مبادرة توأمة بيرمنغهام ورام الله                                            

BRTI Barbeque on 19 July 2008

The Birmingham Ramallah Twinning Intiative (BRTI) is hloding a fundraising barbeque on Saturday the 19th of July at 41 Hollycroft Road, Handsworth, starting at 2 pm. Come along and enjoy a bite, a drink and learn more about our work. We hope to have a link up with members of our sister twinning committee in Ramallah.

We will be using Halal meet for the food and you will be able to taste some delicious Palestinain dips to go with it.

If you are planning to come, then please email birminghamramallh@yahoo.co.uk help us cater for the right numbers.   For further information contact:

Caroline Johnson, Secretary BRTI: 07855645199
Kamel Hawwash, Chair BRTI: 07765892702

11 MARCH 2008

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham holds a reception for Palestinian Women

His Worship, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Randall Brew accompanied by the Lady Mayoress held a reception for  two members of the Palestinian Women's delegation currently visitng the United Kingdom at the invitation of the Britain Paletine Twinning Network.  Councillor Brew listened to the women's peronal experince of life under Israeli occupation and encourged the developemnt of more links between Birmingham and Ramallah. 

11 MARCH 2008

Palestinian and British Women Mark Intenranional Women's Day in Birmingham

The Council Chamber at Birmingham City Council was the venue for a meeting organised by BRTI to mark International Women's Day.  Those in attendance were moved by the personal accounts given by two Palestinian visitors from Ramallah and Aizariya.  Thuraya and Rana descirbed the impact the Israeli occupation has on the daily lives of Palestinians in the West Bank.  The Israeli system of checkpoints and the seperation wall were depriving Palestinians of access to medical and educational services provided by the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA.  They explained the importance of links between Palestinians and the British people because they helped reduce the feeling of isolation that many Palestinians feel.  They said that the media in the West does no report the the situation in occupied Palestine fairly.  They also encouraged people to visit Palestine.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Catharine Grundy who thanked the women for overcomingmany obstacles to make their visit to the UK and the women encouraged everyone to work for a just resolution of the Palestinian problem based on International Law.

Work begins on the Library project at Dir Ammar Refugee Camp in Ramallah

BRTI is pleased to announce that work has started on the Library project at Dir Ammar which the people of Birmingham have very generously supported.  This has been through a combination of donations, Falafel Evenings and a Nasheed Competition.  We are also grateful for a very generous donation from the Sultan Bahur Trust.  The first phase of the block work is complete.