Support Peace Education in Bethlehem, Palestine - Hope Flowers School

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Matt Quinn

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May 17, 2007, 9:32:29 PM5/17/07
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Support Peace Education in Bethlehem, Palestine - Hope Flowers School

"The Hope Flowers School provides a ray of hope for the world and, in particular, Palestinian families and children who believe that peace is possible for Israeli and Palestinian people," according to Peter Waasdorp, who, with his wife Nancy, is co-facilitator of the US Friends of Hope Flowers School.  Citizens for Justice in the Middle East will be working with US Friends of Hope Flowers School, including New Song Church and Justice/Peace Group at Grace Covenant Church in the Kansas City area, to raise $100,000 nationally. Our goal is to raise $10,000 from Kansas City area donors. See below for information on how you can make a donation today.

  • Join in for a Mideast dinner to kickoff the fundraising campaign: Thursday, May 31, 6:30 pm, Holy Land Café, 12275 W 87th Street Pkwy, Overland Park, Kansas. Cost: $35 per person, $60 per couple and $15 for students, includes tasty Middle Eastern appetizers, choice of chicken or vegetarian dinner and dessert. All dinner participants will be entered in a drawing for several items, including $25 certificates for Pak Halal International Foods, Jimmy Carter's new book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, to name a few. Seating is limited so signup early. http://www.cjme.org/hfs. Call Barbara at 913-831-9747 to reserve your place or for questions.

The mission of the Hope Flowers School is to provide a sound formal education in a caring, supportive environment for its 250 Palestinian students. Yet each day, as the children are bussed back to their homes, they pass bulldozed homes of other Palestinian families whose homes have been leveled by Israeli military. No legal hearing process allows the family to have a just trial. One morning their home is just destroyed. Providing psychological and emotional support for the students and their families is a critical aspect of Hope Flowers School’s mission.

When Hope Flowers was started, Israeli teachers welcomed the opportunity to teach Hebrew and Israeli culture at the school and in joint projects, but, sadly, since 2000, Israeli teachers can no longer come to Hope Flowers.

Since Hamas won a surprising victory in the January 2006 Palestinian elections, the Israelis and many European countries have severed their aid to the Palestinians - resulting in no funds for salaries for civil servants and teachers for over a year. Although Hope Flowers is independent of political and religious affiliations, funding is a major concern. Few families can pay all or even part of the tuition, yet despite this heavy burden, Hope Flowers continues.

Ibrahim Issa, the son of the deceased founder of the school, is its Co-Director and now spends much of his time in other countries in an ongoing search for the critical funds. The school’s loyal staff and teachers are fully committed to keeping the school alive and able to meet its mission of providing peace education for the children. However, if this is to happen, the citizens of the United States need to join the governments and citizens of Britain, Holland, Switzerland and other countries in providing the much needed financial support to Hope Flowers.

Hope Flowers seeks funding support, educational contacts and volunteers to help in teaching and project development at the school. The support of concerned Americans can make a huge difference in the Hope Flowers school program.

Consider making a financial contribution on behalf of your faith group, student group or individually. There are several ways to make a donation to Hope Flowers School:

Towards a just peace,
Andrea Whitmore
President, CJME
Jim Kenney
Ginger Kenney
Jonne Long
Karen Turney
Matt Quinn

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