About WAY 2 Gaza:
A recent UN report* published mid 2012 concluded that Gaza will be unlivable by 2020. In light of this report a group of Palestinian youth living in the Diaspora began networking amongst themselves to assess how they can affect change in the situation in Gaza by supporting the children and youth in Gaza.
This initiative has three objectives:
1) To raise awareness about the situation in Gaza worldwide
2) To connect youth living in Gaza with Palestinian, Arab and international youth and to learn more about their daily lives
3) To fundraise for projects that aim to achieve sustainable development for children and youth in Gaza (and this year we are supporting Mustaqbali program to support orphaned children and youth).
According to Yasmeen Sharaan, a WAY member from Kuwait:
“This challenge represents the Gaza strife that we all need to take to help
a situation which looks impossible to accomplish, but with every little step
we take we start to realize that with our efforts and determination
impossibilities will start to vanish.”
Our WAY 2 Gaza
To reach our objectives we are conducting, but not limited to, the following activities:
1) Conquering Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa reaching 6000 meters in elevation in addition to being the world's highest free-standing mountain. Climbers from different nationalities have decided to uptake this challenge and to raise awareness about life in Gaza. Climbers aim to raise USD 193,410 (19,341 ft* 10 climbers), proceeds will go to sponsor Mustaqbali* program.
2) Participation in Marathons and Runs The participation in the run aims at raising awareness about the situation in Gaza.
3) Participation in Open Water Swim Series: A 10km swim race in Eton, England which will take place on Bank holiday on Monday , May 27th.
4) Visit to Gaza to meet the youth and children of the Mustaqbali program and learn first hand about life in Gaza.
How you can join us
There are many ways that you can join us in this campaign
- Attend our activities
- Spread the word about Gaza and share information
- Donate to our campaign
- Conduct an awareness raising or fundraising event
- Support us online by spreading the word via Facebook and Twitter and other venues you find appropriate
The Mustaqbali Program:
Mustaqbali is a 22 year program that aims to empower the children of Gaza who have been orphaned as a direct consequence of the 2008-2009 war, through education thus giving them an opportunity to live a normal and fulfilling life and to contribute to the long term development of Gaza. The program has two main objectives:
To support the fulfillment of the rights of orphaned children to an adequate standard of living through access to health care, education and services. In addition to their right to play and to protection from abuse and exploitation.
To provide young orphans with the resources and competencies required to gain autonomy and self-sustenance, and to pursue a career. Over the past three years, the WA through its partners has been instrumental in defining the individual needs of children and their families and in working with several NGOs on the ground. Currently we are serving 1681 orphans and 482 foster children.
To achieve the program’s goal, three components for intervention are identified:
- Educational services include: Remedial and supportive education for school students from 1st grade till 12th grade; Promoting the access of orphans to school education and preschool education by providing them with educational requirements such as uniforms, books, transportation and fees; Promoting the access of the youth program to university, intermediate colleges, and vocational education by covering the educational expenses that include fees, books, transportation and stationary; Building the capacity of the youth program by providing them with special training to qualify them to join the labor market after graduation.
- Career Counseling and Development through vocational training, internship opportunities, and start-up businesses for children and their mothers.
- Healthcare services include: health checkups, rehabilitation services for disabled orphans, improving health and nutrition , providing special health treatment, surgeries for cases that need special health intervention, and psychosocial support.
*The UN report concluding that Gaza will be unlivable by 2020 indicates that the population will increase by 500,000 rendering the total population 2.13 million in 2020 with a density of 5,835 people per km squared. This population growth will require infrastructural growth and an increase in social services. By 2020, there would be a need for an increase of 60% of the water supply from today, 190 additional schools would be required to accommodate the youthful population in addition to the 250 additional schools required today, 800 additional hospital beds would be needed to maintain service in addition to 1000 additional doctors and 2000 additional nurses.