Newsletter of February 2013

February Newsletter 2013.

School support project 2013

After a month of preparing of school support project, meeting parents to explain the project and its targets and goals, organizing the lists, numbers of kids and the classes

HSA has started the School Support Project in Nablus , giving classes in Arabic , Mathematics ,and English  , 3 days a week , with an attendance of more  than 60 kids from Nablus aged 7-9 years old .

Tutors started with breaking ice activities , and introducing themselves to the kids and the kids to each other , explaining the time table to the kids , and making an pre evaluation exam  for them.

HSA staff visit the Palestinian counseling center

Staff of School Support Project and the coordinator visited PCC to meet the specialist Ms. E’tedal AbuZina, to have a workshop about non formal education  ,and advices about some of teaching techniques .

Ms. E’tedal was very cooperative, she explained to the group about the educational materials and how to create it , and gave some examples of conditions that  we might face during the classes , and how to deal with it ,and use proper ways for that conditions.

Mothers meetings of the school support children .

We have invited the mothers of the school support children participants ,to discuss with them their children issues and the educational problems that they face ,as well to explain them the project and it goals and the work of HSA, then the psychologist sharehan abu Salah did some activities with them such as a psychological activity and entertainment, that made them enjoy the meeting and showing their interest toward the program, these women will be coming for the monthly meeting .  

First Aid of Human Supporters Unit

During February Many Protests and clashes Happened in Nablus against the occupation forces according to the situation of the prisoner who are in hunger strike , as Response of HSA about what going on we refreshed our First aid unit to serve and help those who are in need and provide them with medical and the human aid .

Palestinian red crescent children group visit .

A group of children from Palestinian red crescent – mental health program in North Jordan Valley visited HSA , and went to the old city of Nablus and to the Smartin village and to the public park and some activity were giving to them .

Sport activities at HSA .

After we created the youth football team ,we got the idea to establish a new children football team ,they already started their trainings and participate in one of the competitions .

As well the young football team continue his wining and development .

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BAFA training preparation .

Selection process started for 15 participant for the BAFA training in the 16 of March till the 21^st of March, HSA and CEMEA Staff will held this training in HSA in order to build the skills and the educational and social work methodology and to create animators.

The Palestinian children protection network meetings  

After HSA became a member in this network we started to attend the monthly meeting and discuss and participate in its activities , last meeting held in this month and the main subject were about the preparation for children day , labor of the children will be the goal of all the activates ,some conferences and workshops and Marches will be implemented ..

Preparation of receiving international Volunteers at HSA

A skype meeting addresses to some French volunteer who will come next month from our partner CEMEA organization in France  ,in order to explain them and discuss with them about what they are going to do during their volunteer work here and also to answer all their questions .

Newsletter of January 2013

Winter camp for 50 kids at HSA.

 

Winter camp planed in the beginning of January 2013,with a great enthusiastic volunteers committed to participate actively with us, the winter camp included arts ,sport, computer ,dance and outdoor activities, once kids finished the first semester exams, they were ready to use their time in useful activities ,in the end of the camp kids were very happy and we distributed some gifts and certificates to them.

School support Project preparation.

During this month the preparation period started, three  new teachers hired , the program addressed to 60 children from 8 to 10 years old and they will have three subjects Arabic, Math and English ,as usual the program will be after school time three days per week, HAS decided to continue implementing this kind of projects according to the needs ,also according to the many strikes in the government schools nowadays .

Women leadership project:

Early in January  a new project  Idea came out to see the light in HAS, so the preparation stage launched and all the materials needed provided ,this project will contain two parts ,one will be about the women skills and raising awareness and the second one will be like entertainment activities that they well learn about how do  some traditional food and western food and sweet and then ,we will create a sweet book as second part of our previous cook book .

Women workshops

A regular workshops still running by the psychologist sharehan abu Saleh , in this month two workshops addressed to the women and the main subject were about the metal health and problems at the families .

Luisa morgantini group visit HSA and Nablus .

In the first day of the year 2013 we welcomed  Italian group organized by Luisa Morgantini, the aim of the visit was to know the Palestinian situation under the occupation in the ground, they visited also the old city of Nablus and they got an explanation about what happened during the past period by the Israeli army and how the people suffered and effected ,then the group met the youth participants who went to Italy to participated in the project ‘’you’re Right’’ and discussed with them how is important this kind of the projects between Italian and Palestinian .

  

      

  Sabeel-tree delegation  from United States .

 21 Americans, students, teachers, journalists and retired professionals,

Visited Human Supporters Association in January, to learn of our activities, and to hear about HSA work, the recent developments and current challenges facing our community and to tour of the old city of Nablus, in the same time Dr.Saed abuhejleh gave them a great lecture about the Israeli occupation and the general situation in Palestine . 

  

December Newsletter, 2012.

December  Newsletter 2012

Balata school parliament students visit HSA .

During December  the participants of the students parliament at Balata school visited HSA ,in order to know it work and services and the activities , HSA stuff welcomed the students and their teachers at the center and gave a full explanation to them , students discussed with us about the possibility of how they can participate in our activities and projects, in the end of the visit the parliament students gave a thankful letter to HSA and they appreciate the welcoming and the cooperation .

Thankful day for human rights theater project stuff and volunteers

HSA organized a meeting for the human rights theater project stuff and volunteers, during the meeting we have evaluate the HRTP and viewing the activities pictures  and the children pictures during the implementation of HRTP, Then HSA’s charwoman and directors distributes the appreciation letters for them as way to thank all of them   for all their efforts and help that they provided during the project .

Opening the counseling room and rehabilitant of the center of HSA

During December HSA Opened a counseling room and provided with all materials needed and will be running by the psychologist of HSA , new services will be available like  Individual therapy  , as well HSA  did  some rehabilitation in the center in order to facilitate the work and giving a new look for the center and having more equipments ,and we would like to thank a lot the organization ‘’ PLANT ACTION’’ for this  great contribution .

Lab of computer

Lab of computer now moved to the main room of HSA, it will be available for children and volunteers and the visitors of HAS.

Painting Day at HSA .

During the end of December a painting day organized , more than 25 volunteers participated in this day ,the aim was to re-paint the walls of the center and enhancing the voluntary work among the volunteers , as well some of the HRTP children participated in the day in order to continue with them the activities after the HRTP ended,

NEW ‘’DABKA’’ Dance team .

An intensive training starts to the new dabka dance team in HSA  in order to build the skills of them in dancing dabka, this new team will have as well the ability to do a theater shows and music mixed with dance in the upcoming months, and we look forward for a new opportunities to help them to performs and  in the local community and abroad .

Other activities at HSA .

During December, the other activities are still running such as mental health workshops for women ,artistic workshops with the artistic young forum, football team competitions, as well the preparation for the winter camp.

November Newsletter

2012

Human Rights Theatre Project

During November the participants of the HRTP finalized their performances. A final ceremony was organized for children to celebrate the conclusion of the project and the success of their performances.  A short movie was organized by staff members and was displayed, in addition to other entertaining activities. The movie summarized the stages the participants went through and showed parts of their performances.

Artistic Workshops in Partnership with “Young Artists Forum (YAF)”

The sessions implemented during November aimed at providing the young artists with a platform to express themselves. The goal was to help them overcome their shyness and problems with exposure in front of others, improve their abilities, and encourage them to develop their artistic skills more.

HSA’s Football Team

After completing an English course for the team members in October, the team participated in local competitions and won first place. In addition, they continued their regular training schedule in preparation for other competitions against other local and national teams.

Mental health workshops for women

In partnership with PWWSD (Palestinian working women society for development), HSA organized and implemented workshops twice monthly for women between ages of 25-45. The workshops included various activities to increase awareness of mental health problems, which allowed all the participating women to express themselves and talk freely about their daily life issues.

October Newsletter 2012

October Newsletter

2012

Human Rights Theatre Project

During October HSA concluded the activities for the participants of the HRTP by implementing 4 theater performances in Salfeet, Asseera Al-Qebleyyah, Askar Refugee Camp, and Balata Refugee Camp. The shows targeted a total number of 300 attendees between the ages of 9 and 16 years. Each of the shows included performances of the plays that the participants wrote as well as other different activities such as poetry reading by a 5-year old girl, who is a beneficiary from another HSA project, Dabkeh performance by HSA Dabkeh band in cooperation with the local Dabkeh bands from the areas we visited, in addition to other entertaining activities. All the shows were concluded by a demonstration which was organized by HRTP participants who had prepared signs showing the 7 Human Rights focused upon during the project and were accompanied by poetry reading of Mahmoud Darwish’s famous poem “We have on this earth what makes life worth living”.

 

Artistic Workshops in Partnership with “Young Artists Forum (YAF)”

During October, the implementation of the Artistic workshops started. The participants have already finished two workshops that were held by Dr. Mohammad Saleh Khalil. The goal of these workshops is to enhance the capacities of the participants and encourage them to develop their artistic skills through receiving a professional painting training. The project is set to be concluded by organizing an exhibition that shows the work of the participants upon the ending of their training in February 2013.

English Course for HSA’s Football Team

HSA implemented an English course dedicated to the team members and was given by an international volunteer of the association. The course emphasized on basics of the language and conversational skills. In addition, the team members continue their regular training schedule in preparation for competitions against other local and national teams

Entertaining Day for the Children at the Kindergarten of the Evangelical Church

HSA’s staff and volunteers organized and implemented an entertaining day for the children at the church. The day included various group activities and games that enabled all the participating children to participate in the event. Also, the children enjoyed having their faces painted by our volunteers, and some refreshments were distributed in the end.

HSA is also hosting international volunteers and interns, who participate in our activities and help organize 

them, in addition to interns from the university who specialize in psychology and social studies. 

Other pictures from The HRTP Performances that took place during October:

September Newsletter 2012

September Newsletter

2012

Human Rights Theater Project

During September, and after not having enough rehearsals during August because of Ramadan, the participants of the HRTP felt the need to have more training sessions in order for them to perfectly show their plays. The project’s staff and volunteers implemented intensive training sessions for the participants, with help from the theater expert, Mr. Qais Awayes, who worked with the participants individually and in groups in order to get them ready for their upcoming schedule of performances.

The first show of the HRTP was implemented in cooperation with the Brotherhood Association in Tubas, who have arranged for HSA to use one of the schools within the city. The show addressed almost 350 children from Tubas area, between the ages of 9 and 13 years. It included 4 performances by the HRTP participants, poetry reading by a 5-year old girl, who is a beneficiary from another HSA project, 1 Dabkeh performance by HSA Dabkeh band and other entertaining activities. The show was concluded by a demonstration which was organized by HRTP participants who had prepared signs showing the 7 Human Rights focused upon during the project and were accompanied by poetry reading from Mahmoud Darwish poems, done by one of the participants themselves.

Other performances and events are scheduled to take place within the upcoming 2 weeks in Nablus, Tulkarem, Salfeet and Jenin.

 

"Promoting Children, Youth and Women Education and Psychosocial Wellbeing in Nablus (Old City)"

The preparations for beginning the third year of this project are ongoing. The staff of this project is actively planning for the upcoming activities that are provided with many educational means to help the children to cope within their environments and get better educational levels with high personal benefits.

 

“Young Leaders” Training Program

The implementation of this training program targeting youth continued during September. The participants received trainings on developing the use of body language and self-expression. The volunteers are also taking part in other activities implemented by HSA, such as the final events of the HRTP.

Partnership with “Young Artists Forum (YAF)”

During September, HSA signed a partnership agreement with YAF to co-implement a project called “An Open Drawing Studio for Young Artists” which aims at empowering young artists and art students from the university and developing their capacities through participating in 10 workshops concluded by an exhibition showing their art work and productions throughout the project.

HSA’s Football Team

During September, the team participated in a local competition against 5 other teams, and won 1^st place. Other competitions are being scheduled for the upcoming month on a broader scale, to include other national, and perhaps international, teams.

HSA is also hosting international volunteers and interns, who participate in our activities and help organize them, in addition to interns from the university who specialize in psychology and social studies. 

August Newsletter 2012

August Newsletter

2012

Administrative Changes of HSA

By the end of August, Wajdi Yaeesh, Director of HSA, volunteered to participate in an EVS program organized by CEMÉA, France. So HSA hired Mr. Ali Nobani to take his place as Director .

Human Rights Theatre project

It was a little hard for the children participating in the Human Rights Theater Project to perform during Ramadan, so they continued their rehearsals for their final performance. During an Iftar organized by the association for the unprivileged of Nablus, they presented one of their plays to over 120 people.

“Young Leaders” Training Program:

The implementation of this 2-month training program targeting youth continued during August. The participants received trainings on developing their communication and leadership skills, how to work within a team, and debating and listening skills. As an effort to support the environment; young volunteers initiated the idea of volunteering to clean the streets of Nablus before Al-Eid. A group of young volunteers and HSA staff members left together with bags, brooms and shovels and courageously cleaned several streets of Nablus.

Ramadan Charitable Iftars

For the last 9 nights of Ramadan, and with help from a generous donor and Attadamun Charitable Society, HSA offered Iftars (the meal to break the fasting) to more than 300 orphans of Nablus and their families. The Iftars were held in the courtyard of the association. For the last night of Ramadan, Iftar was served to 120 people in a local restaurant, Nablus. After eating, games and activities were organized with children and adults using hoops, face make up and music. Children were given school supplies as prizes.  For the largest dinner, the Human Right Theater Project participants presented one of their plays.

  

International delegations

Several international delegations visited Human Supporters Association, including Spanish and Italian groups.  They were taken as usual on tours of Nablus old city showing how it suffered since the 2002 invasion, and were also taken to The Balata refugee camp.  During their visit, they attended a conference on the importance and difficulty of preserving the history of the Palestinian people, given by Ala’ Abu Dheir, former Public Relations Officer of the An-Najah National University.

Spanish and French lessons

French lessons covering both beginners and intermediate levels continued. In addition, a Spanish volunteer implemented a beginner’s Spanish class this month. Students were starting to learn Spanish, and teaching new Arabic words to their teacher in return.

HSA’s Football Team

This month the football team was re-boosted. The team received funding to get new equipment, while the team started training again. Friendly competitions are being organized with teams from others cities and the team members are hoping to have broader competitions with other national or international teams.