Children's Library at Dir Ammar
Work begins on the Library project at Dir Ammar Refugee Camp in Ramallah
BRTI is placed 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 though 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.
Background Information
Our aim is to turn this empty space into a children's library
Why develop links with Ramallah?
Ramallah is a prominent city in Palestine which is currently serving as the administrative and cultural centre while we all wait for a settlement to the conflict. We are developing friendship links to allow people from Birmingham and Ramallah to meet, communicate and learn about how each other lives. This is particularly important for Palestinians as this will give an opportunity for ordinary people in Birmingham to learn about the problems they face as a result of the illegal occupation of their land.
Why are we fundraising?
The Palestinian economy has been devastated by the Israeli occupation. Israel controls movement of people and goods both within the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and between the OPT and the outside world. We are fundraising to support small scale projects within Ramallah and the Municipality. The situation in the refugee camps is very difficult because they are funded by the UNRWA, which has been reducing its funding to the camps and their refugees. Without outside help projects such as the Children's Library at Deir Ammar would not be completed. UNRWA runs a school in the camp but the children have limited facilities outside school and no Internet access.
What is the Project?
The Deir Ammar Refugee Camp is home to just under 2300 refugees and has limited facilities for children. The project is about completing the construction and equipping of a Library in the Camp's Community Centre. This is to include furnishing and stocking with books, computers and Internet access. The overall cost is estimated at $14,000 or £8,000.
We have already had books donated to the project by Birmingham Central Library.
How and who will deliver it?
We aim to raise the £8,000 for the Library project through events and from other donations from the people of Birmingham. The money raised will be banked by the Birmingham Ramallah twinning Committee and sent to the Bank account of the Popular Committee for the Twinning of Birmingham and Ramallah in Palestine. They will work with the Camps Popular Committee to supervise the project. We aim to use mainly local resources and service providers in Ramallah or other parts of the OPT.
How do we provide feedback?
We will monitor the implementation of the project through our sister committee in Ramallah who will make regular visits and will hold regular meetings with the Camp's Popular Committee.
How will funds be administered?
They will be administered via our sister Committee in Ramallah.
