Huda Ghalya Summer Academy 2006
The war goes on around us and the children and youth of Karama are noticeably affected- if we get the chance to look beyond the jokes and smiling faces that they usually offer us. One person that has etched herself into everyone’s conscience, is the girl who had her entire family killed by an Israeli rocket while they were having a picnic on the beach in Gaza. Her terrified face and loud pleading to them to come back to her and to forgive her if she had done something wrong, is difficult to suppress from our conscience. 
This year’s Summer Academy is dedicated to all the children who suffer the violence and subordination that are consequences of an occupation.
There has been a discussion whether or not we should proceed with the planned activities despite the tragic circumstances in Palestine and Lebanon, and we argued that it will somehow be a double punishment for the youth if the normal “treat” of the annual Summer Academy would be changed too much. We believe they will be strengthened by knowledge along with games and fun.
The Summer Academy has been planned and accomplished despite the small means Karama had for this event. We have tried to make the most of the money and time and feel that we have managed to give the youth both recreational time, as well as valuable learning experiences.
The activities have mainly taken place outdoors and in various parks around Bethlehem and Deheisha. The structure of the Summer Academy followed a similar one to last year’s, with some minor changes regarding what was offered in terms of for example materials and food. The youth started by dividing themselves into the two groups Media-Democracy and Social Knowledge. They were then given introductions to the topics. A part of the workshop time was spent playing Problem-Solving and Ice-Breaking games. This to strengthen the feeling of belonging as well as recharging the batteries.
In the Media Democracy group some of the topics that have been dealt with was the History of Democracy and the various forms of it, Election Procedures, Human Rights, Freedom of Speech and media’s responsibility when for example reporting from a conflict of some kind. The method of the workshop was alternated between lectures and smaller group work.
The Social Knowledge group ……………………….
There has been an
Environmental Cleaning Project that has ran alongside the main workshops, as well as a Mosaic one. More information can be found under Projects.
Preventive 2005/2006
Direction and Advice
The workshops address the changes in the life of adolescents and raises awareness in families of various problems that can arise.
Since Junuary 2006 karama has run Teenage Stage Workshops. It is a workshop that is held by psychologist Sharly Zidan. This workshop helps the teenagers and adults to meet twice a month to be able to discuss the many changes and the possible effects that affect them mentally, socially and emotionally during this period of their life. After having had discussions about various topics concerning them, they will be divided into small groups. Each group will discuss the issues that were most urgent in that specific group. Then each person, individually, writes about thoughts and issues they feel need to be dealt with or discussed more. This gives each person the opportunity to reflect on a deeper level of how they function and how to express their feelings in words. Again, the aim is to work with communication and build understanding and respect for the feelings and integrity of the adolescent as well as adults.
Youth Projects