– it was much better.
From a Palestinian report.
Monday 13 August 2012
A Palestinian report...
Journey to London. The main aim of this visit was to raise the awareness among Palestinian people about the case of Palestine through drama. We visited many of the schools and organisations and we told them about Palestine. Also we managed to produce short films about Palestine and the problems that the Palestinians face. We did drama sketches in relation to the problems that Palestinians face in their lives and we showed some of these sketches in a cultural day in London.
During the visit we saw many beautiful and important places in Britain. We went to Parliament and historical and unique places. We enjoyed this visit from the first day we arrived. Camping was for me a very useful experience, and also living without electricity was interesting. Meeting with my new friends in London was also enjoyable.
Everything was good on this trip and I did not face any problems. There were no problems on this visit.
I learned many things during this visit. I learned how to live without electronic equipment, and how to live inside nature and how to depend on myself. My expectations were less than the reality – it was much, much better than I expected.
My role in this journey was good. I don’t think that I caused any problems. I would like to see the communication between the Palestinians and the British continuing and good. I would love to help in improving the links between the two sides and to have an active role in building these links between us. I believe that the programme for the trip was good and did not need any changes.
Friday 10 August 2012
Visit to Stepney Green School
Have a look at the picture and article from 'East End Life' on page 10 here...
Thursday 9 August 2012
(Before) Looking forward to the visit
ME
My name is Obaida Afana. I am 13 years old. I study at Abu Dis Boys School in 7th grade. When I finish studying I want to be a doctor.
MY FAMILY
I have 4 brothers and one sister. Three of my brothers are older than me, as is my sister. I have one younger brother in 3rd Grade.
MY SCHOOL
I study in Abu Dis Boys School. I take seven or six subject and I have in my class seven teachers and I have in my class 36 children and I love English subject and science subjects. Sometimes soldiers come to my school and the head master closes the school and we don’t take any lessons because if the soldiers find us in the school they might beat us up or arrest us.
Sometime the soldiers might stop us and give us a little bit of trouble on the way to school. I have friends who go to school in Jerusalem and it is much harder for them because of the checkpoint. School starts at 8 in the morning and they have to leave home at 6. Jerusalem is not very far from Abu Dis (before the wall it used to take15minutes) but now it can sometimes take 2hrs because they have to go through a checkpoint. The soldiers wear big M1 guns and they can sometimes give people trouble. Even the children.
Sometimes the Arabic teacher doesn’t give us any Arabic class because we misbehave in class.
ABOUT PALESTINE
I have an Aunt who lives in Jerusalem. Her children and her husband have blue I.D cards but she has a green I.D card. By Israeli law, if you live in Jerusalem you should have a blue I.D. Her children want her to take the blue I.D but she is reluctant to do so because if she does it will be very difficult for her to cross the checkpoints into Abu Dis where by grandmother and the rest of our family live.
SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO ME
My Freedom
Braveheart is one of my favourite films. In it the Scottish people fight for their freedom. This reminds me of my country. In Palestine we don’t have freedom. Many people do not even have rights. Everyone in Palestine is fighting for their freedom.
LONDON
I am going to London to talk to people about Palestine because I want people to understand the situation in Palestine, what the Zionist people do to Palestinian people and the olive trees the and what happens to the Palestinian people when they try to move around the country.
I am looking forward to seeing Big Ben, Tower Bridge and The London Eye. I am also looking forward to learning about British culture and London life.
Before the visit....
ME
My name is Mohammad Faroun. I am 13 years old. I live in Bethany (Azarea in Arabic), in the Palestine West Bank. I study at the Arab Institute in Abu Dis. I like Art and swimming and I support Barcelona. My favourite player is Puyol. When I finish studying I want to be an artist.
MY FAMILY
I have a big family. In my immediate family I have a two brothers and one sister. On older brother, one younger and one older sister who is the eldest of all of us. All of my family love me very much.
MY SCHOOL
My school’s name is Arab Institute. It is a very big school. In my class, there are 40 children and 5 teachers. Each teacher teaches 4 subjects. My classes are 45 minutes long. The school has a very good level of learning, and I love my teachers and my friends. My favourite subject is art, I like it very much.
PALESTINE FROM MY EYES
“In Palestine we used to have a lot of culture and mosques. Now the Israeli soldiers have taken it. I hope that someday we can get it back”
I have a lot of friends who live in Jerusalem. Before the Israeli’s started building the wall I could play with my friends all the time. I was three when they first started building the wall between Jerusalem and Abu Dis, but we could jump over the wall because it was small. Now, because I live in Bethany I have a green I.D and this means I cannot go to Jerusalem without permission. Also if my friends want to come here they will be questioned a lot about why they want to come to Palestine so it is difficult for us to see each other.
SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO ME
Al Aqsa Mosque
The Al Aqsa Mosque was built between 600-700AD by Umar ibn Al-Khattāb, an important Muslim ruler. It is in the old city of Jerusalem.
I like Al Aqsa mosque because everyone goes there to pray and it has special significance to Palestinians and Muslims because we have a lot of culture rooted there. It is one of the three main mosques in the Islamic religion.
People who live in my village cannot go to Al Aqsa mosque anymore since the Israeli government built the wall and installed checkpoints. We have to have permission to visit Jerusalem and this is not easy to get. Sometimes soldiers will stop people at the checkpoint even if they have a permit and send them home.
LONDON
I am going to London to learn something new and to know more about a new culture. I hope to make many friends and talk to the people I meet about Palestine and Palestinian culture.
Report from Ali
Journey to London. The main aim of this visit was to raise the awareness among Palestinian people about the case of Palestine through drama. We visited many of the schools and organisations and we told them about Palestine. Also we managed to produce short films about Palestine and the problems that the Palestinians face. We did drama sketches in relation to the problems that Palestinians face in their lives and we showed some of these sketches in a cultural day in London.
During the visit we saw many beautiful and important places in Britain. We went to Parliament and historical and unique places. We enjoyed this visit from the first day we arrived. Camping was for me a very useful experience, and also living without electricity was interesting. Meeting with my new friends in London was also enjoyable.
Everything was good on this trip and I did not face any problems. There were no problems on this visit.
I learned many things during this visit. I learned how to live without electronic equipment, and how to live inside nature and how to depend on myself. My expectations were less than the reality – it was much, much better than I expected.
My role in this journey was good. I don’t think that I caused any problems. I would like to see the communication between the Palestinians and the British continuing and good. I would love to help in improving the links between the two sides and to have an active role in building these links between us. I believe that the programme for the trip was good and did not need any changes.
Ali Salah Halibi, Abu Dis.
Wednesday 8 August 2012
Visiting the House of Lords
Six minutes into this, there is our group during our visit to the House of Lords (on camera by accident)...
Monday 6 August 2012
Saturday 4 August 2012
Wednesday 1 August 2012
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