|
|
Background
The Arab Children Friends Association (ACFA) was founded in 1986 and is dedicated to serving the educational, cultural and artistic needs of Arab Palestinian children. ACFA is a non-governmental organization with no relationship to either the Israeli government or the Palestinian Authority. Through its efforts it is committed to improving the scholastic performance of Palesitnian Arab children, increasing their knowledge of their culture and history, and providing opportunities for Palestinian Arab children to express themselves artistically.
The Palestinian Arab populations of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Israel are isolated from one another as a result of heavy border and security restrictions. As a result, contacts amongst the communities are limited, as are opportunities for communication and social and educational cooperation. This influences negatively the development of a healthy Palestinian Arab culture and identity among children and young people in the above-mentioned three areas. This social reality is made more difficult by the dire economic situation of the Palestinian Arab people.
In order to rectify the situation, ACFA endeavors to educate Arab Palestinian children, young people and educators in order to bolster their sense of identity, to foster dignity, creativity, equality, democracy, environmental consciousness, and to inspire responsibility to their community.
During the two decades since its establishment, ACFA has focused on four main projects to achieve these goals:
- Publishing two children's magazines - Alhayat Lilatfal and Alhayat Lilasafeer
- and a variety of children's books,
- Conducting yearly children's festivals,
- Maintaining a Mobile Library, and
- Supplying books to the mother's and children’s centers and hospitals in the West Bank, Gaza Strip & Israel.
In addition, ACFA conducts seminars, meetings, and other social activities amongst the different Palestinian Arab communities of the West bank, Gaza Strip and Israel, who are otherwise separated . These activities enable Palestinian Arab children to engage one another across borders, as well as strengthen the bonds between the various communities, both Muslim and Christian. ACFA also aims at providing relief for Palestinian children who suffer under the current political crisis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Future goals for ACFA include the development of children's libraries and kindergartens in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Israel; to this end, ACFA expects to provide long term support for the educators, nursery teachers, and librarians who will maintain these establishments. In addition, ACFA will continue to compose new children's literature for publication, while running and - whenever possible - expanding the children's festivals, mobile library, and magazine publications.
ACFA operates according to legal guidelines set for non-profit organizations in Israel. The eleven members of ACFA are all volunteers and meet four times a year. ACFA members are involved in all major decisions, review ACFA financial reports and participate in almost all ACFA activities. Their professions cross a broad spectrum of occupations, from nursing to art. Regular meetings are held to discuss and review the progress being made towards achieving our goals. The permanent staff of ACFA are its magazine editor, a cartoonist, a distributor and a secretary.
ACFA believes that children's development, both in identity and education, is vital to a healthy society. Promoting community and the freedom of expression is at the heart of ACFA's efforts, and, in our opinion, at the heart of developing a meaningful and lasting peace. ACFA's efforts have met with critical acclaim, stemming from our success in brining education and opportunities to thousands of impoverished Palestinian Arab children. With new libraries and children's publications in the horizon, more cross-border visits between Palestinian Arab communities, and more emerging leaders ready to contribute positively to their communities, ACFA holds an optimistic view regarding the future and looks forward to many more years of service.
|
|