CADFA leaflets

I really like this picture of students at Goldsmith's clearly enjoying reading CADFA leaflets during the women's visit.  Not sure if these are our general leaflets or ones about volunteering or information leaflets... Don't think they are women's visit leaflets as they are the wrong shape.

Maybe they will apply to be CADFA volunteers? (They are welcome....)

Event at Goldsmiths University

On Wednesday 20th, some of us went to speak at Goldsmiths University. The few people who attended enjoyed some heartbreaking stories and powerful pictures of common issues in Palestine, including Palestinian homes being demolished and the conditions of prisoners. The presentations were followed by lots of questions and a good lunch!

Overall

Overall I am very happy with the Women’s visit and the way the week was planned and constructed.  As a result of the very busy and interesting schedule I believe we all enjoyed each other and that we all came out of this week with something new. I am confident that in addition to learning so much about each other and the way we live our lives with reference to the ‘A Day in My Life’ as was the theme of the visit, we also made life long friends and links between the UK and Palestine.  

Looking back at the residential on the first weekend...

When the women arrived to the UK, I travelled with several other British participants down to the residential scout camp in Sussex.  The Palestinian women were waiting and gave us the most wonderful and enthusiastic welcome I think I have ever received.  It was a fantastic start to the visit.  We ate a communal meal together and spent some time getting to know each other and meeting our buddies and group members.  Suzan was my buddy and hostee.  The

weekend in Sussex was the perfect opportunity to start our friendship and build trust before moving to London.  Conversations with the women about the stipulations required for some of them to be allowed to travel solo to another country were striking. 

The Saturday was originally intended to be a British day (with the Sunday as Palestinian) but we decided to mix the two for practical reasons of timing and to create a better range of activities.  I think this was an improved situation as it reflected the aim of sharing our cultures.  Within the weekend, we went on a walk in the woods and the Palestinian women were given an opportunity to sample the delightful British weather!  We were instructed in dabke dancing and kickboxing by the Palestinian women with a Tai Chi demonstration in exchange.  A trip into the nearby town helped us to look at the differences between Sussex and Palestine as well as providing a contrast for the main body of the trip in London.  Watching 5 Broken Cameras as a group brought up some interesting remarks: as a documentary portraying the brutality of occupation, one of the Palestinian women commented on how typical such experiences were for her.  I found this to be a very powerful statement. 

 

The Sunday included ‘bring a thing’ where each of the group participants explained what item they had chosen to represent their life.  Many of the Palestinian women chose traditional items closely linked to their nationality.  Then we had the opportunity to see the presentations the Palestinians would be giving the groups they would meet throughout the week – I found it incredible to be hearing these stories of human rights abuses, daily discrimination and injustice directly from new-found friends.  There is a great deal of difference in appreciating the truth of occupation from reading a news article and meeting and talking with someone suffering under it.  

Looking back at the project

Between the 14^th and the 24^th of March, I took part in CADFA's women's visit to London, together with other 11 young women living in London and 12 Palestinian women from the West Bank. I was delighted to meet so many friendly faces and helpful people and it was a pleasure to work with them. As a buddy and a host, I was involved every day in a range of different activities: from participating in presentations at universities, women's groups and human rights associations, to making an animated film which was eventually presented to the public on Saturday.

           

The visit started with a three-day residential in East Grinstead where everybody got to meet one another and share stories about our lives, as well as doing a series of creative activities, cooking, going for walks, and taking lots of pictures. The activities were divided into a British and a Palestinian day, which included typical food and personal objects representing each one of our lives. To start the week on Monday, the group went on a trip to Brighton and to Sussex University where the girls had their first presentations in front of a surprisingly large audience. At night, everybody went to their hosts in London and I brought Zainab to my flat in South London.

             On Tuesday we showed some highlights of the city to the girls who were excited and bewildered by the immensity of London. In the afternoon we started our animated film project: working in groups, we collaborated to produce a sequence of different stories that fit into a single 2-minutes film. Although at first we were not sure about the quality of the work that we were creating, by the end of the week we realised that the film was short but powerful and we were very pleased with the result. On Wednesday my group had their first event at Goldsmiths University. Although not many people took part, the presentations were very successful and conveyed deep emotions, between shock, incredulity, and sadness, to the listeners. The same response was given by the audience at Roehampton University, which we visited later in the afternoon. I think that the interest and curiosity of the listeners towards the Palestinian cause made the girls feel satisfied by their presentations and positive about achieving the aims of the visit.

            On Thursday my group went to speak at Nafsiat, an intercultural psychotherapy centre where we met with three psychotherapists who were very keen on hearing the girls' personal stories. Not only they asked endless questions, but they were enthusiastic about spreading the Palestinians' words to a larger public and asked us to keep in touch and share the presentations' notes and pictures. We also learnt a lot from their own work, which was of extreme interest to all of us. On Friday we finally edited and finished our animated film and in the evening everybody took part in an event of music and dance celebrating Palestinian women. On Saturday, after showcasing our film, we all went to the Central Mosque, where we met with the director, were introduced to the centre's activities and had a lecture/presentation in front of part of the Muslim community. In the evening we were sad but also excited to celebrate our final event. Music and delicious Palestinian food made the atmosphere even more unique and comfortable and, at the end of the night, some tears were shed for the separation that awaited us the next day. Sunday was the day of departure of our friends and of evaluation of the whole week.

            Taking part in the project has been a unique experience, which has increased my awareness of the human rights abuses in Palestine as well as of the reality and everyday struggles on the ground. I have also gained marvellous friends and interesting contacts across London and in Palestine. The exchange has benefited me on a personal level as well, by teaching me a life lesson on strength, the importance of determination and cooperation in achieving one's aims and on the possibilities that are created by establishing connections between people across the world.

Goodbye but keep in touch

On Sunday 24th, our friends from Palestine got the train from London Bridge to Gatwick and returned to Palestine. It was a good ten days - thank you very much to everyone for your energy and input, and well done for all we achieved.
Still some more things to do before the project is finished - swap project photos, finish the reports, and then go on working with our local women's centres etc to build on the work we've done.  Goodbye but we'll stay in touch!

Goodbye Party

After ten days spent together, the end of this trip arrived, so a goodbye party was organised for the Palestinian women at Hargrave Hall in London. We shared a delicious dinner with some music.The English buddies and Palestinians exchanged their views about this experience and what they thought about this trip.

London Central Mosque

We were warmly welcomed by the director and the person in charge of the media and Public relation. They organised a reception in the V.I.P room. They talked about the London Central Mosque and the Islamic Cultural Centre and also about the different activities which they propose. Then, Doctor Fadwa and one of the Palestinian girl did theirs presentations about Palestine.

Launch of the women's visit film

 

After, one week of work by group on the animated film, we dedicated the Saturday moorning to the launch of this film. We started this day by watching this film, the achievement of the work of this week.Then, we all did a conclusion of this week.