we would not be able to meet any of the children or teachers. It was at this meeting that Br. Lorenzo purchased six handmade rugs to assist financially the women of the society.
Then along with Fawziyya we went to the Association of Women Committees for Social Work to meet Maha and Mohammad to discuss food distribution. Before the discussion, Br. Lorenzo distributed funds for the summer camps administered by Mohammad in the Mosaddar area and Fawziyya in the Beit Hanoun area, as well as giving funds for two other camps that we could not visit this time.
The discussion about the food distribution began with the statement that the funds for June and July and hopefully August would be NIS 23,000 regardless of the exchange rate. This was followed by a discussion concerning a major revision in the methodology. Sabah suggested and the others agreed that since some families do not need all of the food items that we supply in bulk, arrangements be made with food markets that the families come on a certain specified day of the month to choose the food that they need up to the amount of NIS 200 per family.
One of the team, involved with the food distribution, would be present at each market to observe and monitor the distribution. This was accepted by Brother Lorenzo and myself as a good suggestion and we could try it for one month and then analyze the revised system.
With the short time remaining Fawziyya brought us to one of the poor families on her distribution list to take photographs for the donors. I have seen too many poor families and have some reservations about photographs, so I decided to remain outside the home.
There I had a clear view of Ashkelon because of the treeless and building less surroundings. It was easy to see why Beit Lahia is a place for firing rockets on Israel. Needless to say I was rather nervous and prayed that no missiles from Ashkelon were fired while we were there. Incidentally the very next morning, several missiles were fired into Beit Lahia causing several deaths and injuries
That ended our interesting and successful business day. We took Sabah home on our way to Eretz. Exiting took less than an hour and by 2:30 PM we were on our way to Bethany with a sigh of relief. As always I am relieved on getting into the car and moving out of the checkpoint area. I feel like I am going into prison after leaving passport control and walking through the passageways lined with iron pipes to exit the checkpoint building and continuing for several hundred more yards through the old and now dilapidated covered walkway, used before the new facilities were built ,to reach the open air and rocky, uneven sandy ground and chewed up tarmac until finally reaching the taxi area about a twenty minute walk all told, and then at the end of the visit reversing that walk through the more closely controlled passageways, the cage-like body control area before reaching passport control moving though the last locked door before exiting the building to the care.
This is the closes I get to the everyday feelings of the Palestinian people.
I must add one impression about the visit that surprised me but made me so proud of the Gazans. On our way from Shijayya to Gaza City we passed through a thriving market area, bustling with activity with cars and donkey drawn carts blocking the roads, horns blowing, people walking between cars.
Markets of all varieties not just food were busy, people in and out, noise, laughter, peddlers barking and everything that one finds in a bustling city. I mentioned this to Sabah and she said that while the economy is terrible and we are hungry, we must still live and we do the best we can under the circumstances. And a glaring one was that for the past three days electricity has been cancelled for 10 hours and usually during daytime. It was hot, hot that Thursday, A/C is rare, a few fans, no breezes from the nearby sea.
From there we went to the Arab Palestinian Front, Main Center where we met Fawziyya who runs the kindergarten In Beit Hanoun and also participates in the emergency food distribution. It was safer to meet Fawziyya in Gaza City, as well as the fact the since kindergartens have been closed for several weeks, we would not be able to meet any of the children or teachers. It was at this meeting that Br. Lorenzo purchased six handmade rugs to assist financially the women of the society.
Then along with Fawziyya we went to the Association of Women Committees for Social Work to meet Maha and Mohammad to discuss food distribution. Before the discussion, Br. Lorenzo distributed funds for the summer camps administered by Mohammad in the Mosaddar area and Fawziyya in the Beit Hanoun area, as well as giving funds for two other camps that we could not visit this time.
The discussion about the food distribution began with the statement that the funds for June and July and hopefully August would be NIS 23,000 regardless of the exchange rate. This was followed by a discussion concerning a major revision in the methodology. Sabah suggested and the others agreed that since some families do not need all of the food items that we supply in bulk, arrangements be made with food markets that the families come on a certain specified day of the month to choose the food that they need up to the amount of NIS 200 per family.
One of the team, involved with the food distribution, would be present at each market to observe and monitor the distribution. This was accepted by Brother Lorenzo and myself as a good suggestion and we could try it for one month and then analyze the revised system.With the short time remaining Fawziyya brought us to one of the poor families on her distribution list to take photographs for the donors. I have seen too many poor families and have some reservations about photographs, so I decided to remain outside the home.
There I had a clear view of Ashkelon because of the treeless and building less surroundings. It was easy to see why Beit Lahia is a place for firing rockets on Israel. Needless to say I was rather nervous and prayed that no missiles from Ashkelon were fired while we were there. Incidentally the very next morning, several missiles were fired into Beit Lahia causing several deaths and injuries
That ended our interesting and successful business day. We took Sabah home on our way to Eretz. Exiting took less than an hour and by 2:30 PM we were on our way to Bethany with a sigh of relief. As always I am relieved on getting into the car and moving out of the checkpoint area. I feel like I am going into prison after leaving passport control and walking through the passageways lined with iron pipes to exit the checkpoint building and continuing for several hundred more yards through the old and now dilapidated covered walkway, used before the new facilities were built ,to reach the open air and rocky, uneven sandy ground and chewed up tarmac until finally reaching the taxi area about a twenty minute walk all told, and then at the end of the visit reversing that walk through the more closely controlled passageways, the cage-like body control area before reaching passport control moving though the last locked door before exiting the building to the care.This is the closes I get to the everyday feelings of the Palestinian people.
I must add one impression about the visit that surprised me but made me so proud of the Gazans. On our way from Shijayya to Gaza City we passed through a thriving market area, bustling with activity with cars and donkey drawn carts blocking the roads, horns blowing, people walking between cars.
Markets of all varieties not just food were busy, people in and out, noise, laughter, peddlers barking and everything that one finds in a bustling city. I mentioned this to Sabah and she said that while the economy is terrible and we are hungry, we must still live and we do the best we can under the circumstances. And a glaring one was that for the past three days electricity has been cancelled for 10 hours and usually during daytime. It was hot, hot that Thursday, A/C is rare, a few fans, no breezes from the nearby sea.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Meeting at Bethany, Saturday, May 24, 2008
Brothers Lorenzo & Andréa, Father Don Moore, Andrea Merli, and Br. Joe
The most important decision made was: both Orla of Tuesday Child and Oliver and Maren contact by e-mail Brother Lorenzo directly, since he is accountant for all funds relating the work in Gaza of the Daughters of Charity Gaza project this year. Copies of these e-mails should be sent to Brother Andrea and Sister Susan. Br. Joe was asked to e-mail Orla and Oliver and Marin as soon as possible and to explain this decision to them. This change will not only simplify matters but in may cases expedite movements.
Two decisions were made to be effective immediately
1. To keep the emergency food program operating for the next three months of June, July and August (if we have funds for August).
The amount spent each month will be fixed at NIS 23,000 equivalent to $7,000.00 at today's rate regardless of the exchange rate.
Br. Joe was requested to ask Orla when Tuesday's' Child will begin to send the monthly checks for food distribution as mentioned in her letter of May 19th.
2. Summer camps will be funded as planned.
Oliver is to be requested to send the funds for 4 camps as usual to the bank as soon as possible and to notify Br. Lorenzo when the funds have been transferred.
This year because of the lower exchange rates and the increased cost of food in Gaza, Oliver will be asked to increase the amount per camp by $200.00, which means that one camp would cost $1,200.00 and the four camps would total $ 4,800,00.
If Oliver has any more funds, we would ask him to increase the number of summer camps.
This summer many organization in Gaza are funding summer camps for as many children as possible but over 8 years. Nothing is being done for kindergarten children so our program is most worthwhile.
Other decisions were made for the coming academic year beginning September or later in the year
1. A major problem mentioned during our visit to Gaza on Wednesday May 13th was that the Kindergarten teachers have not been paid for most of this year 2008 because the children's parents can no longer pay the small amount of fees required by the administrators of the kindergartens.
Therefore we plan to give each teacher in the kindergartens we assist NIS 200 for a trial period of the two months of September and October. This problem was
2. Concerning support for Kindergartens next year, we would like to increase the fund by NIS 100 due to the higher costs of food.
Also we have decided to set a standard amount per kindergarten based on the number of children registered for the academic semester.
This item needs more discussion and input by Sabah. We are considering the amount of NIS 900 for kindergartens with 100 to 140 pupils and NIS1000 for kindergartens over 140 pupils.
Two other topics to be considered at a later date are job creation and teacher training.
At the end of our last meeting in Gaza, the women displayed a number of examples of their embroidery. We were all impressed and wondered how we could help them sell these items to obtain funds to be used in their various projects. Two ideas were mentioned
1. Try to sell them through the internet by adding a website to the Webpage of the Daughters of Charity Project created by Br. Lorenzo,
2. For now bring as may items as possible with us when we return and try to sell them here.
One final suggestion was made by Father Don just before leaving.
Investigate whether the Women's Association would be willing to be our regular meeting place in Gaza now that we no longer connect with CRS.
June 5 is the tentative date of our next visit to Gaza.
Since our trips to Gaza are very supportive to Sabah and others in Gaza, we plan to set a more regular time for our visits, probably monthly and as regularly as possible in the same week of each month. That will be discussed at a later meeting
Brother Joe
May 25, 2008
The most important decision made was: both Orla of Tuesday Child and Oliver and Maren contact by e-mail Brother Lorenzo directly, since he is accountant for all funds relating the work in Gaza of the Daughters of Charity Gaza project this year. Copies of these e-mails should be sent to Brother Andrea and Sister Susan. Br. Joe was asked to e-mail Orla and Oliver and Marin as soon as possible and to explain this decision to them. This change will not only simplify matters but in may cases expedite movements.
Two decisions were made to be effective immediately
1. To keep the emergency food program operating for the next three months of June, July and August (if we have funds for August).
The amount spent each month will be fixed at NIS 23,000 equivalent to $7,000.00 at today's rate regardless of the exchange rate.
Br. Joe was requested to ask Orla when Tuesday's' Child will begin to send the monthly checks for food distribution as mentioned in her letter of May 19th.
2. Summer camps will be funded as planned.
Oliver is to be requested to send the funds for 4 camps as usual to the bank as soon as possible and to notify Br. Lorenzo when the funds have been transferred.
This year because of the lower exchange rates and the increased cost of food in Gaza, Oliver will be asked to increase the amount per camp by $200.00, which means that one camp would cost $1,200.00 and the four camps would total $ 4,800,00.
If Oliver has any more funds, we would ask him to increase the number of summer camps.
This summer many organization in Gaza are funding summer camps for as many children as possible but over 8 years. Nothing is being done for kindergarten children so our program is most worthwhile.
Other decisions were made for the coming academic year beginning September or later in the year
1. A major problem mentioned during our visit to Gaza on Wednesday May 13th was that the Kindergarten teachers have not been paid for most of this year 2008 because the children's parents can no longer pay the small amount of fees required by the administrators of the kindergartens.
Therefore we plan to give each teacher in the kindergartens we assist NIS 200 for a trial period of the two months of September and October. This problem was
2. Concerning support for Kindergartens next year, we would like to increase the fund by NIS 100 due to the higher costs of food.
Also we have decided to set a standard amount per kindergarten based on the number of children registered for the academic semester.
This item needs more discussion and input by Sabah. We are considering the amount of NIS 900 for kindergartens with 100 to 140 pupils and NIS1000 for kindergartens over 140 pupils.
Two other topics to be considered at a later date are job creation and teacher training.
At the end of our last meeting in Gaza, the women displayed a number of examples of their embroidery. We were all impressed and wondered how we could help them sell these items to obtain funds to be used in their various projects. Two ideas were mentioned
1. Try to sell them through the internet by adding a website to the Webpage of the Daughters of Charity Project created by Br. Lorenzo,
2. For now bring as may items as possible with us when we return and try to sell them here.
One final suggestion was made by Father Don just before leaving.
Investigate whether the Women's Association would be willing to be our regular meeting place in Gaza now that we no longer connect with CRS.
June 5 is the tentative date of our next visit to Gaza.
Since our trips to Gaza are very supportive to Sabah and others in Gaza, we plan to set a more regular time for our visits, probably monthly and as regularly as possible in the same week of each month. That will be discussed at a later meeting
Brother Joe
May 25, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Report visit, May 14, 2008
Father Don Moore, Brother Andres and Brother Joe
We made excellent time in driving to Gaza and arrived at the Eretz crossing at approximately 8:30 AM and by 9:30 AM were in the taxi driving toward Gaza city with Sabah and Ahmad our driver.
Because of the fuel situation, we made only one stop at Zakher School in the Shijaiyya area on the way to our meeting at the Association of Women, Committee for Social Work in Gaza City. I think it important to name some of the participants in the meeting; Maha, Etedal, Maysoon are members of the Women's society while Fawziya, Awatef and Mohammed represented the kindergartens. (I only wrote first names, with difficulty, and didn't even try the family names.)
A most lively and interesting discussion with many excellent ideas and suggestion lasted about one hour and a half.
Toward the end of the meeting, some of the handiwork made by members of the committee was exhibited and needless to say, purchases were made. We all agreed at our next visit to bring more money for further purchases. One suggestion for helping sell these items was to produce a website for internet sales. No promises, but perhaps something practical in this matter will be done.
At the conclusion of the meeting, we made a quick visit to the Mother Teresa Sisters of Charity. Unknown to us, it was their graduation day, but we arrived too late to participate.
We made surprisingly good time on departure, only taking one hour exiting Gaza and the rigmarole of passage to Israel. We left Eretz at 2:30 PM.
The interesting thing about the trip was the quiet and peace in Gaza, no explosions, no overhead noises, no masked men and a fairly good amount of activity in Gaza City especially at the general market. I was surprised at the number of vehicles and when commenting on it it, Sabah said: "Don't you smell it? The cars are operating on cooking oil, petrol is too expensive". What cooking oil does to the motor I don’t' know.
We made excellent time in driving to Gaza and arrived at the Eretz crossing at approximately 8:30 AM and by 9:30 AM were in the taxi driving toward Gaza city with Sabah and Ahmad our driver.
Because of the fuel situation, we made only one stop at Zakher School in the Shijaiyya area on the way to our meeting at the Association of Women, Committee for Social Work in Gaza City. I think it important to name some of the participants in the meeting; Maha, Etedal, Maysoon are members of the Women's society while Fawziya, Awatef and Mohammed represented the kindergartens. (I only wrote first names, with difficulty, and didn't even try the family names.)A most lively and interesting discussion with many excellent ideas and suggestion lasted about one hour and a half.
Toward the end of the meeting, some of the handiwork made by members of the committee was exhibited and needless to say, purchases were made. We all agreed at our next visit to bring more money for further purchases. One suggestion for helping sell these items was to produce a website for internet sales. No promises, but perhaps something practical in this matter will be done.
At the conclusion of the meeting, we made a quick visit to the Mother Teresa Sisters of Charity. Unknown to us, it was their graduation day, but we arrived too late to participate.We made surprisingly good time on departure, only taking one hour exiting Gaza and the rigmarole of passage to Israel. We left Eretz at 2:30 PM.
The interesting thing about the trip was the quiet and peace in Gaza, no explosions, no overhead noises, no masked men and a fairly good amount of activity in Gaza City especially at the general market. I was surprised at the number of vehicles and when commenting on it it, Sabah said: "Don't you smell it? The cars are operating on cooking oil, petrol is too expensive". What cooking oil does to the motor I don’t' know.
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