Education Palestine Project #15523

Ibn Rushd Library

by Rebuilding Alliance

Project Report | Nov 9, 2024
Summer Fun and Learning: Summer Camp at Ibn Rushd Library

By Maria Syed and Lama Abed | Director of Development and Staff writer

Thanks to your support, Ibn Rushd Library organized a summer camp for the children of Al Aqaba Village from August 25th to August 31st, 2024. The camp created an environment that promoted positive interactions, fostered friendships, and encouraged self-expression.

The summer camp was organized to foster a love for reading, supporting children's emotional well-being, and enhancing community spirit.
Held at the Ibn Rushd Library, the camp welcomed 60 children aged 6 to 14.
The Participants were organized into four thematic activity areas: Library, Sports, Art, and Health.
Each day, activities aligned with a unique theme that encouraged exploration of core values such as friendship, respect, and courage through interactive sessions guided by facilitators.
Each day offered new learning experiences centred around a specific theme.
In the Library corner, children learned new stories accompanied by traditional songs that reinforced the values of friendship.
The Art corner invited younger participants to paint freely, while older children collaborated to build a dinosaur model, symbolizing the importance of teamwork.
In the Health corner, children learned about personal hygiene and engaged in interactive games that highlighted healthy and unhealthy habits.
In Sports corner, they participated in team-building activities such as tug of war and fireball.
Children also learned about values such as respect and tolerance.
These activities helped the children deal with their complex feelings, become resilient, and improve their social skills all while being in a caring and supportive environment.

The children who participated in the camp had a great time and shared their experiences with us.

Saleh, 11 years old, said: "At home, I used to spend all my time on phones and the internet. But when we came here, we played and found a way to express ourselves." He added, "We were affected by the raids in the village and the targeting of children. The camp helped us forget about all this."

Watan, 6 years old, said: "I really love the camp and don't want this to end."

Qalb Al-Deen, 11 years old, said: "I was feeling scared of the raids and the demolition of homes by the occupation forces. Because of the summer camp, I feel much better."

Every day, children were provided with healthy and delicious meals. In addition to these wholesome meals, children also received small gifts, enhancing their overall experience and joy.

The camp successfully established a nurturing and supportive environment where children could receive psychosocial support. Through a variety of well-organized and engaging activities, the participants were encouraged to express their feelings, build confidence, and confront their fears in a safe space. This approach helped foster connections among the children, allowing them to share their experiences and feelings.

We are grateful to our donors for their invaluable support, which made this enriching experience possible for these children.

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Jul 5, 2024
The vital role of the Ibn Rushd Library during challenging times

By Lama Abed and Maria Syed | Staff writer and Director of Development

Entertainment activity with children

Thanks to your support, the Ibn Rushd Library continues to be a vital resource for children, offering them a safe space to read, learn, and engage in meaningful activities.

The librarian holds story-telling sessions three times a week. One notable activity involved reading the story of the Sunbird and then making paper wings. This activity brought great joy to the children. Other stories that were read to the children at the library are: The Frightened Prince, Grandma is with Us, Rama is Flying, The Sweetest Songs, I Only Like the Color Pink, Immigrant Roses, and What Happened in the Pond.
Shafiqa designs library activities based on the needs of the children, drawing on her training in psychology to help them cope with the stress of being near a firing zone.
Earlier, children used to visit other libraries, and kids from different areas would come to Ibn Rushd Library. However, due to the restrictions on movement, these visits have come to a halt.
She maintains close contact with the local kindergarten and coordinates library activities with the kindergarten's lessons. Kindergarteners also visit the library on different days.
Currently, 35 boys and 30 girls visit the library. The library has organized various activities, which include:

Entertainment: On Eid, the children wrote greeting cards to their parents and peers.
Story reading: Children borrowed short stories and discussed these in the library.
Educational workshops: The library partnered with War Child and Brotherhood Foundation in Tubas to hold multiple sessions on friendship, assertiveness, and respect.
Kindergarten graduation ceremony: The librarian helped organize the recent kindergarten graduation ceremony. Due to the unstable security situation, the ceremony was not too grand and even parents were not invited. However, the teachers of Al-Haq Kindergarten made efforts to bring joy to the children's faces with dances, folk music, graduation robes, and gifts. After the performances, they engaged in entertainment and games.

All these activities were made possible through the generous support of our donors, to whom we extend our heartfelt gratitude.

Writing Eid messages

The kindergarten graduation

Children holding their favorite story books

Reading a story for the children

Coloring activity

Reading " My mother is flying " story

Reading "Grandma is with us " story

Writing an Eid message for children in Gaza

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Mar 11, 2024
Storytelling sessions and so much more at Ibn Rushd Library, thanks to you!

By Maria Syed | Analyst and Strategist

A child at Ibn Rushd

The Ibn Rushd Library has been at the forefront of nurturing the emotional, educational, and social well-being of children in the Al Aqaba Village and its surrounding regions, thanks to the unwavering support of our donors. Through an array of meticulously curated activities, the library has not only become a haven for learning but also a sanctuary for children to express their deepest emotions and aspirations amidst the ongoing challenges.

Under the guidance of Librarian Shafeqa, we've taken significant strides in integrating art as a therapeutic and expressive medium for children. One particularly poignant initiative had the children engage with the narrative of a Palestinian artist's resilience, using art as a means to voice aspirations amid adversity. This led to an exercise where the children created two sets of freehand drawings: one illustrating their personal dreams, and the other empathetically portraying the dreams they imagined children in Gaza might hold.

Expanding our scope to cater to the youngest minds, Shafeqa introduced the new batch of kindergarteners to the enchanting world of books and the foundational rules of library etiquette. These sessions were carefully designed to intertwine storytelling with learning, sparking early interest in literature and learning.

In a celebration of cultural heritage, the library hosted a folk story session that went beyond the narrative, inviting children to immerse themselves in traditional Palestinian attire, deepening their connection to their roots and the rich tapestry of their culture.

The essence of childhood — play, and creativity — was embraced through outdoor games and activities that encouraged children to bring their favorite story characters to life through art and impersonation, advocating for a holistic development approach.

Looking ahead, the library held a special plenary session to collaboratively plan future activities, ensuring that the children's voices and suggestions are central to our agenda. This participative approach not only empowers the children but also ensures the library remains a dynamic and responsive haven for learning and personal development.
The progress we share today could not have been possible without the generous contributions of our donors. Your continued support is pivotal in sustaining and expanding the impact of the Ibn Rushd Library. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to share further achievements as we continue this enriching journey together, fostering a nurturing environment for the children of Al Aqaba Village and beyond.

Storytelling session in progress

Children enjoy listening to stories

An activity post-storytelling session

Bringing story characters to life

Children love coming to the library

Outdoor fun!

Getting creative

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