Climbing 4 Palestine is an initiative started by WAY in 2013 to spread awareness about youth in Palestine & fundraise for youth projects. In 2014, the team ventured to the summit of mount Elbrus to support sports projects for the youth of Jerusalem. This year, our team of passionate and enthusiastic youth is set to start their journey to conquer the summit of Kilimanjaro, the highest summit in Africa; 5,895 meters, on February 19th, 2015.
Click HERE to support our team
Meet the climbers:
“I’m Shireen Nababteh, I work as the creative director of Cheil Levant .I’ve climbed 5650 meters in -20 degrees to reach the snow covered summit of Throng La pass in Nepal, scaled Mount Forato in the Italian Alps, jumped out a plane, experienced the joy of deep sea diving, rappelled a 60 meter underground cave and rode an elephant. I met these amazing group though Treks on foot. A group for trekking services. We decided to go to the roof of Africa to raise the Palestinian flag on top of the mountain and to raise funds for the art bus. Believing in creativity and art we will send a message to the whole world that our Palestinian kids have a great potential to become real artists in-spite of the difficult circumstances they live in.”
“My name is Hasan Masri, WAY Kuwait chapter.Throughout my voluntary work with WAY , I had amazing opportunities to contribute in projects supporting Palestinian youth and children. The “Art bus” is the most recent project adopted for support by WAY. it aims to spread joy and happiness among children in Palestine, it also allows them to express their feelings and thoughts creatively through art. Our team is very excited to take the Kilimanjaro challenge to support the Art Bus. I truly hope you could all support us in this challenge and that we see the Art Bus continuing its journey in Palestine. Thank you all”
How did Reel Palestine happen? Well, in short, we love Palestine. Who doesn’t, really? So we sat around a table and decided to bring the best of Palestinian film to a screen near you. We believe it is important to be able to see Palestinian culture and tenacity through film and submerge ourselves in the beautiful, difficult, emotional, and inspirational moments that occur under occupation. Stories that sometimes slip under the radar: stories of maqloubeh, giraffes and nostalgia for a better time. We want to tear down the wall (literally) and allow viewers to cinematically travel to our beloved Palestine, sans restrictions.
Reel Palestine films will be screened across Dubai and Sharjah, between January 16th – 25th 2015, and is free and open to all. Two of the seven sessions will also include Q&A sessions with Directors, Producers and Actors.Reel Palestine is supported by the Welfare Association for Youth – WAY and the Palestine Film Foundation. The following is the list of screenings, hosted in collaboration with UAE based art spaces:
More film details and schedule is available on www.reelpalestine.org.
Synopses of selected films:
OPEN BETHLEHEM
Dir. Leila Sansour / 2014 / 90 min
Open Bethlehem follows renowned Palestinian film-maker Leila Sansour’s extraordinary ten year journey as she captures Bethlehem as it has never been seen before. Armed with a camera and a family car that keeps breaking down, she sets out to make an intimate portrait of a historical town in peril. Drawing from over 700 hours of original footage and some rare archive material, this remarkable film shows the ‘little town’ through the eyes of one of its oldest Christian families.
ISMAIL
Dir. Nora Sharif / 2012 / 28 min
Ismail is a short film set in Palestine in 1949 and inspired by the late Palestinian Painter Ismail Shammout (1930-2006). The film is a social drama that explores the ideas of exodus, survival, escape, and brotherhood. It talks about Ismail’s daily life struggle to support his family after their expulsion to a refugee camp in 1948 by the Israeli forces, and his dream to go to Rome one day to learn painting.
TRIP ALONG EXODUS
Dir. Hind Shoufani / 2014 / 120 min
Trip Along Exodus is a feature-length documentary exploring the last 70 years of Palestinian politics seen through the prism of the life of Dr Elias Shoufani, a leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, an academic writer and leftist intellectual who worked with Fateh (but was one of the leaders of the opposition to Arafat) for 20 years. He is also the father of the filmmaker and writer, Hind.
Follow us on:
Facebook.com/reelpalestine
Instagram @reelpalestine
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The Welfare Association for Youth (WAY) has finalized today the “Gaza in your Eyes” photography contest; throughout the month of October, we have received hundreds of beautiful photos emanating love of life and hope from the talented youth of Gaza.
Our judges finally gave us the verdict, choosing 13 winning photos, taken by the participants listed below:
First Place – Ibrahim Mansour Faraj
Second Place – Ahmad Salameh
Third Place (Tie) – Ibrahim Khader Abu Hzeimeh
Third Place (Tie) – Jihad Jaber Badwan
Omar Is-haq Omar
Motaz Al Araj
Anas Al Khoudary
Ibrahim Abu Rweideh
Tarek Ramadan
Amro Al Alami
Nadya Abu Shaban
Jaber Thabet
Mohd Zarandah
Congratulations to our winners,and we wish the rest of participants the best of luck in WAY’s future competitions and initiatives.
Thank you to everyone that participated in the success of “Gaza in your Eyes”
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For more information and to participate, please email: [email protected]
]]>Today the 14th of December, WAY ended its Trip to Palestine for the year of 2012. The trip started on the 7th of December, with the participation of 6 young people. During this trip participants visited various historical places and landmarks of Palestine such as the old city of Hebron, Bethlehem, and Nablus; They learned about the life in Palestine and the sociopolitical, and economical context. Met with different NGOs and prominent figures. Further, Participants learned about the different programs conducted by Welfare association to support the Palestinian People.
The trip to Palestine started with visiting the Old city of Nablus where Participants visited the soup factory of Thoqan family. In the Factory, the WAY members learned about the process of making olive oil Soap. Moving out of the factory WAY members visited rehabilitation projects at the old city such as the Jitan neighborhood. WAY Members learned about the structure of the houses in our old Palestinian cities. Learned about how the process of rehabilitation of the old houses in a way that does not change in its main historical structure, and make it more livable for its residents. Walking around Nablus is not a full experience without eating Kunafeh, and smelling the spices, and visiting House of Palestine.
In the second day WAY members visited the cities of Hebron and Bethlehem. In Hebron, starting with a visiting the Hebron Rehabilitation committee, WAY members were oriented with the situation in Hebron old city, the divisions of the city of Hebron, and the impact of the Israeli settlements on the daily life and development of the city. On their way out WAY members visited the Abraham mosque.
Leaving the old city, WAY members visited the Kufyia factory. The Kufyia factory is the last factory in Palestine that makes the Palestinian Kufia.
At Bethlehem, WAY members visited the Nativity church and the Manger square in Bethlehem, walked around the old city of Bethlehem and visited an old house that was built in the year 1936.
Moving toward the north of the West Bank Youth visited the area of Araba and Jenin. In the village of Mirkeh, the participants of the trip visited the kindergarten at the village and learned about the situation of the early education sector in Palestine. Further they were introduced to Sukkar program which is supported by the welfare association to enhance the conditions at kindergartens.
Leaving Mirkeh to Araba Municipality WAY members learned about the conditions at Araba. Participants joined farmers in picking their olives. WAY members learned about the different steps in picking the olives, and trimming the trees, and preparing the olives to make the oil or to be pickled. The experience at Araba was highlighted with eating the Musakhan after all the hard work.
Leaving Araba, WAY members visited the Freedom theatre in Jenin, where they learned about how theatre is used as a tool for community and cultural change. This was followed by the visit to Jenin Refugee camp, where youth learned about the living conditions, and the main challenges that are facing youth in the camps.
Further, WAY members met with the Independent commission for Human rights( ICHR), where they learned about the role of the ICHR and the efforts in Palestine to ensure that human rights are protected within the Palestinian society. With Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, Youth discussed the importance of youth inclusion and engagement within the various Palestinian political and social structures, and the importance of moving from analysis of the situation into actors of change.
The trip to Palestine finished with a visit to Birzeit University, Mahmod Darwish museum and attending the Christmas tree lightening ceremony in Ramallah.
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“WAY Trip to Palestine 2014” is finally here. This December, enjoy various aspects of the Palestinian life while also learning about the sociopolitical and economical context.
Meet with different NGO prominent Figures and mingle with local Palestinian youth.
We believe that youth inclusion and engagement within the various Palestinian political and social structures, is a way of moving from analysis of the situation into actors of change.
Program Objectives:
- To connect with Palestine; land and people.
- To network among the local youth and local organizations.
- To raise awareness and learn about life in Palestine and the sociopolitical, and economical context.
- To learn about the various programs conducted by the Welfare association to support the Palestinian People.
Duration: 1 week – December 20-26
Location: West bank and possibility of including 1948 territories depending on permits.
Fees: $100 Registration fees
$650 trip fees per participant
Deadline for application: No later than Thursday, 16th of October 2014.
If interested, Email us at [email protected]
The WA team has been on the ground since day 1 of the assault; WA has to date provided 179,000 liters of fuel for the hospitals and ambulances, about 300k USD worth of medicines and medical supplies, 17,000 food packages for displaced families, 35,000 families’ needs of mattresses and blankets, 11,000 hygiene kits, 1,000 hot meals daily for the injured at Al Shifa Hospital and started in 9 other MOH hospitals, in addition to providing water needs for domestic use and to shelters.
However, the next ceasefire will render Gaza no longer newsworthy, the victims of the onslaught will eventually be forgotten, though they will still have to live under siege and with the terrible destruction all around them.
We want to rebuild Gaza, to help the innocent people in their difficult time of need, and thought to capitalise on the good and bad press of the ice bucket challenge.
The WAY members have worked on multiple small initiatives for Gaza to date, and raised $21,500. Most recently we started a campaign called #gazaibc, and various members of our association have taken part
The videos, in Arabic & English, give a good idea of what kind of impact the Gaza appeal has had, some videos have redefined the concept of the ice bucket challenge. All are great, and we ask that you take part in any way you like- either like these gentlemen or in a new and novel way of your own.
We need people to continue to donate online at the following link https://www.justgiving.com/Gaza-Appeal2104, so encourage them to advocate
We hope that you are able to participate! We call on you as your voice can amplify our efforts, and make a greater impact than we could do alone. Again we thank you for all that you have done in the name of justice, freedom and dignity, in the name of Palestine. Please come visit us soon.
]]>The humanitarian crisis is reaching its peak with severe shortages in food, especially milk for children, medicines and medical supplies, fuel, clothing, water, electricity, in addition to severe infrastructure destruction.
Your generous contribution will enable us to provide the basic needs for the people in Gaza aiming to alleviate their sufferings. Your contributions will provide the following needed supplies:
1. Medical supplies and fuel for hospitals and ambulances: $1.5M.
2. Nutritional needs of families including food packages and milk for children: $1M.
3. Basic renovation for damaged houses and schools: $1M.
4. Blankets and clothing for displaced families: $500,000.
5. Hygiene kits: $500,000.
6. Rechargeable light kits: $500,000.
7. Schools bags and stationary: $500,000
Together we can alleviate the pain……. support steadfastness….. preserve the dignity of the people of Gaza
Click HERE to support Gaza
]]>Dr. Musa Saleh, Chair of the BoD of Al Hannouneh Society, introduced the society’s vision and work to the group, in addition to emphasizing the importance of our Palestinian heritage and its preservation. The group was also briefed about WAY, our vision and mission in addition to the success story of WAY’s initiative “Cycling for Palestine”, by Dr. Ahmad Bashir.
As this has become an annual tradition, we look forward to meeting the KTH program 2015 delegation to share a Palestinian meal and join hands for Dabkeh and folkloric dance,
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