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| Home |
Projects
and Activities
|
Al-Rowwad
Center is an independent, non political and non governmental association
in the camp, within its limited means tries hard to organize developmental
activities and programs for children to develop the capacities
of children, promote creativity and imagination, and provide them
with safe and healthy environment.
A group of
independent volunteers from Aida camp, committed to help children
over come the recent repercussions and promote human rights are
leading this major endeavor. Al-Rowwad is the locomotive of change
within the local community. Al-Rowwad promotes the collaboration
and institutionalization of various projects and activities to
create local development. Recently, Al-Rowwad joined efforts with
Aida Popular Committee in implementing community development projects
and employment generation funded by UNRWA and UNDP totaling US$230,000.
Recently, and over last 10 months, Al-Rowwad intensified its efforts to organize a variety of activities for children. The objective has been to take them out of the current violent situation and to create an enabling environment to deflect their stress and be able to continue leading a "normal decent" life. It organized:
1. Fun days (in collaboration with Bethlehem Peace center, hosted Clowns without Borders-Spain)
2. Cultural activities including Video Projections in schools, Theatre plays performances in schools and other activities in the center, in collaboration with the UNRWA Emergency Program (6600 US$).
3. Animation-Cartoon Film Making workshops (in collaboration with Theatre Day Productions),
4. English language courses (in collaboration with Badil Center),
5. Art and crafts workshops (in collaboration with local artists), which included exhibition of works after each workshop, and the like. Other workshops are currently or soon be running supported by UNRWA, Badil Center and the Deutsch Representative Office-Ramallah including workshops of drawing, painting, mosaics.
6. Medical assistance days for the people in the camp, in collaboration with medical relief and agricultural relief and Aida popular committee.
7. Computer training. Establishment of a computer center " under development " to increase the number of computers and connection to Internet to permit the children to connect with other children around the world.
8. Establishment of a public library for children in the center. Some furniture (shelves, chairs and tables) and about 200 books were purchased until now for this project. We are projecting for the purchase of 20,000 books at least.
9. For the year 2002, the largest project: External historical museum retracing the history of Palestine since the Canannites till nowadays, in painting, in collaboration with UNDP.
Most importantly, it initiated a theatre activity, which would bring boys and girls together and through well-designed theatrical activities, help them to discharge their tension and reduce their anger. The activity has attracted more than 150 children from Aida, and Al'Azza refugee camps, and is receiving growing appreciation by the local community as well. The center has produced 2 plays. The first play "We are the Children of the Camp" has been performed in Sweden and Denmark over 3 weeks in August 2000, then in Palestine. The second play, the "Judgment" have been performed in September 2001 in Bethlehem, on the occasion of Sabra and Chatilla massacres. Currently working on a third play adapted from the folktales. The group has participated in most cultural and solidarity manifestations in the region.
Al-Rowwad now is preparing for one of the hugest projects: A painted external museum, on a wall of around 1000 meters square. The wall of the Jasser-Intercontinental Hotel-Bethlehem. In Addition, decoration of the camp's streets will also be an important project for local artists and children to encourage self-expression of both young artists and talented children and make the streets of the camp more beautiful and colorful. We shall continue to search for funds, in order to continue providing the children with such activities and workshops.
ACTIVITIES
Al-Rowwad
Center began its' activities by the creation of a theatre group
where children are the main actors. It also organized several
workshops on theatre training, drawing and painting, built up
a nucleus of a library and a computer center. It intends to further
develop its' activities so that it keeps the spirit of independence
and being always waiting for a donation from here and there.
For this reason it requires funding not only for activities but
also for equipment necessary to make these activities and continue
making them all the time without been obliged always to rent them.
Through the activities of this project, it is hoped to contribute to a healthy psychosocial development of the children of Aida camp and the vicinity.
Al-Rowwad
Theatre aims to help the children of the camp, to get in contact
with the world, to go beyond the camp and the city and the country…
To get in contact with other children in Arab and foreign countries,
to share with them the experience of being a child, and being
some how different.
The project's beneficiaries are both female and male children
in the age group of 6-18 years old. It is expected to carry out
three months workshops for 15-20 children per workshop. Local
artists/trainers will be mobilized to conduct workshops and supervise
children's work. The schools shall be encouraged to provide interested
children and teachers to participate in these workshops. Schoolteachers
shall be involved at the beginning of the project to strengthen
the ties with schools and develop the spirit of collective work
and collaboration.
The project involves the purchase of equipment and materials for
workshops as well as permanent equipment for the center and a
movable theatre, thus reducing the costs of renting these equipment.
The materials to be purchased include light projectors, mixers,
audio system, video camera and video projector (used in performances
as will as for recording and documenting the activities), movable
stage for performances in the region and outside the region (since
most places have no stage). For publications and brochures, and
for the library, a photocopier is necessary. It is also required
to buy specialized books in body, voice expressions, drama for
children and plays, as well as other books including novels, art
books, general knowledge books, and stories in arabic and english.
Some new furniture shall be needed for storage of accessories,
costumes, books… etc. Other accessories such as tissue for
costumes, makeup, masks…etc are very important. It also requires
fees for some participating trainers and supervisors.
The purchase of these equipment and materials shall be done through
the standard procedures governing local procurement.
The project requires funds for the first 3 years after which the
theatre shall be financing itself from it's activities, as will
as from donations of the local community and friends.
OUTPUTS:
1. Children
will be introduced to a safe environment for a healthy child emotional
and cognitive development, and distract them from violence and
outside violent environment;
2. Children will be helped to develop self-esteem, human rights
as well as stable and mature behavior and personalities,
3. Children would be encouraged to develop healthy practices;
dialogue, participation, teamwork and acceptance of others; and
acceptance of disabled children into their community is enhanced.
4. Children will be introduced to the world of theatre and art
and using them as means of self expression, development and building
up of their characters.
5. Focus will be on themes that touch children, children and human
rights, community, and environment.
6. Create a cultural and theatre training center will enrich the
experience and cultural exchange of children and this shall not
be limited to the time of the workshops or activities.
