Corrie Foundation seeks funds to support Gaza children
The Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice is proudly partnering with the Madison-Rafah Sister City Project (MRSCP) and the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA) for the third time to fund the Samira Project: Academic and Psychological Support for Gaza Kids in Rafah.
Organized by the Rafah branch of the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC), this project supports 180 economically disadvantaged and learning-disabled children age six to twelve, and their families, in Gaza who lack access to appropriate educational programs and psychological support.
This project, conducted from February 1 to June 7, 2018, costs just over $14,000 and RCF has committed to providing $2,000 in funding support-but we need your help!
Since 2007, Israel has enforced a land, sea and air military siege on the people of the Gaza Strip. This blockade has negative impacts on many aspects of daily life, including early childhood development and education. Following repeated full-scale assaults on the Gaza Strip especially in 2008-2009, 2011 and 2014, along with severe restriction on imports, many schools remain damaged by war and repairs are still needed.
As a result of limited construction on school buildings, more than 94% of schools operate on a double-shift basis hosting one group of students in the morning and another group in the afternoon. Because of the implicit violence and systematic disruptions to the education system, the educational access and developmental needs of many children are tremendously downgraded. The children of Gaza deserve much better.
The objectives of the Samira Project are:
- Developing children’s skills in reading, writing, and mathematics, increasing their ability to learn.
- Supporting children psychologically and socially to rebuild their confidence.
- Attending to learning disabilities and working with children to reduce violent and disruptive behavior.
- Training families to better support their children with learning disabilities.
- Creating job opportunities for qualified professionals (special education teachers and a social worker) in this field.
The project employs special education teachers and a social worker to provide the psycho-social support to those children. Included is a photo of the 17 teachers, 2 psychologists, 1 activities coach and the project coordinator that went through 3 days of training (Feb 2018) which included learning how to assess the behavioral problems of children and how to deal with those behaviors; time management and preparing of academic plan and reports; and active learning and educational games. Through field trips, a children’s library, and activities such as theater, music, art, and reading, the staff has created a safe space for these children to meet the project objectives.
How will your funds help?
- $60 will pay for snacks for students for one month.
- $100 will buy art and paper supplies for one month.
- $120 will employ an activity coach (at 60%) for one month.
- $250 will employ 8 teachers for one month of the project.
- $300 will employ a Social Worker for one month of the project.
- $315 will pay for a Psychology trainer for 15 hours.
- $600 will pay for 180 students to take one recreational trip.
Will you help us provide $2,000 to fully fund this project?
Click the “Donate” Button below and select “Gaza Projects”.
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.
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Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
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His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
Follow RayHanania at Twitter
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