CAFOD website, 12 November 2020 Bethlehem, like other Palestinian communities in the West Bank, faces many challenges. The neighbouring Israeli settlements – illegal under international humanitarian law – encroach upon Palestinian land, the separation barrier restricts freedom of movement and the farmers’ lands are sometimes made inaccessible by restrictions imposed by the Israeli army. Formal Israeli annexation of the West …
Toine van Teeffelen. Arab Educational Institute Catholic Universe, 10 July, 2020 “The Covid-19 crisis is one of the most important things I’ve experienced in life. I felt a responsibility to support the people in my village,” says Faten from, Artas in the occupied Palestinian territory. Faten is 29 and a mother of one. She works as a kindergarten teacher and …
By Rania Murra and Toine van Teeffelen This Week in Palestine, May 2019 In late October, a group of 30 local young women launched the “Artas Deserves to Be Beautiful” advocacy campaign in Artas, a village to the south of Bethlehem. They wanted to solve the waste problem in the village. One participant relates, “I used to read slogans such …
Supporting Palestinian SumudAEI’s mission is to educationally support the sumud of Palestinians, especially those living in marginalized or disadvantaged communities. Sumud, literally steadfastness or perseverance, has two general meanings for us:(a) strengthening the moral fabric and internal cohesion of a Palestinian society that is rooted in the land of Palestine;(b) strengthening the capacity of Palestinians to raise their voices in …
The Sumud Story House is located near the Bethlehem-Jerusalem checkpoint and the Separation Wall around Rachel’s Tomb in north-Bethlehem. Rachel’s Tomb is a holy place annexed to Israel and walled-off, made inaccessible for Palestinians. At the House, several women groups including a choir (the Bethlehem Sumud Choir) come together for their weekly meetings and training sessions dealing with a wide …
In Bethlehem, AEI activates Palestinian youth and children groups, also at the Sumud Story House. Besides reflecting upon issues such as faith, the groups are involved in communicating Palestine and its environment to local and international audiences. They do so in various creative ways, such as through wall posters, debate, and music. During the summer, the youth groups take part …
AEI’s ‘Citizenship and Diversity: Christian-Moslem Living Together’, is implemented in the West Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of the Palestinian Authority. Running now for over 20 years, it promotes inter-religious living together of Palestinian Moslem and Christian teenager youth at 30 West Bank schools in the Bethlehem and Ramallah regions. As the title says, the program fosters …
We invite you to sponsor a large poster with a human Palestinian story to be attached on the Wall in Bethlehem. Already 270 posters bring out the stories of Palestinian life and challenge the restrictions under occupation. This “Wall Museum” will be expanded and will present many new Palestinian voices to the world.
