The Palestinian participants

Hazem Abu Hilal – Dar Assadaqa project worker (co-ordinator of the EVS project) – YOUTH LINKS. Hazem has a lot of knowledge and experience in working with youth and civil society and is a trainer in different topics. Hazem hopes to learn new skills and new experience in relation to twinning and   youth work  and development in general and see how the youth and NGOs work in the UK and exchange experience between Palestine and Britain

Lama Abu Helal – journalist – WOMEN’S LINKS. Lama is very interested in music and singing and part of several choir and bands. She is new to the twinning activities in Dar Assadaqa and is keen to improve her skills as a leader so she can be more involved in activities  useful to women, young people and also disabled people and old people.

Najah Afaneh – WOMEN’S LINKS. Najah is a member of the Abu Dis local council women’s committee. She is famous in CADFA circles as she has made wonderful Palestinian food for our visitors and volunteers since CADFA began.  She has been involved with Dar Assadaqa for several years and came on a women’s visit to the UK with CADFA in 2007.  She has co-ordinated women’s activities there for the past four years. She hopes to develop her team-work skills and meet new people during this visit.

Noor Hanbali, teacher from Nablus – WOMEN’S LINKS. Noor was an EVS volunteer in the UK with CADFA. She was a leader on the CADFA women’s visit to the UK last year. She also hopes to work to improve the twinning between schools and universities. She is hoping to learn more about leadership, better communication, different culture

Rana Ghabbash – student at Birzeit University. Rana is part of the YOUTH LINKS team: she runs the Dar Assadaqa dabkeh and drama group. She’s keen to come as she can learn more about leadership and she has seen how others have benefited from CADFA visits. She aims to improve her knowledge of what CADFA is doing and how to work with her group. She says "I believe in the  justice of the Palestinian issue ,and i do believe that my country lives under oppression and always looks as undeveloped country so this opportunity will help me in improving the vision to Palestine and also will increase the level of awareness of my country when being a good leader."

Salah Bader – YOUTH LINKS -  Scout leader at Abu Dis Youth Club and a member of  the club management team. (Abu Dis Youth Club has worked with CADFA for a number of years) Salah has experience as a teacher and a manager in Palestinian Civil Affairs ministry. He is sure that being part of this project will broaden his experience in relation to youth work, co-operation with other groups. He hopes to learn more about twinning work, hosting and leading exchange visits and about other cultures.

Sameh Eriqat – STUDENT LINKS. Sameh works at Al Quds University in the Students’ Affairs Department. He is involved in the Palestinian Council of Young Political Leaders, the Palestinian Animal Right League and the Palestinian Foundation for Education for Employment.  Sameh works with Dar Assadaqa on the programme for EVS volunteers. He hopes that this visit will help the Al Quds University to improve its partnership with CADFA, and looks forward to meeting new people, gaining new experience, widening his horizon and opening his mind to new thoughts.

Hosam Oriba – a student at Al Quds University. YOUTH LINKS. Hosam is an enthusiastic volunteer at Dar Assadaqa, working with the young people and also supporting the EVS volunteers. He expects to learn more about CADFA, twinning and to gain new skills.

Abdulkareem Bader is a lecturer in logic at Al Quds University. He has been involved in CADFA since the beginning and he is a member of Dar Assadaqa management. He has led students on previous CADFA exchanges and helps to support the EVS volunteers from Dar Assadaqa in their work at the university. Abdulkareem is very keen on improving the international links of Al Quds University and supporting and developing the work of CADFA. He wants to learn more about leading youth exchanges.

Talal Abu Shawish from Gaza is a Deputy Principle in the UNRWA School in Nuseirat Refugee Camp. He is also a writer. He came in summer 2013 on a CADFA planning visit for one of our children’s projects but by the time the visit itself happened, the group were trapped in Gaza and unable to come. In January 2014, he was the leader of a group of students coming on a CADFA visit – they were also unable to travel. We very much hope to see Talal on this visit if it is possible and we are waiting to welcome him, but we know that the situation at the Rafah crossing is very very difficult at the moment.

Abdul Wahab Sabbah – CADFA co-ordinator in Abu Dis, co-ordinator of Dar Assadaqa and leader of the Palestinian group. Abed is central in Camden Abu Dis twinning work on the Palestinian side and will help to train the group.