Happy 10 year anniversary Camden

Yesterday we celebrated 10 years of Camden and Abu Dis twinning links. We held an event at Al Quds university. The celebration included speeches from Abed, Matt, one of the EVS volunteers, and people involved in previous CADFA’s visits. We also had an incredible dabkeh performance and we showed some short films made by volunteers. Best wishes for the next 10 years of CADFA! We hope they will be even more successful then the first decade.

Some links to the animation films made by our volunteers:

'I want to watch the football match' - made by the local volunteers at Dar Assadaqa  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FShmlevIBo4

'A day in my life' - animation film made during the last women's visit (March 2013) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLzRje1lHas

'Memories' - made during the students' visit last June (2013)  http://vimeo.com/69698688

A successful day at the centre

A very good day at the centre, many kids came for the classes and we had lots of fun! Some pictures from today:

- English club: Today we welcomed Robert, the new EVS volunteer from London. First day for him at Dar Assadaqa!

- Art class: Following from last week, we carved drawings on wood!

 - Gardening: we planted onions, spinach, parsley, and beans! Notice Ehab watering the seeds with a teapot! The kids loved it and joked about the plants being 'British' and needing tea instead of water!

- Cooking: after writing down the recipe, we made Muhallabiya, a delicious dessert to be eaten hot or cold (hopefully to be included in CADFA's Palestinian recipe book, to be printed soon!!)

Cooking was followed by drama (which seems to be getting more popular day by day!) and dabkeh (preparing for a show for next week's celebration of CADFA's opening).

And finally, our 'new' kitchen cupboard!

Clashes near Dar Assadaqa!

Clashes today in Abu Dis. Students from the Abu Dis Boys School were sent home early as Israeli soldiers were throwing tear gas inside the school. The army surrounded the school and later the university (which has been closed for the day as well) and the sound of live ammunition, tear gas and sound bombs could be heard all around Abu Dis. 40 people were injured.

Here are some pictures. Unfortunately, this didn't just happen today, but happens repeatedly in Abu Dis.

http://www.imcpal.ps/news/?p=35741

An article in English about what happened today:
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=648111

*** PETITION: Call for the right to study WITHOUT violence!! Tell the UK government to take action!! http://www.petitions24.com/stop_shooting_students 

Arts and drama

Art lesson: The boys today started working on wood carving, following the example of the horse below. Here is some work in progress:

Drama lesson: first lesson with our new drama teacher: lots of fun, rapping, and ice-breaking activities!

Happy team at Dar Assadaqa

Some of the many volunteers at Dar Assadaqa, who are giving their time to make every day as fun and creative as possible at the centre! Come and join us!

Cupcakes for everybody

Weekly cooking lesson with Najah - Today's recipe: Cinnamon cupcakes with nuts. Yummy!

Very quick to make and best enjoyed with some (Palestinian) tea!

Looking greener!

Dar Assadaqa is looking greener! Yesterday, during the weekly gardening class with Ehab, the kids planted some new cactus and flowers in the yard. We hope to see a beautiful, greener garden soon!

 

 

QUAKER GROUP from Britain visits Dar Assadaqa

A group from Quaker Voluntary Action, in Britain, visited Dar Assadaqa today, where they had a tour and a meeting to learn about the centre, about CADFA’s twinning projects, and about the situation of people living in Abu Dis. They had a chat with the British and local volunteers over a cup of (Palestinian) tea and even got a taste of traditional dabkah!

These are some of the gifts that they generously brought us, which included kites made by children in England containing wishful messages, British tea and a tea towel (we lacked one at the centre!), pencils and stickers, as well as a book about kids flying kites between a Palestinian town and a neighbouring Israeli settlement. 

Another day of cleaning before 'Eid

After Dabka last night.....

.... Sunday was another day of cleaning in preparation for 'Eid! Since yesterday was dedicated to the inside (check out the pictures on the previous post!), today we tried to turn the outside into a cleaner and more comfortable area!

And after a day of work under the heat, we enjoyed a well-deserved falafel sandwich!

Saturday fun at Dar Assadaqa

Saturdays are always fun at Dar Assadaqa! 

These are only some of the activities that have been taking place:

          -   English clubs for the young and old

    - Arabic lessons for foreigners

    -  Art classes to develop skills and creativity

     -   ‘Eid cleaning (welcome to a new, cleaner Dar Assadaqa!)

 

 

     -  Volunteers’ welfare meetings: including medical check-ups

 

            - Planning and preparation for classes

             - And.... endless office work!!!