Thursday, June 6, 2013

Refugee Camp -Alrowwad Center


Relief Agency

The general plight of Palestinian refugees is unbelievable bad.   Starting in 1948, hundreds of thousands have fled to other nations and to places within the country their own country.  Because of the dire circumstances the United Nations has set up an agency, United Nations Relief and Works Agency.  Although doing a lot of work, it too has suffered budget problems that have been passed on to the refugees.  Please check out www.unrwa.org for the specific details.

Al Rowwad

Our team from Bethlehem is serving in the near by refugee camps. 

 During a recent visit to one of the three centers, Alrowwad,  we found an amazing organization directed by Dr Abdelfattah Abusrour.  His parents were some of the first residents in the camp, he grew up here, his vision of the future has created Alrowwad, a center that focused on what he calls, “beautiful resistance.”
In the initial stages it was a place where children could act out their responses to the trauma stored in their hearts and minds.  Telling their story in theater.  It became a first place for a women’s gym where women could get out and “play together.”  Many positive changes have happened.


There is a center for children to visit and learn.  In addition, a mobile game van travels to outside visits villages and provides play opportunities in nearby villages.











Training opportunities are giving on computers, Photography and video creation.  Also sewing skills.















A sound booth was being built the day we visited.







A wonder theater space in the basement where productions are put on for the community.   Also,  groups of performers trained here have traveled internationally telling their story




We felt the inspiration toward “Beautiful Resistance” to the evil in the world.

We hear the news that comes from this Refugee Camp.  There are many nightly incursions in this camp.  The army comes in and pulls Palestinians out of their beds and spread terror throughout the camp.  Last week live bullets were used and one teenager is now hospitalized.  During one visit, the night previous there had been tear gas shot into the camp for no apparent reason.  

When we heard the talk from the group “Breaking the Silence, www.breakingthesilence.org.   We were told that these are policies and tactics of the army.  At times the army uses these in refugee camps against Palestinians just as training exercises.

Out of all this darkness, seeing the positive good flowing from Dr Adbelfattah Abusrour’s dream can be light in the darkness for each of us.  From their web site, www.alrowwad-acts.ps  you can connect with the Friends of Alrowwad-USA. 


Palestinian Loss of Land

Those of you who have seen my display board are familiar with the content of this poster.  It shows the loss of Palestinian land since 1948.

Praying for a JUST peace in the Middle East is urgent!