|
|
|
Funding
to Date:
|
|
$8,151 (%)
As of Feb 13 02:57 2012
|
|
|
Theme:
Human Rights
|
|
|
Sponsor: Marketplace 2005
|
|
Project duration: 6 Months
Project's area of focus: Peace and Childrens Rights
|
|
|
|
Palestinian children need safe places where they can safely leave the occupation and enter into their imagination. Moms and dads need warm places to gather with one another as their children play. The Aramin family, among the founders of Combatants for Peace, has sought to turn their tragedy and despair into care, creativity, and teamwork in memory of their daughter. The world needs to hear more from Combatants for Peace and recognize them as a force for peaceful change.
|
|
|
|
So far, C4P has built two playgrounds, each with remarkable outcomes. First, when Rebuilding Alliance brought Combatants for Peace to speak throughout the United States, they were welcomed at synagogues, mosques, and churches. Senator John Kerry met with them, said he too is a Combatant for Peace, asked to help. The first playground was built at the Anata Girl's School. Families come there long after school. The grand opening of the 2nd playground in Al Samoa Simya will happen very soon. |
|
|
|
C4P provides an opportunity for Israeli and Palestinian former combatants to add positive action to their meetings. When they work together to build for children they begin to heal. For many villagers, this is the first time they see Israelis who come in peace. The children gain a safe place to play, a place families can enjoy after school. As the word spreads, we hope C4P's model will overcome the occupation and nurture children and inspire all to work for fairness, justice, and peace. |
|
|
"Combatants for Peace are working together to build a place where children can be children, where they can go to be safe, to step out of the Occupation into a world of play and creativity, to heal."
- Zohar Shapira, Israeli co-founder of Combatants for Peace
|
Donna Baranski-walker,
Executive Director
457 Kingsley Avenue
Palo Alto, California 94301
United States
650 325 4663
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Rebuilding Alliance is dedicated to rebuilding war-torn communities and making them safe. Our vision is a just and enduring peace in Israel and Palestine with equal value, opportunity, and security for all.
|
|
|
|
Village-centered rebuilding at its best!
Rebuilding Alliance is a coalition of people and groups around the world dedicated to helping war-torn neighborhoods rebuild, and promoting policy change to make them safe. We start by partnering with Israeli and Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) to help Palestinian communities rebuild.
We believe that if our world is to meet the big challenges that face us at this time in history, we must make peace in Israel and Palestine.
We believe a child's life can be changed for good by rebuilding her/his home and neighborhood.
We believe construction is the best response to destruction, that rebuilding projects ease trauma, build trust, strengthen peacemakers, advance law, and press officials forward in tangible ways.
Since its launch in 2003, the Rebuilding Alliance has been amplifying the voices of peacemakers and their communities. Together we are becoming a significant voice for village-centered rebuilding and human rights.
|
|
|
|
Abir's Garden Playgrounds for a Safe Place to Grow
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Donna Baranski-Walker,
Executive Director
Founded in 2003
Employees: 4
Volunteers: 120
|
|
Other funding sources: Our funding comes from thousands of small donors who come to us though speaking events. We do receive grants from foundations, peace groups, and Rotary Clubs. To raise funds and spread the word, we also sell organic, extra-virgin olive oil and za'atar fair trade from Palestine in our shop in San Mateo!
Religious Affiliation: none
|
|
|
|
|
Zohar, now a teacher in a Waldorf school in Israel, served for 15 years in the elite unit "Sayert Matkal", as a combatant and commander. After the bloody spring of 2002, when hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians were killed in mutual violence, he refused to serve in the occupied territories. Zohar is married with one child.
|
|
|
|
At the age of 17 he was sentenced to 7 years in Israeli prison for belonging to the then-outlawed Fatah movement and for weapons possession. Beaten by soldiers in prison, he decided that he would not become a prisoner of hatred. He and his wife had six children, five remain.
| |
|
|
Engineering graduate from MIT who founded the Rebuilding Alliance in 2003 to help rebuild homes and communities in conflict zones and make them safe.
|
|
