Maha has made an amazing programme with a mix of music and talks from some of the people met on the women's visit to Palestine earlier this month... Do listen!!
https://www.mixcloud.com/ktokradio/mahas-music-ft-cadfa-women-march-2017/
Friday 31 March 2017
Saturday 25 March 2017
Brent event - talking about the women's visit
It was great that four of the people who went on the women's visit were at the CADFA Brent event today. Sumiya told the story if the visit with interruptions from the others of us. Although we're back and getting rested, the visit has made a strong impression on us all and it is good to talk to other people about it.
From the organisers' point of view, one of the successes of the visit is the strong feeling we have that the people on the visit will really follow it up with strong actions. Already Maha is making a radio programme, Annika is back leading the women's stall at Bloomsbury, with offers of help from many of the others, Sheila is making a room booking at a community centre near her for a feedback event, Chadia, Maha, Sumiya all helped with this one and Kate travelled all the way from Northampton to be there. Frances and Patricia have talked about the visit in Hackney and many more we're sure. It certainly has given a boost to the women's links part of CADFA.
So it was really nice as part of this event to meet Khalida and Humera from Al-Nissa organisation in Wembley, and discuss the ways their work with women and ours could overlap and help each other. .. The situation in Palestine is terrible but we are building a network of friends all over the place who care about each other and interested in working hard for human rights.
Thanks everyone who came and helped! Hope to see you at the next one.
Friday 24 March 2017
Work with the Insan Centre for Gender Studies
CADFA would like to thank our partner at the Al Quds University, the Insan Centre for Gender Studies, for a stimulating discussion during the women's exchange from which the visitors learned so much and also for the final event at the University theatre on Sunday 19th March. Here, the participants from the exchange made presentations on what they had learned from the week of visits and discussions, and on what they intend to do with what they had learned.
It was a very interesting summing up of an intense week which had shocked and stimulated the UK visitors. They were impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of the people they had met and deeply sad about the situation they are living in. They have many ideas for further work with people they have met and with CADFA, highlighting and explaining what is going on in Palestine to others and campaigning for human rights.
The session led to a number of other discussions about the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, about the meaning of the songs sung by school children in the mornings and about next steps and new projects that the Insan Centre might undertake with CADFA.
Thank you again!
Sunday 19 March 2017
what Human rights means to us
Sunday
19th March 2017
4:00-5:45 Pm
Today we started working on a new project that we have been eagerly exited about since the beginning of forming our team .
Today our destination was Alquds university Campus
with a new project in the making , A series of Videos on the (Human rights terms and actions) . and today we started by our first video that is based on one question we ask and interact with through the video .
we had 10 girls from our group participating in this first video of this project under the name of (Palestinians Q&A )
And for our first video the question was ( What does the term Human Rights means to You ? )
We choose to be involved in the first video mostly because it's the first in the series , and The question moved us to be involved, However for our next videos in the making The participants will vary between us as a group , university students ad well as random people in the streets , so we can get a greater perspectives and answers from the whole Palestinian community .
This Upcoming week we will work on Editing the material we have from this video , to Have a great result at the end.
Until then we are exited to share this post with The readers to keep you updated until the video is uploaded next week
19th March 2017
4:00-5:45 Pm
Today we started working on a new project that we have been eagerly exited about since the beginning of forming our team .
Today our destination was Alquds university Campus
we had 10 girls from our group participating in this first video of this project under the name of (Palestinians Q&A )
And for our first video the question was ( What does the term Human Rights means to You ? )
We choose to be involved in the first video mostly because it's the first in the series , and The question moved us to be involved, However for our next videos in the making The participants will vary between us as a group , university students ad well as random people in the streets , so we can get a greater perspectives and answers from the whole Palestinian community .
This Upcoming week we will work on Editing the material we have from this video , to Have a great result at the end.
Until then we are exited to share this post with The readers to keep you updated until the video is uploaded next week
Tuesday 14 March 2017
Embroidery
We visited Al Nahda Centre in Abu Dis, a women's centre in a beautiful old house with arched ceilings and thick walls. Outside was a small courtyard with typical Palestinian trees -a fig, an olive, an askidunia... it is a lovely place on the edge of a hill, and nice to meet their people working there, including Aseel who also works at Dar Assadaqa.
We were shown the beautiful products of the efforts of women in their centre: heaps of exquisite embroidery:
Chadia is cooking delicious food again!
A brief pause in a busy women's visit...Today we've been to schools, the University, the Prisoner Museum, a women's group.. and had a long conversation with young people about their lives in Abu District. In the other room we found Chadia. Look what she's doing! !!
Aida Camp
We went to Aida refugee camp and saw the entrance in the shape of a keyhole and a key. This represents the refugee experience. People left their homes with their keys, expecting to return. This really struck me: we could just walk in and out through the keyhole but they can't go back home because their homes have been taken away. They've been left with their keys but no door. The keys represent hope of returning to their homeland.
We visited the Rowwad Centre where we had an introduction by a young man who talked very fast - he had obviously given this lecture before. He introduced a film about the camp and its international connections. They provide a lot of services for young people. The film showed a lot of theatre and arts - they have toured in a number of European countries. It was interesting to see how they use drama as therapy. We saw a library - everything was so lovely and clean. They had a lot of equipment and they have their own radio service. They can now offer a recognised diploma in media studies.
We didn't walk around the camp and talk to people as it was raining very hard, but we met and had a good conversation with two women, who answered a lot of questions about women and the help they get at the centre. They particularly try and help women to develop the skills for employment - some of the produce was in the shop (embroidery for example).
We visited the Rowwad Centre where we had an introduction by a young man who talked very fast - he had obviously given this lecture before. He introduced a film about the camp and its international connections. They provide a lot of services for young people. The film showed a lot of theatre and arts - they have toured in a number of European countries. It was interesting to see how they use drama as therapy. We saw a library - everything was so lovely and clean. They had a lot of equipment and they have their own radio service. They can now offer a recognised diploma in media studies.
We didn't walk around the camp and talk to people as it was raining very hard, but we met and had a good conversation with two women, who answered a lot of questions about women and the help they get at the centre. They particularly try and help women to develop the skills for employment - some of the produce was in the shop (embroidery for example).
Women's visit to Palestine 2017 - Our first impressions
As expected, we had a three-hour wait at Tel Aviv airport, for four of us. This ended in a two-minute conversation later, and we were allowed to leave.
We were met and driven back to Abu Dis. On the way, we were fortunate enough to see a wonderful panoramic view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. Tired and weary, we arrived at Dar Assadaqa, were comforted by a delicious meal of fish, rice and salad, after which we retired to our accommodation and the rest of the night was a blur.
SUNDAY
Today has been an eye-opener for all of us. The realisation of the Separation Wall and the way it has affected people in a social, political and economic way. Despite the harsh realities of their lives, the Palestinian women we met today are strong-spirited and have a strong sense of their identity. We have come to realise that biased reporting in the media does not represent the Palestinian community.
We had an incredible and informative visit to the historical and religious centre where staff work tirelessly to preserve the records and information of Palestine from the sixteenth century during the Ottoman Empire right up to the 1940s, including detailed records of land, people's livelihoods and income that had been retained for tax purposes. They also have records of court hearings which provide a very thorough social history. We appreciated the efforts of the staff at the centre in explaining their work even though we arrived very late.
Walking around Abu Dis, we could see the cruel and illogical destruction of the town.
Finally, we had a look at the checkpoint to Jerusalem, and learned of the difficulties and tragedies that occur here for the Palestinians. Palestinians living in the West Bank require permission to enter Jerusalem and to enter the checkpoints, even to visit sick or dying relatives, seeking medical attention or just to pray at Al Aqsa Mosque.
We were met and driven back to Abu Dis. On the way, we were fortunate enough to see a wonderful panoramic view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. Tired and weary, we arrived at Dar Assadaqa, were comforted by a delicious meal of fish, rice and salad, after which we retired to our accommodation and the rest of the night was a blur.
SUNDAY
Today has been an eye-opener for all of us. The realisation of the Separation Wall and the way it has affected people in a social, political and economic way. Despite the harsh realities of their lives, the Palestinian women we met today are strong-spirited and have a strong sense of their identity. We have come to realise that biased reporting in the media does not represent the Palestinian community.
We had an incredible and informative visit to the historical and religious centre where staff work tirelessly to preserve the records and information of Palestine from the sixteenth century during the Ottoman Empire right up to the 1940s, including detailed records of land, people's livelihoods and income that had been retained for tax purposes. They also have records of court hearings which provide a very thorough social history. We appreciated the efforts of the staff at the centre in explaining their work even though we arrived very late.
Walking around Abu Dis, we could see the cruel and illogical destruction of the town.
Finally, we had a look at the checkpoint to Jerusalem, and learned of the difficulties and tragedies that occur here for the Palestinians. Palestinians living in the West Bank require permission to enter Jerusalem and to enter the checkpoints, even to visit sick or dying relatives, seeking medical attention or just to pray at Al Aqsa Mosque.
Saturday 11 March 2017
women's visit to Palestine March 2017
 |
| The lovely women group from the UK at the airport This morning on their way to Palestine |
to share our stories and life experiences , Have a great time here .
And welcome to Palestine :)
And welcome to Palestine :)
.....
Palestinian women group
Wednesday 8 March 2017
Video for International Women's Day!!
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1463391133693457&id=267060239993225
Looking forward to the women's visit to Palestine!!
Twelve of us are going to Palestine on this year's CADFA women's exchange - and we're looking forward! Today is 8th March, which reminds us that we've been celebrating International Women's Day in CADFA with events and also with women's exchanges, every year since 2006 (though last year's exchange was in the end in May!)
Here is a video from our women's day in Camden on Sunday to celebrate today... And soon we will be able to show you our women's day in Abu Dis!!
Here is a video from our women's day in Camden on Sunday to celebrate today... And soon we will be able to show you our women's day in Abu Dis!!
Struggle to hold our International Women's Day in Camden
We had real problems when our International Women's Day celebration in Camden was cancelled... but we ran it anyway, and it was beautiful. Here is what we wrote beforehand, and the petition we set up to go on running it at Kentish Town Centre, and some photos of the celebration which in the end was at St Pancras Church Hall.
Toda
y is CADFA’s international women’s day celebration in London! n Palestine, CADFA will also take part in an International Women’s Day celebration with Dar Assadaqa and the Gender Studies Centre at the Al Quds University) We’re very much looking forward to celebrating with Palestinian food, international music and dabkeh dance from Palestine as well as speakers from the UK (Baroness Jenny Tonge) and Palestine (Shahd Abusalama from Gaza and – by video – young women from Dar Assadaqa, Abu Dis).
We’re doubly looking forward to this because of the problems we’ve had in the last few days since an unnamed caller to Camden Council questioned the suitability of Jenny Tonge to be speaking – we’re sure as a way of causing problems for our organisation – and Kentish Town Community Centre withdrew their room booking in a way we believe was unnecessary and wrong.
We mounted a small petition that got 250 signatures in a day, and we know the strength of feeling around us as our inbox was full of messages of support. We gave KTCC plenty of information but they were not able to listen, so we decided in any case that we’d rather be somewhere else. We are very happy that we’ll be in St Pancras Church Hall today and we’re looking forward.
There are perhaps four main focuses now, all of them focuses on struggle, uneven progress, huge challenges and the need to keep going.
Focus one is on women, particularly acknowledging the strength and contribution of women in Palestine and Britain in so many ways. It’s such a contradictory time with opportunities and strengths on the increase and oppression and limitations very strong as well; it’s great to see our daughters in both countries take some things for granted we their mothers couldn’t do, its great to see their strength and energy in education and work and political struggle, but it’s an uneven picture. They’re struggling on amidst what feels like an even worse picture of women and even worse pressures in some ways than we had, in our very different societies (each with their very different parts). Women have been particularly important in CADFA since the beginning and more on that in point 4.
Another focus obviously hugely important is on Palestinian human rights: it’s so shocking that the situation for women and men alike has got worse in Abu Dis and Palestine since we began in CADFA and it was already shocking in 2003. We care a lot about women in Palestine but also men and young people girls and boys. All are suffering badly from systematic human rights violations in a racist regime that can be compared to apartheid. Look at the headlines from just Abu Dis in the past ten years (in our recent booklet)…
The third focus, exemplified by our struggle to run this event and that of many other recent meetings on Palestine, is the situation in Britain: the onslaught on free speech, particularly on Palestine, the problem faced by our own event and many others round the country, the ways the government’s Prevent agenda is used in a discriminatory and unwise fashion, particularly agaonst Muslims, and including in some cases a crazy use of the wod “Palestine” as a trigger for danger, and the misuse of the term “antisemitism” – outside the context of racism – to target criticism of Israel and shut down debate.
This women’s day of ours is taking place at the end of Israeli Apartheid Week – noted in universities across the country with stalls, meetings, mock checkpoints etc … but this year seemingly under attack by people wanting to shut their meetings as they (whoever they are) nearly shut ours. We will be keen to work with them and others to argue for Free Speech on Palestine – in order for people to understand and then to raise their voices against discrimination and racism and for human rights for everyone.
Focus four is activity to work on these things. In the context of today, what we want to think about is CADFA’S women’s links, which have been going since 2006 and are proudly moving on Some things to draw attention to are
– exchange visits to Palestine and to the UK -we’ve had a woman’s visit a year since 2906 and the 12th is coming up this month!
– volunteers in the UK and Palestine
– our women’s book and films
– the women’s stall
– the women’s blog
– human rights media work in Palestine (and coming here)
– projects such as the girls’ football visit.
– exchange visits to Palestine and to the UK -we’ve had a woman’s visit a year since 2906 and the 12th is coming up this month!
– volunteers in the UK and Palestine
– our women’s book and films
– the women’s stall
– the women’s blog
– human rights media work in Palestine (and coming here)
– projects such as the girls’ football visit.
We hope you’ll come today if you can! And if not, please be aware of these things that happen and join in our activity and help!!
CADFA 5th March 2017 
Saturday 4 March 2017
Palestinian cookery masterclass in London
The first Palestinian cookery masterclass in London, arranged by Mila and Annika from the Calthorpe Project together with Chadia, Palestinian masterchef, was excellent! All reports are that the learning was great, the company excellent, the food delicious, and that everyone wants to do it again. Thanks everyone too for helping make a bit of money for Cadfa women's links.
Wednesday 1 March 2017
Preparation for ( INTERNATIONAL WOMEN DAY )
Sunday 26th February 2017
4:00 - 5:00
الأحد ٢٦ شباط ٢٠١٧
الساعة ٤:٠٠ مساءا
Today we had a quick session of chit chat , where the girls brainstormed their minds upon the matter of living in Palestine .
where words like settlements , attacks . checkpoint,clashes and distribution were the main topics .
From there we went on to filming our video contribution in the event taking place in the 5th of March at CADFA event of International women day .
It was extremely interesting to listen what the girls had in mind, and how similar we all can be .
Whenever they talked about Palestine , or any event of their daily life as a Palestinian , feeling like pride, sadness and sometimes irony couldn't be missed .
we are really exited for everyone taking place at the event of 5th march , to watch our contribution and share their thoughts with us .
4:00 - 5:00
الأحد ٢٦ شباط ٢٠١٧
الساعة ٤:٠٠ مساءا
where words like settlements , attacks . checkpoint,clashes and distribution were the main topics .
From there we went on to filming our video contribution in the event taking place in the 5th of March at CADFA event of International women day .
It was extremely interesting to listen what the girls had in mind, and how similar we all can be .
Whenever they talked about Palestine , or any event of their daily life as a Palestinian , feeling like pride, sadness and sometimes irony couldn't be missed .
we are really exited for everyone taking place at the event of 5th march , to watch our contribution and share their thoughts with us .
لقاءنا في هذا اليوم كان سريعا وسلسا حيث شاركت الفتيات بعاصفتهن الذهنية حول ما يعنيه لهم ان تعيش في فلسطين
.حيث لم تغب كلمات كالاحتلال ، المستوطنات ، الاعتداءات وغيرها عن المشهد
بعد ذلك انطلقنا لتصوير فيديو تتحدث فيه كل منا عما يجول في خاطرهن عن حياتهن في فلسطين لنشارك به في الاحتفال بيوم المرأة العالمي الظي ستحتمل به مؤسسة دار الصداقة في الخامس من الشهر
كان امرا مثيرا للاهتمام لنشهد احداث قصصنا معا ، ولنرى كم نحن متشابهون على اختلافنا
كلما تحدثن عن فلسطين او ي حدث في حياتهن اليومية كفلسطينيات لاحت مشاعر الحزن ، الفخر المختلطة بالسخرية في بعض الاحيان
ومن هنا نقول لكم كم نحن متشوقين لنستمع الى اراءكم انتم من ستشاهدون مشاركتنا في هذا الاحتفال
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