Events in Abu Dis

• January 2007 activities: During this month in Dar Assadaqa there were many different activities:

  Programme of courses continuing - English classes, computer classes, handcraft for women, first aid course. Some new English classes started with a new volunteer from Camden

  First Aid course continued

  5th January - Eid Event with clown for children, organised by Dar Assadaqa and held in Cleopatra Hotel in Abu Dis

  19th and 26th January – circus workshop for children

  27th January – film showing Al Quds fi Yom al Acher (Jerusalem on another day)

  30th January - Youth links outing to Ertas

  Painting and preparation of two rooms at Dar Assadaqa to be used as the Camden Clinic (evening clinic free for people in Abu Dis)

• Dar Assadaqa programme for January 2007 [Arabic & English]  doc
• First Aid course at Friendship House [Arabic]  doc
• 8th November: Open day at Friendship House
• 26th October 2006: Fantastic Eid event at Dar Assadaqa. British visitors and residents of Abu Dis alike were delighted by the Eid event held at Dar Assadaqa on 26th October - the product of lots of hard work by members of the Friendship House and a bright point of hope at a time of real difficulty in Palestine. Visitors were welcomed by displays of dabke and a moving play in Arabic done by the young people's theatre group, and prizes were given to the winners of the Our Town photo competition. A beautiful display of local art and crafts included old items from the area such as pottery and agricultural equipment, and also things made more recently by local women, children in schools and by Abu Dis prisoners in Israeli jails. Children at the Friendship House had worked on a clay model of old Abu Dis, with tiny copies of houses and animals. Visitors from England were given a presentation about the work of the Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association, and work from the classes at Dar Assedaqa was on display on the walls. To end a lovely evening there were big trays of makloubeh and other Palestinian food made by local people.
• 30 September 2006 - Health Day at Abu Dis Friendship House - The first open health day at Dar Assadaqa, Abu Dis, was organised jointly by Abu Dis Camden Health Links and Palestinian Medical Relief because of the current problems with the supply of doctors and medicines in Abu Dis**. Two doctors (one of them a child specialist and the other a GP) and several voluntary helpers saw 68 patients. Those that needed it were given free medicine. The open day was such a success that this will be repeated fortnightly. ** Note that the money from Camden sent in the summer by Camden Abu Dis Health Links has been used to provide medicine via the Al-Muqassed Clinic in Abu Dis.
• September 2006: Human rights clinic starts at Al-Quds University, Abu Dis: With the help of CADFA academic links, a human rights clinic is starting at Al-Quds University which will provide help for local people suffering human rights abuses and provide practice for trainee human rights lawyers. (This innovative clinic is seeking further funding).
• 21 September 2006: Children's Art Festival at Friendship House to celebrate Peace Day - click on thumbnail to enlarge
• 13 September 2006: There was a demonstration outside the Red Cross offices in Abu Dis, drawing attention to the situation of the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Demonstrators were calling for prisoners from Abu Dis and the East Jerusalem area to be included in any prisoner exchange with Israel. See below for Notes and demo pictures.
• Abu Dis children to come to Camden. Eight children from Abu Dis together with their teachers will be making a visit to Camden schools and youth clubs in mid-June for ten days.
• Haneen from Abu Dis Youth Club Girls' Fencing Team won first prize in a Palestinian fencing competition held in Jericho on Friday 28th April. Click below to find out more - and on the thumbnails for larger pictures.

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