Arab Institute Head-teacher Meets Volunteers

 Here are some artworks which are at the school too!!

Video profiles

The last two days in the Arab Institute have seen the students write information about themselves, their likes and dislikes, their favourite subject in school and a bit about how the Israeli occupation affects them. Then we filmed them in the library (where we have English classes) and now hopefully you can watch them in Camden from dropbox!

Our box for Abu Dis boys

Hello, my name is Silas and i am a member of friends of palestine.
this is the reply to your last update.
in our box we will be sending:

• oyster card


• strawberry lances


• mini eggs


• School planner


• school bulletin


• local newspapers


• photos of classes in school


• exercise book

We will probably add more things as we think of them.

We hope you are all well and look forward to your reply.

Hello everyone!

Hello everyone my name is Eliot and as you may have guessed I go to Acland Burghley school. I'm just writing to say hello to everyone. The club has decided to collect a group of objects that we think represent Camden. We are going to send the objects to you so that you can get an idea of how our lives are like. We hope you like the objects when we send them to you. In answer to your question about what I would take to a desert island it would be a huge tank of water as water is the most important thing to keep you alive. From Eliot Edmonds year 8.

Hello from Acland Burghley

Hello to everyone at the Arab Institute. I am Mr Rob Stainsby and I am a teacher at Acland Burghley. I came to visit last April and had a lovely time. I am in charge of our 'Friends of Palestine' group and our students will be posting stuff on this blog very soon.

Yours, Rob

Using this blog

If you are a CADFA volunteer or a teacher at the Arab Institute, Acland Burghley or Haverstock schools, you are welcome to post to this blog. Please send an email to us at contact@camdenabudis.net and we'll send you the password. All best wishes

Last week we played 2 games to get to know the boys at the Arab Institute a little better. It Would be interesting to see how the game would work in Acland Burghley school.
First of all we asked the boys "if you were stuck on a desert island for the rest of your life what 1 object would you bring with you"
After a first round of answers that were almost exclusively items like 'a boat'  or 'a helicopter' to get off the island, we felt the boys somewhat missed the point of the game. When we triend for the second time we got some fantastic answers.

These Included

A picture of my family

A prayer rug

My Donkey

A Koran

A telephone to speak to my friends and family

My best friend

A horse

Fresh Water

Food (specifically a giant maqluba)

A treehouse

We also asked them to come up with a box, with items inside that represented Palestine that could be sent to Acland Burghley school that would help them understand Palestine and the lives of the boys 

Again the boys came up with a great collection of things. Between the groups of Boys that undertook the exercise they said they would send
A picture of Al Aqsa mosque- To show the importance of religion to Palestinians http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/1x4630650/Al_Aqsa_Mosque_and_Dome_of_the_Rock_at_Temple_700-00429409.jpg

A photocopy of an ID card- To show that they live under occupation http://holylandshots.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/blog33.jpg

A film of the checkpoints. To show what they must to to move around their country http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86mgmJwg-PI

Traditional folklore songs- To tell the histroy of palestine and its people

Palestinian traditional dress- To show traditional culture and customs of Palestine http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkda3sWMMY1qid06to1_500.jpg

Palestinian glass and pottery from Hebron- To show the skill of Palestinian craftsmen http://vicbethlehem.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/famous-hebron-glass-and-ceramics-001.jpg

Palestinian Olive Oil- Because Olive oil is very important to the diet and economy of Palestine http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Lifeandhealth/Pix/pictures/2009/2/23/1235406894179/Palestinian-olives-for-ol-001.jpg

A broken Leaf from an Olive Tree- To represent how many olive trees have been destroyed or stolen by the occupation http://palsolidarity.org/wp-content/uploads/legacy/July5-fire-pic2-r.jpg

Videos of Dabkeh (traditional Palestinian Dance)- Because it is part of their identity as Palestinians http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTfgwxIzC_4

Degree Transcript- To show how well educated people in Palestine are, despite not having any work

A postcard from the Dead Sea- To show the unique beauty and nature that can be found in Palestine https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirH7eZQtKOJQ5RwO1k4EyheKvu9LcI9H_6hnc9LPlBPlg_zB5Vvq-JDDEbD-zpzlYRsBWVg9XPgRC7TUFc-DjGKOnwM4nxaLkD7M1CDTDiEI6ccVFBQDMTL62M5KxEpUoQgekz_PcJgA/s1600/Dead+Sea+%2528Israel%252C+Jordan%252C+Palestine%2529.jpg

Maqluba- Traditional Palestinian dish, to show what Palestinians eat http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/71/Maqluba.jpg

What would the students at Acland Burghley send to Palestine?