Thursday, April 14, 2011

New UNRWA Program in Gaza


I’m reaching out to concerned bloggers like you in hopes that you’ll help me spread the word about the new Adopt a School program in Gaza, created by the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNRWA). UNRWA provides education, healthcare, social services, and job training to 4.8 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.

Each day thousands of Gazan children are forced to miss school so that they can provide for their families by working menial jobs in the streets. The Adopt a School program was created to give families incentives to keep their children in school and to increase the access Gazan children have to quality primary education. Adopt a School covers the cost of school supplies, especially meals, that Gazan families would otherwise be unable to afford, equips schools with sports equipment and recreational items, and provides programs for all students including those with learning and physical disabilities. The program also provides funds to administer psychological and remedial support for students in need, and funds for desperately needed human rights promotion and health education courses. More information about Adopt a School can be found on our website www.afu-adoptaschool.org.

In support of this new UNRWA program, American Friends of UNRWA (AFU) and its partners have adopted the Beach Elementary Co-ed School near Gaza City. Beach School serves a total of 1,262 elementary students in grades 1-4. Most of those students come from Beach Camp, located in the northern part of Gaza City.

I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge the work of one of our partners: Arab-American artist Kinda Hibrawi. A passionate supporter of humanitarian efforts for Palestinian refugees, Kinda is donating 25% of the online sales from her exclusive Arabic calligraphy t-shirt line to Adopt a School.

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This press release is reprinted by Alanna Shaikh out of an obscure sense of guilt. It does not represent the opinions of Alanna Shaikh or any of her employers.

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