Women's visit leaflet 1

Miss students and welocme women

Hi  guys!

How are you? We hope everything is running perfect! Some weeks from our students visit and we are missing them so much!

But now, is moment to work hard for the women visit! The visit will start on 12 March and Cadfa is preparing a lot of places to visit: Manchester (12th March), Bangor (15th March) , Lanidloes and Blackburn (16th  March), Pendle (17th March) and Northampton and Worcester (18th March) also in Lodon from 19th of March to 22th they will visit Calthorpe Project, Camden and North London Muslim Community Centre and Somers Town Community Centre.

As you can see, March looks like a frenetic month with a lot of important things to do. The women group are really active and working without rest because they want everything perfect1
I think they will have a really good time  together (in the Wales residential and in London) and I hope everybody will enjoy the women visit.

Emilio Sanchez

EVS

Hosam and Yazan to be freed!!

We're so happy to hear that after a long, long week, Hosam (from the Twinning in Action project!!)  and Yazan are to be freed today! For them it is after a long week inside jail - For us (many, many of us) a long week of campaigning, writing letters, holding demos, making and sharing petitions, contacting politicians and anyone we thought would listen... worrying... and now... hurray!!

Women's visit news

The Palestinian women's visit in March is beginning to become real with preparation meetings in both places (here in London on Thursday, in Palestine on Friday this week) - The air tickets are bought - The events beginning to be advertised. Here is the flyer from the Northampton event!

Press release - Worrying about Hosam

‪#‎CADFA‬ Press Statement 19th February 2015 For immediate release

Free Hosam Oraiba and Yazan Abu Hilal

CADFA are calling for the immediate release from Israeli jail of Hosam Oraiba and Yazan Abu Hilal. These two university students were arrested on Monday 17th February by Israeli soldiers at the peaceful protest camp of Bawabit al-Quds on the land of Abu Dis in the West Bank. We are concerned about Hosam and Yazan whom we know, and also about the Israeli settlement expansion they were protesting and the way the dice are loaded against Palestinians in Israeli military courts. We believe them to be innocent of any crime and yet there is no evidence that they will be released or that they will get a fair trial. Hosam's family have been told that there is not enough evidence to prove him innocent. This is quite the wrong way round and the two need all the support they can get.

Through our work with Abu Dis and in particular Dar Assadaqa Community Centre, we know these young men as peaceful people. In particular, we know Hosam well. He is a hard-working volunteer from Dar Assadaqa, the community centre our charity CADFA supports in Abu Dis. His main work is to support the EVS (European Voluntary Service) volunteers we sent from the UK to Dar Assadaqa to work with local schools, in the university and the community centre to support twinning links and communication to the UK. Hosam has been extremely helpful to the volunteers and has made many friends among them. He also came to London on an Erasmus + funded visit in December, where he met more people through the work of our charity. All of us who know him will attest to his calm, non-aggressive and peaceful approach to life.

Tributes to Hosam and his gentle character are pouring in from CADFA EVS volunteers including this from a volunteer now back in Manchester:  

"Hosam is a good friend of mine, a really gentle, humble guy who went out of his way many times to help me out and make me feel welcome in Palestine. He used to bring me round pizza and his kittens to play with. He's been arrested and there's a good chance he will be being tortured, the stories people have told me about their times in Israeli military prisons are horrifying."

Hosam was on a peaceful protest against land expropriation related to the Israeli E1 project, east of Jerusalem, that the international community has repeatedly rejected. Although in 2005 and 2009, international pressure restrained Israel from going ahead with E1 , in the past few years Israel has prepared for development with new roads, infrastructure and the first buildings. The expanding settlements will join to Jerusalem, and together divide the West Bank in half.

The E1 project defies international law. In 2004, the International Court said clearly that that the settlements violate the fourth Geneva Convention. It also violates Palestinians’ human rights and is grossly racist. The Palestinian population is being transferred and squeezed into confined areas while new Jewish-only settlement areas are built. An EU report has talked of "forced transfers" to describe Israeli policy. A French parliamentary report has called it "a new apartheid". In Abu Dis, the Israeli plan is to seize new tracts of land and house 12000 Bedouin who will be pushed off land they are now on to allow further settlement expansion. The people of Abu Dis built a protest camp, Bawabit al-Quds, on the threatened land - which belongs to them.

Hosam was at the camp for about an hour. We have been given a statement and photographs by an eye-witness who says that "Hosam was by my side for every moment during the day" that Hosam was behaving completely peacefully. At one point, they ran away together to get out of tear gas, then went back to look for friends - and at that point, Hosam was arrested. The eye-witness is adamant that he did not throw stones or do anything aggressive:

"We stayed together on the side of the road, away from the camp and away from the protesters who tried to pass soldiers to reach the camp. Around 14:56 when the first sound grenade was thrown (I have taken a photo of this, photo2), Hosam and I went even further away from the camp and when the first tear gas canister was thrown, we run together towards Bethany and we found shelter in a car wash. Hosam did not leave me alone for a second during these events and took care of me. After this, we went back to the camp to check on our friends and we decided to stay for maximum one hour and then go home. While we were peacefully watching the bulldozers destroying the camp, all of a sudden I noticed two soldiers (I have separate photos of them) rushing towards Hosam and speaking in Hebrew, and I heard Hosam saying I did not throw any stones. The soldiers cornered him and started pushing him around. He looked very scared and the other two volunteers and many local people went near him to defend him. Hosam did not throw stones, he was at all times with me." (eyewitness)

Many of us met Yazan when as a young footballer he came to London on our football youth exchange funded by Youth in Action and organised by CADFA in autumn 2012. The two young men were arrested at the same time and appear to be being dealt with together.

The two were arrested on Monday, and yesterday were called to a military court where a video was examined to see if they were throwing stones. Apparently the videos did not show that they were doing anything aggressive, but the army have said that this is not enough to prove their innocence and they have now been told that they will face a military tribunal in six days’ time.

We are very worried that they will not have a fair trial. The military tribunal will be in a language they do not speak. The judge will be from the Israeli army. If they have anyone to translate, it will also be someone from the army. They do not at this stage know the charges against them.

Critically, they will have no opportunity to call witnesses of any sort. Soldiers will be able to come and present the evidence for any charges, and will be believed no doubt. But those who were with them and saw what happened (including the witness we have spoken to) will not be able to support their case. We are told by local people that they do not trust the military court process to which the Israelis subject Palestinians: they cite case after case that they believe was loaded, mishandled or wrong. We are very scared for our young friends.

CADFA have made a petition and held a street demonstration to collect signatures to support Yazan and Hosam. We are presenting hundreds of them today to the Foreign Secretary. We are calling for further signatures on a petition made by ex- CADFA EVS volunteers who have worked in Abu Dis, and will continue to raise this case very strongly till our friends are released.

ENDS

CADFA is a human rights charity based in Camden that works to promote human rights by bringing people together to understand each other's lives. We organise many exchange visits, volunteering opportunities and twinning projects in particular with women and young people.

Our website is www.camdenabudis.net, facebook CADFA(Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association), Twitter @camdenabudis

Photos available. We have many witnesses to Hosam's character.

The volunteers' petition is at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/free-hosam-and-yazan

More information from contact@camdenabudis.net
‪#‎freeHosam‬ ‪#‎freeYazan‬ ‪#‎palestine‬ ‪#‎humanrights‬

The women's UK visas are ready!

Hurray! All of the women's visas are ready and we are ready to buy their tickets to the UK.

Lots of activity going on making a good programme for them in Wales, Manchester, Lancashire, Worcester, Northampton and London...

Now we are really looking forward :)

Women's visit outline timetable - who is where when?

Thurs 12th March	Palestinian women arrive Manchester	event in Manchester
Fri 13th March	UK people arrive - project begins  to North Wales residential
Sat 14th March	North Wales	event in Carmarthen?
Sun 15th March	North Wales	event in Bangor?
Mon 16th March	blue and green groups go to Llanidloes   yellow and red to Lancashire (red to Blackburn, yellow to Pendle)	Event in Llani Event in Blackburn
Tues 17thMarch	Blue and green groups leave Llani and travel to Northampton Yellow and red groups in Blackburn/ and Pendle	Event in Pendle
Weds 18thMarch	Blue and green groups in Northampton Yellow and red groups travel to Worcester for lunchtime	Event in Northampton Event in Worcester
Thurs 19thMarch	Blue and green groups travel to London in morning Yellow and red groups morning and lunch in Worcester + Travel to London in afternoon
Fri 20thMarch	London tourism day Evening singing workshop
Sat 21stMarch	Red and yellow groups  International women’s day skills sharing day in Camden Blue and green groups to Hackney women's event   Evening event in Hackney	Event in Hackney
Sun 22ndMarch	Free day till 4.30 Singing workshop at Calthorpe 7pm International women’s day event at Somers Town Community Centre, Camden	Event in Camden
Mon 23rdMarch	Palestinian women return home

Public events during the women's visit

For ten years now, CADFA has organised a visit of Palestinian women to Britain each March (international women's month). This year, the 15 Palestinian visitors (with their UK friends) will be in North and Mid-Wales, Lancashire, Manchester , Worcester , Northampton and London . In each place, a chance to hear Palestinian young women speak about what life is like for them in the West Bank, a chance to hear the singing they have prepared with young women from Britain , and a chance to discuss  grassroots twinning initiatives for human rights - why and how?  All welcome (one of the events is women-only**)

Public events during the CADFA Twinning in Action Palestinian women’s visit March 2015

{Project funded by Erasmus + and by the fundraising efforts of friends and supporters of CADFA and partners)

More details from contact@camdenabudis.net  or   twinninginaction.blogspot.co.uk

Thurs 12th March 6pm	Manchester with Manchester Uni – An Najah  POSTER
Sun 15th March 7pm	Near Llangollen CONTACT US FOR DETAILS
Mon 16th March	Llanidloes with Llanidloes – Assawiyah  Lancaster
Tues 17th March	Blackburn Pendle with Pendle – Beit Leed POSTER
Weds 18th March	Northampton with Northampton – Al Bireh   POSTER Worcester with Worcester – Khan Younis POSTER
Sat 21st March 12 noon tbc 7pm	Daytime – Camden Skills share POSTER **Daytime – Hackney Skills share, women only Evening - Hackney  POSTER Britain-Palestine twinning – why and how? With Hackney Beit Sourik and Tower Hamlets Jenin
Sun 22nd March 7pm	Camden – Camden Abu Dis POSTER

Look out for the women's exchange in March - Come and Sing!

UK YOUNG WOMEN - Applications now being taken for UK participants in the next  Twinning in Action exchange project with Palestine:  the women's exchange that will bring 15 women from Palestine to meet UK women in North Wales, Mid-Wales, Lancashire, Midlands and London.

If you're interested in meeting and exchanging experiences with young women from somewhere different, learning about human rights, singing together (you do not have to be good at singing!) then do apply by writing to contact@camdenabudis.net. We do ask people who take part in the project to be members of CADFA (or to join it) but other expenses to be part of the project are covered.

It's always an amazing experience to be part of one of these projects - see the feedback on this blog - so early applications are recommended!

The students from Palestine are now safely home...

(Picture from Wharfedale)

After an amazing couple of weeks, full of problems (planes, coaches, left-behind bags) but many more successes and great experiences, the Palestinians have reached home. Everyone has many good memories and new, good friends.

We imagine they are resting if they can, because the visit was intense and busy!

Please everyone go on sending in your pictures, video clips, comments. Slowly, slowly we will get more on here.

The student project is not yet finished in fact: we are asking those involved for further evaluations, for more feedback, and are using the lessons of all the discussions to go on building our student links. Look out not only at this blog but for the STUDENT BLOG, which already has notes from the student twinning conference and we hope will develop after this visit....

http://cadfastudent.blogspot.co.uk/

End of the student visit but the beginning of many friendships...

This is from Aesha...

These have been the most memorable 14 days of my life. It was such a great experience and the people I have met are amazing. The places I have visited are gorgeous with the people in them making for the best experience possible. We are now like a close knit family. I want to thank everyone I have met over my trip for all your hospitality. I will miss you all SO much! Hope to see you very soon!
If I forget anybody on tags please know that you are all in my heart  
راح اشتاقلكمممممممممممممم كتيرررررررررر حبايبي 
كانت تجربة كتيررررر رائعة مع بعض مع اصحابنا في بريطانيا ومع اصحابنا بنفس المجموعة . راح اشتاقلكم 

Products from the student visit

Here is a short film made by Emilio on the residential.

And here is the first (shorter) version of the film the students made at Dragon Hall

This will be shown publicly (probably in the longer version) at the LFSC film showing at Bolivar Hall on 8th March.

Coming: a short film by Shaz made of photos of the project

A film made at Hackney College

A student radio broadcast

At least one article in a student newspaper

Please send us other things from this visit... including photos... There are so many....

A life-changing weekend

The Residential Weekend, 30/01/15-02/02/15, Swarthghyll Farm, Yorkshire Dales. UK.

From the Friday 30^th January to Monday 2^nd February,  volunteers  from various parts of the UK, and myself took part in a Residential weekend with Palestinian students at Swarthyghll Farm in the Yorkshire Dales.

On the Friday, we arrived at the farm from a longer journey than expected due to the snowy/icy conditions. However, the view of the mountains covered in snow was magnificent.

On the first day we took the chance to greet the Palestinian students, we were allocated into groups and asked to plan to do certain tasks as a group. This was very beneficial, as it obliged us to interact and cooperate; I personally felt this was a great way to get to know each other, especially when there was a language barrier. In addition, we established hopes and ideas for the weekend and on the contrary, we discussed what we did not want happening such as arguments, etc.

At the farm there was no wi-fi connection or phone signal. Personally, I felt that this was splendid, as everyone talked to each other, played games, socialized and I did not feel that no one was trying to exclude themselves from the group activities by texting or social media.

On the second day, after a good night’s rest, we set out walking in the snowy hills. We played in the snow, throwing snowballs at each other, laughing and having fun. We took lovely pictures of the walk. We felt that the group was starting to connect very well.

Later on that day, a few of the British volunteers and myself presented about Britain. This included British culture, stereotypes, life as a student in the UK, from a British and International perspective and various social problems faced in a city like Manchester. I received feedback from some of the Palestinians who said they found the presentation educational, and that it changed massively their knowledge and perspectives on Britain. This was compared to their prior knowledge they had of Britain.

For dinner (supper), we all ate Shepherd’s Pie, a traditional English food. We also showed the Palestinian Students British etiquette at the table and compared it to what Palestinian etiquette is like. The Palestinians showed us this the following night and we found that the 2 etiquettes were very contradicting.

The following day, Sunday, was the Palestinian day. We started this day by eating “Foul Mudammas” - a traditional meal from the Levant. Later on that day, we listened to all the Palestinian students present to us about a bit of Palestinian culture but mainly political issues in their countries and some personal stories involving these issues.

Personally, I found these presentations life-changing with regards to my perspectives about what is happening in Palestine. This was because I heard stories from Palestinians who are currently residing in Palestine and have had numerous experiences as victims of the political repression in their country. Getting to know the students on a personal level, as I got to during the weekend, made me feel for their cause and obliged to help them fight for their human rights in their home country.

It was a wonderful and amazing weekend where we made some really good friends. I personally feel that this weekend was an amazing, life-changing weekend.   In my opinion, what made the weekend so special and functional, was: the allocation of groups (a mixture of English and Palestinian Students, living in a big house together in the countryside where co-operation and interaction were a must, and also the effort that CADFA put in to make this weekend work and all the ideas, events and activities that brought us (the British and Palestinian Students) together.

Henry 

 

CADFA evening on the final Saturday

Palestinian Students Speak Out – February 7^th 2015.

With the 2015 CADFA University Students' Visit drawing to a close, acquaintances new and old gathered at the Somers Town Community Centre for an evening of talks, music and food. For some, it was a last chance to hear from the students of Al Quds before they head back to Palestine on Monday.

The evening started with an introduction from Abed who reviewed the University Students' Visit which has entailed trips across the country, including Blackburn, Leeds and London. A number of universities were visited by the students, with an invitation from the University of Cambridge's Palestine Society still to be fulfilled. Abed highlighted, in particular, the experience in Blackburn where enthusiasm for the Palestinian rights issue is strong and needs ideas and action to be harnessed. Abed stressed the importance of CADFA being involved across the UK to draw people together and build solidarity around Palestinian rights.

Having thanked everyone present, in particular, new faces in the audience, Nandita invited some of the Palestinian students to talk about aspects of their lives. Nadine kicked things off with an Arabic poem and song and, then, a biographical story about her childhood experience of learning about the shooting of her cousin by Israeli forces.

With many of the students being female, it was welcome that many women's issues were raised. Lamia discussed Palestinian women's experiences at the hands of the Israeli forces, from strip searches searches carried out by male soldiers, to denial of basic rights of health, safety and food in prisons. She told the story of a Palestine woman who went on a lengthy hunger strike whilst in prison. Diana later told the story of a Palestinian woman from Abu Dis who needed urgent medical attention from a specialist hospital that only exists in central Jerusalem. The journey from Abu Dis into Jerusalem, which should only take a short time, has become a bureaucratic trial for the Palestinians since the construction of the wall. For this particular woman, it had fatal consequneces, as the difficulty in getting approval from Israeli authorities and to a hospital in Jerusalem in time meant that she ultimately died.

Thair talked about the human rights abuses of the Israeli forces in arresting and imprisoning Palestinians without due process. He briefly mentioned his personal experience of being imprisoned by the Israeli forces for 18 months. Ruba talked about the indiscriminate 'collective punishment' of Palestinians through Israeli checkpoints, with reference to a poem by the 19^th century German poet, Heinrich Heine. Khalid used his personal experience of insecure housing for his family to outline the wider issue of Palestinians being denied secure and safe accommodation.

In comparing the unequal justice system applied by Israel, Lamia talked about the collective punishment of house demolitions. She referred to a video she has made in which she compares the punishment of the Israelis who burnt her neighbour alive and a Palestinian who ran a young Israeli girl over. The Palestinian culprit was executed on the spot by Israeli forces. His family home was then demolished, punishing his family, friends and neighbours. The Israeli culprits, meanwhile, were imprisoned and, then, shortly, released on various grounds, including diminished responsibility.

Nandita announced that a film produced by the students was being screened by the London Socialist Film Co-op. She invited a member of the Co-op, as well as, Benny Brunner, director of “The Great Book Robbery” to briefly talk about the screening.

Having heard all these moving stories and after everyone had had a chance to have a more relaxed chat over Lebanese food, provided by CADFA, Abed and Nandita closed up the event. Nandita highlighted a number of upcoming events, including a fundraising dinner, the Palestinian Womens' Visit in March and a fundraising cricket day. Abed finished by thanking everyone who made the students' visit possible and urged continued efforts towards building solidarity for Palestinian rights.

Sam

Group photo (but still people missing...)

Preparing for the student twinning conference

First the train didn't work so it was rail replacement bus, followed by ordinary bus...

 then we met at UCL

Abdelkareem on his way out....

Notes from the Student Twinning Conference today

What could go on an action plan to make twinning active? (notes from student workshops_

Why we want to raise awareness -

Publicising the organisation - what is CADFA?
Useful if they can work in lots of universities, not just one
Needs to be repeated as there are always new students (it's easy to lose the message)

COMMUNICATION is key to twinning
Can we have a communication plan?
Regular sending out info to different unis and different student unions
maybe every two months

PLAN FOR HOW TWINNINGS HAPPEN - there are some steps that need to happen in each uni - Make a document
Create training and support material
Facilitate partnerships between different universities, get people to help each other (talk to other unis that have done it)

PUBLICISING twinning a lot at both ends
A lot of people don't know about opportunities (eg university scholarships)

FRESHERS' WEEK - a time to capture an audience

STUDENT UNION - should be a role to promote student twinning
Get the student union involved in the twinning
ideas eg helping to facilitate a cadfa tour

IF STUDENTS COME HERE ON A CADFA TOUR - what do you do next? How do you stay involved? How do you support the process from Palestine itself?

CREATE PALESTINIAN TWINNING SOCIETIES in each university
We need one or two responsible students who are really active in each uni
keep in contact with CADFA
Lots of people want to be involved and think it's a good idea WHEN THEY KNOW
so we need the opportunities to be publicised

Use the STUDENT MAGAZINE to publicise news from Al Quds or personal stories
so the question is, how can someone here get that news?
One way is via friends
Another is more formal - an association/ society in each uni (UK and Pal)
NEED AN ASSOCIATION IN AL QUDS UNIVERSITY to be in touch

How do we REACH NEW PEOPLE

People active in BDS

Presentations - need a presentation about the opportunities, twinning etc at least each year

Plan for WHO TO REACH
Contact International Office at uni
things to do include exchanges, volunteer trips, research

CONSTANT PRESENCE Good to have somewhere in uni where there is a constant presence, eg notice board/s with things about Palestine (CADFA) so people can find out at any point

Work with different societies - Pal Soc, International Society, Islamic Society, Amnesty International... USE WHAT IS ALREADY THERE ... Getting the message across

NEED STAFF INVOLVED not just students as students move on

SOCIAL MEDIA - need a blog - online presence to be worked on at both ends, something that people can visibly see and is easy to access

Importance of ALUMNI (people who were there before)

We need strong communication between students through facebook - shared blog so people in Al Quds can post things - so you can always go back if you want to keep up to date

Work with Pal Soc, can keep things connected more

CADFA helpful with monthly reminder

**CADFA volunteers** need on-going link with the people involved in each uni

CADFA student links with a rep from each college - maybe with regular meetings and maybe not

Make sure the issues are in the middle of it all - campaigns eg administrative detention

Make posters and activities - visible campaigns/ demos