The two experts from EJE in educational games held a three-day training session in the Orthodox Youth Club in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem in December 2011 and beginning of 2012.

The participants were a group of 5 women from different ages and background, two of them are animators in the club, one from the administration and two are teachers for the kindergarden.

The aim of the training was to establish a small toy library in the club which will be accessible to children age from 6 to 14 coming from Bethlehem and Beit Jala cities.

The participants had no prior experience in these kind of games. The games were divided into popular wooden games and rules games. The games that were chosen are suitable both for individual use or for big groups. The training also contains a theoretical aspect to help the participants to understand how these games are beneficial for the personal development and well-being, and also how to manage such toy libraries, from both the practical and pedagogical point of views.

This was the first time that the training included the popular wooden games. These games come from different countries and were produced by EJE team in Bethlehem, using local products and high quality standards. For instance, the training introduced the “the touching box”, a game from France which is really fun, help breaking the barriers between the players and enhances your “touching” sense. For the rules games, the EJE team managed to present 17 games to the participants, allowing them to grasp the variety of such games. Some examples are Marrakesh; Abalon, Pentago. Although these games have a high educational value, they are not very well-known in Palestine.

The main methodology for the training is to make the participants play themselves and analyze the play situation.

The evaluation shows that the training was highly beneficial and appreciated by the participants. They stressed that this was a unique training and the most exciting training experience they ever had. Not only did they learn a lot but they also felt that the training helped them personally to feel something unique and empowering. Rania, one of the woman declared: “I felt I got my childhood back”. Another participant, mother of 5 children, added: “Although I have 5 children and that I was really exhausted, this was really worthy to come, even if it was during my holidays: I really enjoyed it and it made me think in a personal way”.

The participating animators also said that these games will be very useful to help the children to overcome some of their difficulties such as learning or social difficulties and that these games will help them to enjoy their childhood”.

The EJE experts team held regular training throughout the year to develop the culture of playing in the Palestinian community. If you are interested in hosting such training, please contact us at info@ejepal.org

View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:25, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 4.5, 65.0mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 2000	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:00, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 4.5, 24.0mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 2000	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:01, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 4.5, 24.0mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 2000	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:24, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 4.5, 32.0mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 2000	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:03, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 4.5, 62.0mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 2000	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:11, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 3.2, 27.0mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 1250
View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:12, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 3.2, 24.0mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 1250	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:21, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 4.5, 54.0mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 2000	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:21, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 4.5, 66.0mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 2000	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:08, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 2.8, 28.0mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 2000	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:00, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 3.2, 70.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 2000	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:01, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 4.0, 25.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 2000
View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:05, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 8.0, 30.0mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 2000	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:01, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 4.0, 24.0mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 1250	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:03, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 4.0, 52.0mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 1250	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:04, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 3.2, 68.0mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 1250	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2000 00:07, Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 2.8, 62.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 2000	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2008 03:08, PENTAX Corporation PENTAX Optio E50, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200
View at Picasa 03-Jan-2008 22:02, PENTAX Corporation PENTAX Optio E50, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 200	View at Picasa 01-Jan-2008 00:00, PENTAX Corporation PENTAX Optio E50, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 200	View at Picasa 03-Jan-2008 21:08, PENTAX Corporation PENTAX Optio E50, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 200	View at Picasa 03-Jan-2008 20:30, PENTAX Corporation PENTAX Optio E50, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 04-Jan-2008 21:40, PENTAX Corporation PENTAX Optio E50, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200

Since September, the children have taken back the way to « Le petit prince » school.

François, Theresa, Erwan, Mira, Nawal, Solène, les enfants.

This year, we organised the school in two multi-levels sections. In the kindergarten, we have 17 children from 2 to 4 years old. In the primary school, there are 9 pupils from 5 to 7 years old.

All together, 25 children are registered in the school this year.

After a year passed in College des Frères, the primary class is back to the main school building. It was a demand both from the pupils and teachers. « It’s quieter ! »; «  we can work better here ! » said the older pupils even if some of them missed their friends from the College.

Over the years, the organization of the school and of the pedagogic team gets more and more stuctured. Nawal, who teaches arabic has become our headmaster. François is the kindergarten teacher. For the first period, he shared is class with Solène. Mira is our new assistant for the kindergarten. She helps François with our younger pupils. Erwan teaches the primary class. He succeeds to Elen, who taught here last year. Theresa comes three times a week to give English lessons to the primary class.

Since the beginning of the year, we had also some exciting guests coming to our school for the delight of the children. We received the visit of Jacques, the magician. During his tour in several refugees camps and Palestinian schools, he stopped by our school and gave, to our pupils, a show that they will not forget so easily.

Luise also came along to make a bit of walk with us. This German musician had worked with the kids for 15 days on a project around storytelling for children. By participating to activities dealing with body percussions, graphic arts, and creative writing, the children have learnt that music can be a wonderful way to express feelings. The last day – before our autumn vacations, the children presented their work with Luise to the parents. A good way to celebrate the vacations !

In order to communicate easily with our friends of Notre-Dame de Kerbonne School, the primary class has also started a blog that you can visit at that adress : http://ecolelepetitprince.eklablog.com/

These are the latest news from the school, all the team sends you its best wishes for 2012!

View at Picasa 07-Oct-2011 04:55, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 5.6, 10.7mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100	View at Picasa François, Theresa, Erwan, Mira, Nawal, Solène, les enfants.19-Oct-2011 23:40, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 8.0, 8.0mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 100	View at Picasa 14-Oct-2011 23:56, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 4.7, 20.1mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 2000	View at Picasa 29-Oct-2011 00:13, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 5.1, 24.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 29-Oct-2011 00:12, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 2.8, 8.0mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 20-Oct-2011 23:53, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 5.1, 24.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
View at Picasa 21-Oct-2011 00:01, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 3.0, 9.2mm, 0.029 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa Jacques le magicien.21-Oct-2011 00:13, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 3.5, 12.5mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 21-Oct-2011 00:14, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 3.5, 12.5mm, 0.037 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa Luise, musicienne allemande17-Oct-2011 23:46, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 2.8, 8.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 18-Oct-2011 00:02, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 2.8, 8.0mm, 0.014 sec, ISO 400	View at Picasa 18-Oct-2011 22:19, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 2.8, 8.0mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 800
View at Picasa 18-Oct-2011 22:19, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 3.8, 14.4mm, 0.018 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 23-Sep-2011 00:49, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 2.8, 8.0mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 30-Sep-2011 23:38, FUJIFILM FinePix F40fd , 4.5, 8.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100

EJE just inaugurated its youth hostel in the heart of the beautiful old town of Bethlehem to welcome you in Palestine in a house full of history, located just two-minute walk from the Place of the Nativity.

The building of the hostel consists of four large dormitories equipped with 8 beds, a large living area with Internet access, a fully equipped kitchen and all the necessary facilities to enable you to have a pleasant stay.    You can also enjoy the magnificent view on the hills around Bethlehem from our balcony, or our roof. Among other facilities, you will have the ability to call your country, do your laundry and ironing your clothes. Several options are available for reservation (with or without breakfast or even full board). It is also possible to order some delicious Palestinian culinary specialties. Rates which depend on the chosen options are very attractive (60 NIS without breakfast, 80 Nis with breakfast for dorm rooms). Even cheaper rates are offered for groups of more than 12 people.

The building has a rich history. It had been used as a Korean cultural center for 10 years, as a girls’ school during the first Intifada and it was also the home of the mayor of Bethlehem, Elias Bandak, for years. The same building also hosts the Franco-Palestinian school on the lower floor and served as a medical clinic for decades before.

Our goal with the youth hostel of Bethlehem is to help you take the step to come to Palestine, enjoy the famous hospitality of the Palestinian people and discover a country with a four thousand year old history, but also to give you the opportunity to learn more about the problems linked to the occupation. To better understand, we believe that the best thing is to come and see for yourself. The aim with this hostel is also to bring funds and sustainability to the EJE association so that we can continue our work towards the Palestinian children in refugee camps.

The rehabilitation of the building is now completed and the first group who came to inaugurate and share this special moment with us was French. Here are some of their impressions “A place that I recommend to all my friends because it’s warm, welcoming and very friendly. Then the architecture of the house is so beautiful and quiet and right in the middle the city of Bethlehem. ! “. Another one stated: “This place in the heart of the city is full of charm! We were touched by the special atmosphere that emerges from it and its history. Thank you to Baha for hosting this first group wit such kindness. And a thousand greetings to the hostel for the future and all visitors should stop there! ”

The entire team of the association EJE awaits for you to help you during your stay that will live long in your memories. For sure, you will be able to say that you have grown with this country which remains wonderful, despite all the difficulties it has to face!

For more information contact us at byh@ejepal.org or call 0097222748466

Welcome to Palestine!

For the second consecutive year EJE, in partnership with Alain Baczyski, have amazed the Palestinian children of several refugee camps by organizing free performances from artists, coming from France, Belgium and Italy.

Compagny Velo-theatre, 2010

Last year, in July and August 2010, EJE organized also a festival with two companies, Vélo théâtre and Girova e Rondella, who had allowed more than 600 children from Aqbat Jaber , Al Aroub and Shu’fat refugee camps to discover and appreciate the talents of European artists through their wonderful performances.

Vélo théâtre, led by the artist Charlot Lemoine, presented a show called “Envelopes and unpacking” in which he arrives on stage as a postman riding a bicycle. He manages quickly to transport his audience in a world full of fantasy and magic by opening the packages he carries on his bike. It looks like a great adventure in a animated postcard, full of tenderness, poetry and humor.

The Italian company “Girovago Rondella e” with the family Grignani (Marco,

Compagny Girovago e Rondellam, 2010

Federica, Tim, Tom) and Alberto Becucci presented three shows called “Manoviva” for more than 500 Palestinian refugee children. In a world of miniatures, they tell us, without words, short stories through parables, and where anything is possible. The first part of the show is about a circus theme, with virtuosity that captivates the public, the second part consists of short stories in which words are replaced by “symbols”, a universal language that touches another sphere of understanding usually neglected . At the end of the show, the magic ends with the lights, and the two puppets, accompanied by music, go to the public, shaking hands, walking in the midst of all and the public can touch them. This direct contact is the awakening of a dream and made it clear that the puppets are real.

For the summer 2011, the puppet festival took place owing to the generous participation of a Belgian company, Chemins de Terre, and the French company les Anges au Plafond. Belgian artists Stephen and Genevieve presented three shows in the refugee camps of Al Aroub and Al Fawwar (south of Hebron) and in the village of Al Walajeh. As for French artists, they presented two workshops, one in Shu’fat refugee camp and the other one in the village of Al Walajeh, threatened soon to be completely encircled by the Separation Wall. More than 500 children benefited from a time of magic with the wonderful world of puppets.

Compagny Chemins de terre, 2011

Through a two-hours workshop Stephen and Genevieve made the children learned technics for the puppet-objects and then attended a show played by several characters including a chicken, a banana, a cucumber who became alive through our talented puppeteer. The children first discovered how to give life to an ordinary object by exploring the voice, the steps, look, and using simple objects like hands decorated with eyes or spoons, handlers for tea or fruits and vegetables.

The other company, Les Anges au plafond, proposed for an interactive workshop during which the children could manipulate themselves the puppets after a little show by Camille Found Brice Berthoud, accompanied by cellist Sandrine Lefebvre. This show is led by Remy Gonthier.

According to the artists: “Through some speechless or rumbled scenes, our

compagnie les Anges au plafond, 2011

puppets discuss the idea of meeting, exchange …on the sound of the cello.

Two men and a bird cross, recross, shake hands or feathers, bump, gather, separate, look for each other…

Then it is up to you to go on stage and bring to life the puppets with the help of the puppeteers and music. ”

A program that worked perfectly with the young audience Palestine.

EJE thank all the artists who have allowed these magical moments to take place and especially our partner Alain who brings children into a world full of dreams and imagination.

This summer, thirty children from the Little Prince Animation Center of Al Aroub refugee camp had the opportunity to discover new artistic activities: the shadow theater and pinhole photography.

These two workshops, in addition to the cultural and playful aspects of these activities, also allowed the children to speak, and give free rein to their creativity following the fundamental principles of the association: “Child”, “Play” and “Education,” is for us the key to a better world.
We thought theater will be a great medium, and use the shadows that can break down the barriers of language. The pinhole workshop has also helped to address scientific concepts (optics, mathematics for older children), historical concepts (back to basics of photography), technical concepts (production of a device, creating process of an image, how to develop a film) and artistic concepts (discussion on the composition, selection of subjects).

The theater workshop was based on the story “The Little Match Girl” of Andersen, “a story I wanted to share with the children because my grandmother used to told it to my mother when she was little. I did not think that children knew it, but  they did and they actually love it. ”

During the sessions, we discovered the plot, studied how to make a show, chose the characters, and made the characters … a progressive work that was really exciting. Why didn’t we need to decorate our cardboard characters was a big question and  what could be that strange theatre!?

Then we finally did the first test, the shadows appeared and the smiles too! There were many wonderful moments playing with the silhouettes, sound, light, song, imagination … and finally create a real show.

The pinhole workshop began by building a camera obscura: it is a simple cube made of black paper with a hole in the middle of one side and a piece of tracing paper on the opposite side. By seeing an image formed on the tracing paper, the children first reaction was the surprise, soon followed by a spontaneous enthusiasm: they called the other children in the streets to show their achievements.

The second step was the construction of a pinhole. For that, all the children brought an empty box. They painted the inside in black, and then drilled a tiny hole in a metallic canister for the aperture. Children were very studious during the whole production.

Once the pinholes were finished, we went to shoot. We had to load the devices in the dark, and explain how to take a picture: open the hole a definite time, which were different depending on the size of each box. The shooting ended, we went back to the dark room where the children have learned how to develop their photos. The first results were often disappointing because the “images were always black” or the pictures “only in black and white”, but over the shootings, the quality improved and sharper images appeared. The children all made 3 or 4 shots, and they made a small booklet in which they pasted their pictures and explained what they learned.

To conclude the workshops, an exhibition of their work and pictures of the progress of activities was organized, with also the representation of the shadow theater performance.

This exhibition was an opportunity to awaken the interest of other children or teenagers, who wanted to learn more about these new activities and processes. It also made us found out that the main concepts were transmitted and understood, and may be subject to future workshops. Finally, it allowed families to share the good work of their children.
Children seem to have been satisfied with the two activities. We can see that trough their numerous requests to repeat similar activities. The kids all loved to “build their own camera,” “learn to develop their images” and would have liked to have even more time “to improve it in order to do even better images”.  The actors in the shadow theater have also “enjoyed creating their characters” and “play different roles,” to “get a real show”.
We wanted to make one last small workshop before leaving. Thus, we have proposed the construction of a set of Pentomino. Through the building, children were able to review some basic geometry. The game allows them to work on their logic and vision in the plan. The fastest children could help the others to finish. In the end, each child walked away with his own game in a pocket!
Another activity for the children, also emerged, activity during which they learned how to fabricate a car from recycled materials. The goal was first to provide a toy for the children, but also to raise awareness on the waste problems in the camp; the environment and the utility that some waste can have. In  one word: to make them have a different vision of their garbage!

For us, working with Palestinian animators has been truly rewarding and exciting because it was based on mutual exchange. Everyone learned a lot from this common work, both in the cultural level, and personal level.
The children were very endearing. Their enthusiasm is communicative and makes you want to get involved. It is with a twinge in our hearts that we left the centre on a Saturday afternoon, hoping to return soon!

Maine and Yann

View at Picasa 18-Sep-2005 14:39, PENTAX Corporation PENTAX Optio WP, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 100	View at Picasa 18-Sep-2005 15:39, PENTAX Corporation PENTAX Optio WP, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 100	View at Picasa 18-Sep-2005 15:44, PENTAX Corporation PENTAX Optio WP, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 100	View at Picasa 18-Sep-2005 15:44, PENTAX Corporation PENTAX Optio WP, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 100	View at Picasa 09-Jul-2011 10:49, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.6, 6.5mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 400	View at Picasa 09-Jul-2011 10:50, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.6, 6.5mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800
View at Picasa 23-Jul-2011 10:05, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 400	View at Picasa 09-Jul-2011 10:50, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.9, 9.7mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 10-Jul-2011 09:42, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 4.2, 13.7mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 10-Jul-2011 09:43, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 4.1, 11.0mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 10-Jul-2011 09:56, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 10-Jul-2011 09:54, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
View at Picasa 10-Jul-2011 09:59, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 10-Jul-2011 09:54, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 160	View at Picasa 10-Jul-2011 09:55, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 400	View at Picasa 10-Jul-2011 10:01, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 500	View at Picasa 11-Jul-2011 10:17, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.6, 6.5mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 14-Jul-2011 10:44, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.5, 5.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200
View at Picasa 14-Jul-2011 10:33, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.4mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100	View at Picasa 16-Jul-2011 10:38, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.5, 5.3mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 400	View at Picasa 14-Jul-2011 10:32, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.9, 9.7mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 400	View at Picasa 17-Jul-2011 09:47, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 320	View at Picasa 17-Jul-2011 09:49, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 400	View at Picasa 17-Jul-2011 09:51, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 400
View at Picasa 17-Jul-2011 10:20, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.4, 5.0mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 400	View at Picasa 19-Jul-2011 09:19, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 320	View at Picasa 11-Jul-2011 10:44, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.7, 7.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 160	View at Picasa 11-Jul-2011 10:45, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.4mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 125	View at Picasa 11-Jul-2011 10:46, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.4mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa 11-Jul-2011 10:47, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.4mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200
View at Picasa 13-Jul-2011 10:22, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 4.0, 10.3mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa 20-Jul-2011 09:18, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 4.3, 15.8mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 125	View at Picasa	View at Picasa	View at Picasa	View at Picasa
View at Picasa	View at Picasa	View at Picasa	View at Picasa	View at Picasa	View at Picasa
View at Picasa	View at Picasa	View at Picasa	View at Picasa	View at Picasa	View at Picasa 20-Jul-2011 10:27, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.6, 6.5mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 400
View at Picasa 20-Jul-2011 10:28, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 320	View at Picasa 21-Jul-2011 09:54, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 5.0, 5.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa 23-Jul-2011 10:54, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 400	View at Picasa 23-Jul-2011 11:08, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 26-Jul-2011 14:40, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 400	View at Picasa 26-Jul-2011 14:46, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.4, 4.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
View at Picasa 26-Jul-2011 14:50, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.4, 5.0mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 400	View at Picasa 26-Jul-2011 14:54, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 30-Jul-2011 10:56, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 320	View at Picasa 30-Jul-2011 10:56, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.3, 4.1mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 30-Jul-2011 10:57, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.9, 9.1mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 30-Jul-2011 10:57, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.9, 9.1mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
View at Picasa 30-Jul-2011 10:58, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.4, 4.7mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 400	View at Picasa 30-Jul-2011 10:58, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.4, 4.7mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 30-Jul-2011 10:58, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.4, 4.7mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa 30-Jul-2011 10:59, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.4, 4.7mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 400	View at Picasa 30-Jul-2011 10:59, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.4, 4.7mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 250	View at Picasa 30-Jul-2011 11:01, Panasonic DMC-TZ8, 3.6, 6.1mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 320

A Palestinian team, composed of four girls and three boys coming from three refugee camps which EJE is working with, is now in Paris from 17 to 26 July 2011 to participate in the 3rd edition of the Fraternity Cup organized by the Child’s Voice (La Voix de l’Enfant). 15 other delegations will join the event including Argentina, Brazil, India, Japan, Morocco, Rwanda or Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The week program is a football tournament as well as many visits as the mayor of Paris, Stade de France and Parc Asterix. It’s a unique opportunity for those children whose movements within the West Bank are very limited because of the political situation and the establishment of numerous checkpoints. For instance, some of them will be visiting Paris before Jerusalem!

This trip represents an extraordinary opportunity for these children: they will not only learn about different cultures but also have the opportunity to bear witness to their daily lives: “Here we have no space, no playing fields,” tells Waad, a 12 year-old girl from Shu’fat camp. Some even talk about being in a “prison”, arguing that their basic rights are violated. They hope to display their local culture, through poems and dances, to the other children.

Few days before departure, we could feel the children’s impatience and excitement. When we asked Diala what meant France to her, she answered: “a land of freedom, where the children can do whatever they want.”

Mohammed, a little bit shier when we asked him questions, told us that he will have the opportunity to show his talent and that he hopes to “make the most of this week to discover new cultures and share his experiences with his friends when he will be back home.”

Indeed, let’s not forget that they were many children wanting to take part in the event, but far from feeling wronged, they are happy for their chosen friends who will act as ambassadors of Palestine.

To best fulfill this role, the children attended a preparation program based on tolerance, children rights, and prepared a small diary to expose their lives and feelings.

The children together with Amal and Nidal, two of the Palestinian animators accompanying them on a daily basis, gathered in Bethlehem on July 15 to get to know each other and flew on the 17th to the City of Light.

Ismail

Like every summer, Children, Play and Education (EJE) welcomes international volunteers to give more opportunities for Palestinian children to participate in new new activities. In this way, EJE also intends to strengthen the capacity of play and activity centers by allowing Palestinian animators to train for new activities and provide opportunities for Palestinian children to meet internationals and open to the world.

EJE will in turn allow these young volunteers to discover Palestine through a unique field experience. Since its creation, there are dozens of young internationals who volunteered with EJE with stays ranging from several days to six months. For EJE, the involvement of volunteers coming from outside is always a positive source of learning and all the volunteers are invited to share a critical assessment of their stay and to suggest improvements.

This summer, five French volunteers are welcomed by EJE: Ismail, Marine, Yann, Constance and Sarah. They all offer a variety of activities that should delight children as well as the Palestinian animators who will work with them. Volunteers always work in tandem with Palestinian animators for all sessions.

Ismail has been working with the group of Palestinian children who are going to France in July for the Cup of the Fraternity, an event organized by the Voice of Children (La Voix de l’Enfant) around football and tolerance which brings together children from 13 countries. Ismail’s workshops mix football training sessions (especially important for Palestinian girls who do not usually play this sport) and preparations for the travel. Ismail is currently working in two camps: the camp of Al Aroub and Shufat refugee camp in East Jerusalem. Even if all the children of these groups will not leave France, they are all happy to participate. According to Ismail: “centers, I found very curious children and mature. They want to learn French and love looking at pictures of France. ” Navy for its part offers an animated shadow theater in the center of Al Aroub. With Palestinian children, it will work on the tale of the Little Match Girl, and create puppets and forms that will then be used behind a screen. With spotlights, shadows, music and lyrics will mingle to create a beautiful spectacle that should be offered to children and families in late July. Navy will also attend Yann, a professor of mathematics, photo enthusiast who will conduct a photography workshop in Al Aroub novel in which Palestinian children will be introduced to sources of photography by learning how to build a pinhole optical device allowing for easy get a camera derived from the camera obscura. Constance will join the team of volunteers to work on the communication. Finally, Sarah will come during the month of August for a theater workshop in which children draw on the films of Charlie Chaplin to create a unique piece.

What are the motivations of these young volunteers to come to Palestine, often described as an area full of danger? To Ismail: “I had heard of Palestine for years. I wanted to come to see for myself and speak knowledgeably. Three weeks is short but this is just the beginning.. ” Marine added: “For my internship, I wanted to choose a place where people have real needs while the refugee camps in Palestine were my priority. I suggested the theater as it is a great means of expression and the shadows can be used to break down language barriers. My primary objectives are to understand the situation and to testify. I send daily emails and photos. I also want to provide moments of pleasure to children, even if it’s a little bit, it’s already very good.. ” Ismail and Navy have both been hit by the situation upon arrival. According to Marine, “the first shock was the Bethlehem checkpoint, I was not expecting that to be at this point, it’s like coming into a big prison. Once with Ismail, we have not to award a checkpoint after having waited over two hours. ”

Despite the shock of arrival and to face the occupation, the two volunteers already in place have both stressed they had been touched by the hospitality of the Palestinians. “I received a warm welcome. What is striking is that despite the very difficult and oppressive, the Palestinians are very welcoming and very curious. I made friends very quickly in the camp. “Both are in families in the Aida refugee camp as part of a project that aims to support families with disabled children.

EJE warmly thank all those young people who make the trip to support the Palestinian children and the work of the association!

يسر ادارة ومدرسين واطفال مدرسة الامير الصغير دعوتكم لعيد المدرسة وذلك يوم الجمعة الموافق 24 حزيران 2011 الساعة العاشرة والنصف في مسرح مدرسة الفرير في بيت لحم

فاهلا وسهلا بكم

La direction, les enseignants et les enfants de l’école Le Petit Prince, seront honorés de votre participation

à la fête de l’école le vendredi 24 juin 2011 à 10h30 au Collège des Frères

The hall from the local committee in Al Aroub refugee camp was full of excitement and expectations on 08.06.2011. Around 100 Palestinians, the majority of them women, were eager to discover four short movies written by a group of 22 Palestinian women and 7 children, participants to the project “Children protection”.

The project had lasted for four months, from January to May 2011, and was organized by the Little Prince Center of Al Aroub refugee camp, with the support of the organization Children, Play and Education (EJE), Save the Children and UNRWA. Every week the participants met for four hours to share stories and think together how to educate and change their communities on sensitive issues with the aim of building a better society and protect their children. They choose to deal with four difficult but very important subjects: smoking, sexual abuses, early marriage and changes in the teenage. As some of these issues are very sensitive and even taboos, they chose to treat them in a creative way by using puppets and animation instead of real actors.

The training was led by the Director of the Little Prince Center, Samaheir Titti who, last year, followed a training in digital story telling organized by Voices beyond Walls and EJE. She was assisted by three other volunteers. As Samaheir put it: “This is a great success. For the first time, these women and children came together and found a common language and new way of communicating. They could express themselves and talked about very important subjects.”. Abeer, one of the participants, added. “This project helped to break the ice between me and my children. The puppets really help to pass the message.” For Layla, “using the puppets help us to overcome our shyness about talking with such sensitive issues such as early marriage and sexual abuses”. For many of these women, this was actually also the first time that they could make a project and many of them became new friends. As one of them pointed out: “before, I was not doing anything. After two strokes, I was staying at home and was sleeping all the time. With this project, I feel alive again.”

Some of them also pointed out that, if their husbands were reluctant at the beginning, they understood after a while the positive effects of the project and that it also helped to enhance communication between the wives and husbands.

It is only the beginning, after a successful screening in Al Aroub camp, the Little Prince center wants to present them in schools and other centers in Hebron area.

EJE was very pleased to support the efforts of the Little Prince Center in using new ways to raise awareness in the communities in order to enhance children protection. Furthermore, EJE has always worked for encouraging the parents in taking a more active role in the play and animation centers which, if they are still primary dedicated for the children, must play an active role in changing positively the attitudes inside the community as a whole.

Shireen and Bashir, specialized trainers of the association EJE led new training sessions on rule games from April 11 to May 5, 2011 in 7 new locations, all located in the Hebron governorate, in partnership with the NGO ActionAid.

The training aims at transferring skills in managing a space dedicated to rules games. 57 leaders took an active part in training.

Through this training which took place over three days in each locality, the 57 leaders (a majority of them were young Palestinian women teachers) were able to discover the importance of play for children and the role of rule games for the integration of social rules and learning respect for others. Owing to the training, they will now be able to receive children and adolescents in 7 new spaces created for this purpose.

During the evaluation of the training, the majority of participants said they appreciated the practical aspects that will be able to use directly with their youth groups. A teacher from Kharas declared that this training was the most beautiful training than she received during the 20 years of her career. Another teacher fromTuwani wants to ransmit the new knowledge acquired during the three days to her colleagues at her school. A facilitator of the village of Al Aroub Shioukh added that games can be used with different age groups and a mother was surprised to find so interesting educational games for children not found in the local market.

EJE thanks the NGO ActionAid for helping spreading such practices which contribute to the construction of more active generation and develop the curiosity and creativity of the Palestinian children.