Dear Abed and Stephen,
I commend your comments about women! Thank you for being allies in creating a world where women and girls have equal rights and can be whoever and whatever they wish to be.
Abed, your work and life are as inspiring as always. What I like most is that the sports and dance work stems from conversations with the mothers themselves. I wanted to let you know that the following link lists charitable organizations that work in your region. http://www.wrmea.com/charorganizations/index.htm the ones with a ($) sign are funding agencies. Good luck and hope to see you soon.
Astrid Aafjes
Women Win
The concept of women empowerment has been something that has bordering my life for the past five years.
I don't see the reason why are not given that chance to exercise their Gods given talent, I don't understand why women are always been discouraged in society.
I strongly believe women are equal important as men and therefore they must be treated equally in society.
Women should be given the chance to contest all levels of elections and also participate in all decision making processes.
It is until recently that women are being recognize to challenge men for positions, at first when one sees a woman contesting a post with a man what people say is that why should a woman challenge a woman instead of going to the kitchen to cook for the family.
We are in the twenty first century and all these ill ideas are over
Women are capable of handling positions as men in all sectors both the private and public sectors
Time is now to allow our women to take the mantle and set new agenda, agenda for prosperity, unity, wealth creation and many more.
It is of these reasons that is why Ghana Business Consult, a non Governmental organization is devoting much time to make sure that this dream come into stay.
Stephen fosu
Executive Director
Ghana Business Consult
Thank you Stephen for your comments. I guess we share common ideas about the need to make visble what is really clear for most of us, but still little is done to maje it visible... and that was the main purpose of Alrowwad efforts to create possibilities and open doors where women could find space for expression and freedom away from the stereotypes portrayed about the role of the woman, and its inferiority compared to men. In the Palestinian community, and during these hard years, women have demonstrated extraordinary initiative and power and ability to manage stress and take the lead in some places and take over the role of their missing or emrpisonned husband or parent. The road however seem still long to really see equality, and our ope is that such efforts make the distance and the time shorter.
Thank you kindly for your contribution.
Abed
Hi Abdel Fattah!
Happy New Year to you! Here is wishing for a more peaceful future! I wanted to point you toward an entry that I thought may be of interest....its a bit activist, but I thought there might be relevance to your situation albeit a lot more extreme: http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/4058
I hope you are well and look forward to/ hope to see you soon!
All the best,
Ziba
Thank you Ziba for the comment and the link and you wishes.
We have been actually trying to transform a space left behind after the building of Israeli apartheid wall on the border of the camp, which became a garbage area, representing a health and environmental danger for the community, and morespecifically the children playing in this only little space. However, we have been facing some challenges to pay a rent for this left space if we want to clean it and build a playground and external theatre and public garden on it. I guess our main trouble is that there are non public land around or in Aida camp, so the main challenge is to find the necessary funding to buy the space.
It is always recomforting to read about efforts of such extraordinary people to keep the public services and lands alive for all.
Wish you all a beautiful, healthy, wealthy and worthy new year.
Looking forward to see you
Much love
Abed
Hi Abed
Congratulations on your entry. It was so lovely to meet you in Casablanca and see the videos and photos of your work. I am so very impressed by the courage it takes to teach children to respond as young artists and intellectuals and keepers of the cultural flame in such difficult and depressing circumstances.
I also wanted to suggest a contact in that I am now doing work with the paralympic committee in Palestine and they are well organised and very proactive. Perhaps there would also be a chance for you to cooperate with them for some of your intergrative activities. If you are interested let me know and I will pass it on to you.
All the best from Berlin!
Hope to see you soon. Stay safe.
Heather Cameron
Free University Berlin
University Challenge
hi Heather,
good to hear from you. It was a great experience meeting you all and working as well in participatory video workshop together.
I am surely interested by your proposal and looking forward to hear more about it.
thank you kindly. wish you a merry Christmas and happy new year
Kevin Carroll
Changemakers Featured Commentator
Sport for a Better World Competition
Beautiful Change
This initiative is a wonderful way to empower young ladies and provide alternative ways to promote the power of sport and play with the Alrowwad Cultural and Theatre Training center. The idea of creating play destinations within the refugee camp, in the west bank of Palestine, for a target group that has limited offerings to participate in physical activity would positively impact their lives in many ways and the community's viewpoint/opinion of the value of physical activity for these girls and young women.
Abdelfattah, have you ever heard of the organization, Architecture For Humanity? Its a fantastic organization that could actually find a way to assist in getting your center and playgrounds built - www.architectureforhumanity.org
Architecture for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1999 , by Cameron Sinclair, to promote architectural and design solutions to global, social and humanitarian crises. Through competitions, workshops, educational forums, partnerships with aid organizations and other activities, Architecture for Humanity (AFH) creates opportunities for architects and designers from around the world to help communities in need. AFH believes that where resources and expertise are scarce, innovative, sustainable and collaborative design can make a difference.
I've personally worked on a project with Cameron to build a football pitch/clubhouse for girls in Africa and I know that his work is exemplary, well thought out, and remarkable. He could potentially provide a starting point to discuss ways to get your project supported. Reaching out to him may prove fruitful.
Thank you Kevin for your comments on the impact of Alrowwad work. I didn't hear previously about Architectures for Humanity, and I will look at their website. It looks like a good opportunity.
I have tried some discussions with Nike, and hoped that they will be able to help as well through the technology they have with "Turf" play grounds, made of recycled sports' shoes. Though what I have understood from Nike people that this is yoo expensive and not easy, I hope still that they will take in consideration Alrowwad initiative and the possibility to help in that.
I will get in contact with Cameron. Could I mention your name?
Thank you kindly for your comments
Kevin Carroll
Changemakers Featured Commentator
Sport for a Better World Competition
Abdelfattah, you should most definitely mention my name with Cameron Sinclair. He is a wonderful thinker and problem-solver so, he may have some great suggestions for your effort as well.
all the best & keep doing this BIGm meaningful work...
Hi Kevin
Thank you for your support. I did write to Cameron, and hope he can be helpful. I didn't receive any response yet from his part.
Thanks again
Kindly
Abdelfattah
Kevin Carroll
Changemakers Featured Commentator
Sport for a Better World Competition
Abdelfattah, please keep me posted on your progress with Architecture for Humanity and let me know if I can be of any help in facilitating the connection too. all the best...
Mr. Hani Qattan submitted the entry, "PACES: Step Away From Potential Extremism." Mr. Qattan is also working on Sports for social change in Palestine. His email is hani@pacescharity.org. We hope that you will get in touch!
Hi Dana
Thank you for your follow up. Hani wrote me and we hope we will be able to see each other once he is back to visit Palestine.
Thanks again
Abed
Thank you for sharing your program. In what ways does your dance program emerge, intersect and benefit from both the sports for social change arena as well as the arts for social change movement? How do you see the overlap and the parallels in and between sport and the arts?
Thank you again, and I will look forward to hearing from you.
Kindest regards,
Eli
Eli A. Wolff
Manager, Research & Advocacy
Center for the Study of Sport in Society
Northeastern University
e.wolff@neu.edu
Hi Eli,
Thank you for your comments. I look at dance as part of sports as well as part of the arts. It has the beauty, grace, energy and physical power that is in both fields. As such we do work with dance as a sport and as an art: Sports by the exercises and physical energy that allow women and girls to release all this pressure and stress accumulating within them, and art with the freedom and grace of movements and enjoyment that it delivers to them. This is coupled with awarness programs on health issues, violence, psychological and social guidance and follow up as well as family issues.
Both, arts and sports, are motors of change within the community, if we develop them within the spirit of change and impact we want to create, and not just a way to spend time. Sports and arts require committment, descipline and engage a spirit of team work and collaborative effort to make things happen and to reflect this spirit of beauty. It is with this spirit that I try to carry out this change.
I hope that answers your questions.
Kindly
Abdelfattah
With the camps operating under such precarious situations, I commend you on your work in helping an even more marginalized group in the camps. With such a limited potential for income generation, have you pursued partnerships with UNHCR, UNICEF or UNIFEM? I would also like to know how far along the project of building the gym floor has come. Are you still in the planning stages or fundraising stages?
Thank you in advance for your response.
Best,
Tyler Ahn
Changemakers
Dear Tyler
Thank you kindly for your comments. We have tried to have some work with UNRWA, and UNICEF, but without much success in this issue. We have done plans and we presented proposals for fundraising. but some responded that they don't work in the refugee camps because they are the responsibility of the UNRWA, and some apologized for not funding building, and we are still waiting for 2 responses from other funders. Ouraim is to build 2 floors, one for women to include the Gym/Dance space, and a computer center, and another for video/audio recording and editing unit, and a space for art workshops with children. We are hopeful that would interest some funders.
You mention that one of the main barriers to the financial sustainability of your innovation is the high rate of unemployment (> 70% in the camp). Is there any way that "Sports for Beautiful Change" could incorporate some kind of job training or employment opportunities?
Please let me know your thoughts.
Dana Frasz
Changemakers
Dear Dana
Thank you for your comment. One of the issues is that we have some graduates who finished Bsc in Sports, and are without work. In addition, if we manage to build the new floor and the playgrounds, this would provide job opportunities for a large number of people in the construction work to start with, as well as maintenance and as trainers. This would also be an opportunity, once we have an adequate sports center, to train trainers, mainly women to spread the idea in other refugee camps and villages, where most of women are deprived from sports facilities. Once infrastructure is available, opportunities for job creation will increase.
Dear Abed and Stephen,
I commend your comments about women! Thank you for being allies in creating a world where women and girls have equal rights and can be whoever and whatever they wish to be.
Abed, your work and life are as inspiring as always. What I like most is that the sports and dance work stems from conversations with the mothers themselves. I wanted to let you know that the following link lists charitable organizations that work in your region. http://www.wrmea.com/charorganizations/index.htm the ones with a ($) sign are funding agencies. Good luck and hope to see you soon.
Astrid Aafjes
Women Win
www.womenwin.org
The concept of women empowerment has been something that has bordering my life for the past five years.
I don't see the reason why are not given that chance to exercise their Gods given talent, I don't understand why women are always been discouraged in society.
I strongly believe women are equal important as men and therefore they must be treated equally in society.
Women should be given the chance to contest all levels of elections and also participate in all decision making processes.
It is until recently that women are being recognize to challenge men for positions, at first when one sees a woman contesting a post with a man what people say is that why should a woman challenge a woman instead of going to the kitchen to cook for the family.
We are in the twenty first century and all these ill ideas are over
Women are capable of handling positions as men in all sectors both the private and public sectors
Time is now to allow our women to take the mantle and set new agenda, agenda for prosperity, unity, wealth creation and many more.
It is of these reasons that is why Ghana Business Consult, a non Governmental organization is devoting much time to make sure that this dream come into stay.
Stephen fosu
Executive Director
Ghana Business Consult
Thank you Stephen for your comments. I guess we share common ideas about the need to make visble what is really clear for most of us, but still little is done to maje it visible... and that was the main purpose of Alrowwad efforts to create possibilities and open doors where women could find space for expression and freedom away from the stereotypes portrayed about the role of the woman, and its inferiority compared to men. In the Palestinian community, and during these hard years, women have demonstrated extraordinary initiative and power and ability to manage stress and take the lead in some places and take over the role of their missing or emrpisonned husband or parent. The road however seem still long to really see equality, and our ope is that such efforts make the distance and the time shorter.
Thank you kindly for your contribution.
Abed
Hi Abdel Fattah!
Happy New Year to you! Here is wishing for a more peaceful future! I wanted to point you toward an entry that I thought may be of interest....its a bit activist, but I thought there might be relevance to your situation albeit a lot more extreme: http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/4058
I hope you are well and look forward to/ hope to see you soon!
All the best,
Ziba
Thank you Ziba for the comment and the link and you wishes.
We have been actually trying to transform a space left behind after the building of Israeli apartheid wall on the border of the camp, which became a garbage area, representing a health and environmental danger for the community, and morespecifically the children playing in this only little space. However, we have been facing some challenges to pay a rent for this left space if we want to clean it and build a playground and external theatre and public garden on it. I guess our main trouble is that there are non public land around or in Aida camp, so the main challenge is to find the necessary funding to buy the space.
It is always recomforting to read about efforts of such extraordinary people to keep the public services and lands alive for all.
Wish you all a beautiful, healthy, wealthy and worthy new year.
Looking forward to see you
Much love
Abed
Hi Abed
Congratulations on your entry. It was so lovely to meet you in Casablanca and see the videos and photos of your work. I am so very impressed by the courage it takes to teach children to respond as young artists and intellectuals and keepers of the cultural flame in such difficult and depressing circumstances.
I also wanted to suggest a contact in that I am now doing work with the paralympic committee in Palestine and they are well organised and very proactive. Perhaps there would also be a chance for you to cooperate with them for some of your intergrative activities. If you are interested let me know and I will pass it on to you.
All the best from Berlin!
Hope to see you soon. Stay safe.
Heather Cameron
Free University Berlin
University Challenge
hi Heather,
good to hear from you. It was a great experience meeting you all and working as well in participatory video workshop together.
I am surely interested by your proposal and looking forward to hear more about it.
thank you kindly. wish you a merry Christmas and happy new year
Abed
Kevin Carroll
Changemakers Featured Commentator
Sport for a Better World Competition
Beautiful Change
This initiative is a wonderful way to empower young ladies and provide alternative ways to promote the power of sport and play with the Alrowwad Cultural and Theatre Training center. The idea of creating play destinations within the refugee camp, in the west bank of Palestine, for a target group that has limited offerings to participate in physical activity would positively impact their lives in many ways and the community's viewpoint/opinion of the value of physical activity for these girls and young women.
Abdelfattah, have you ever heard of the organization, Architecture For Humanity? Its a fantastic organization that could actually find a way to assist in getting your center and playgrounds built - www.architectureforhumanity.org
Architecture for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1999 , by Cameron Sinclair, to promote architectural and design solutions to global, social and humanitarian crises. Through competitions, workshops, educational forums, partnerships with aid organizations and other activities, Architecture for Humanity (AFH) creates opportunities for architects and designers from around the world to help communities in need. AFH believes that where resources and expertise are scarce, innovative, sustainable and collaborative design can make a difference.
I've personally worked on a project with Cameron to build a football pitch/clubhouse for girls in Africa and I know that his work is exemplary, well thought out, and remarkable. He could potentially provide a starting point to discuss ways to get your project supported. Reaching out to him may prove fruitful.
Great proposal with BIG impact potential.
Thank you Kevin for your comments on the impact of Alrowwad work. I didn't hear previously about Architectures for Humanity, and I will look at their website. It looks like a good opportunity.
I have tried some discussions with Nike, and hoped that they will be able to help as well through the technology they have with "Turf" play grounds, made of recycled sports' shoes. Though what I have understood from Nike people that this is yoo expensive and not easy, I hope still that they will take in consideration Alrowwad initiative and the possibility to help in that.
I will get in contact with Cameron. Could I mention your name?
Thank you kindly for your comments
Abdelfattah
Kevin Carroll
Changemakers Featured Commentator
Sport for a Better World Competition
Abdelfattah, you should most definitely mention my name with Cameron Sinclair. He is a wonderful thinker and problem-solver so, he may have some great suggestions for your effort as well.
all the best & keep doing this BIGm meaningful work...
Hi Kevin
Thank you for your support. I did write to Cameron, and hope he can be helpful. I didn't receive any response yet from his part.
Thanks again
Kindly
Abdelfattah
Kevin Carroll
Changemakers Featured Commentator
Sport for a Better World Competition
Abdelfattah, please keep me posted on your progress with Architecture for Humanity and let me know if I can be of any help in facilitating the connection too. all the best...
Mr. Hani Qattan submitted the entry, "PACES: Step Away From Potential Extremism." Mr. Qattan is also working on Sports for social change in Palestine. His email is hani@pacescharity.org. We hope that you will get in touch!
Hi Dana
Thank you for your follow up. Hani wrote me and we hope we will be able to see each other once he is back to visit Palestine.
Thanks again
Abed
Thank you for sharing your program. In what ways does your dance program emerge, intersect and benefit from both the sports for social change arena as well as the arts for social change movement? How do you see the overlap and the parallels in and between sport and the arts?
Thank you again, and I will look forward to hearing from you.
Kindest regards,
Eli
Eli A. Wolff
Manager, Research & Advocacy
Center for the Study of Sport in Society
Northeastern University
e.wolff@neu.edu
Hi Eli,
Thank you for your comments. I look at dance as part of sports as well as part of the arts. It has the beauty, grace, energy and physical power that is in both fields. As such we do work with dance as a sport and as an art: Sports by the exercises and physical energy that allow women and girls to release all this pressure and stress accumulating within them, and art with the freedom and grace of movements and enjoyment that it delivers to them. This is coupled with awarness programs on health issues, violence, psychological and social guidance and follow up as well as family issues.
Both, arts and sports, are motors of change within the community, if we develop them within the spirit of change and impact we want to create, and not just a way to spend time. Sports and arts require committment, descipline and engage a spirit of team work and collaborative effort to make things happen and to reflect this spirit of beauty. It is with this spirit that I try to carry out this change.
I hope that answers your questions.
Kindly
Abdelfattah
With the camps operating under such precarious situations, I commend you on your work in helping an even more marginalized group in the camps. With such a limited potential for income generation, have you pursued partnerships with UNHCR, UNICEF or UNIFEM? I would also like to know how far along the project of building the gym floor has come. Are you still in the planning stages or fundraising stages?
Thank you in advance for your response.
Best,
Tyler Ahn
Changemakers
Dear Tyler
Thank you kindly for your comments. We have tried to have some work with UNRWA, and UNICEF, but without much success in this issue. We have done plans and we presented proposals for fundraising. but some responded that they don't work in the refugee camps because they are the responsibility of the UNRWA, and some apologized for not funding building, and we are still waiting for 2 responses from other funders. Ouraim is to build 2 floors, one for women to include the Gym/Dance space, and a computer center, and another for video/audio recording and editing unit, and a space for art workshops with children. We are hopeful that would interest some funders.
Hello Mr. Abusrour,
You mention that one of the main barriers to the financial sustainability of your innovation is the high rate of unemployment (> 70% in the camp). Is there any way that "Sports for Beautiful Change" could incorporate some kind of job training or employment opportunities?
Please let me know your thoughts.
Dana Frasz
Changemakers
Dear Dana
Thank you for your comment. One of the issues is that we have some graduates who finished Bsc in Sports, and are without work. In addition, if we manage to build the new floor and the playgrounds, this would provide job opportunities for a large number of people in the construction work to start with, as well as maintenance and as trainers. This would also be an opportunity, once we have an adequate sports center, to train trainers, mainly women to spread the idea in other refugee camps and villages, where most of women are deprived from sports facilities. Once infrastructure is available, opportunities for job creation will increase.