Promoting Child Literacy in Palestine

To say that this has been a tough year is an understatement. Many of you know the difficult situation that families in Silwan have been facing for years, but this neighborhood of East Jerusalem has been getting exceptionally more violent and severe in the past few months. Who of us haven't been moved, one way or the other, with the picture of six-year old Ruqaya Nassar from Silwan sleeping in the car with her teddy bear after her father had to demolish their home with his own hands because the Israeli authorities will make him pay for the home demolishing as it’s considered to be part of their services. Hence having to demolish his home with his own hands to save some money. 

When I spoke with Bayan Abbasi, from Madaa Silwan Creative Center in Silwan, East Jerusalem, she told me, “All of the children from Batn el-Hawa neighborhood in Silwan are under the risk of forced displacement through home demolitions. 68 families are under the threat of their houses either being demolished or taken over by Israeli settlers. This is a lot, some of these children had to witness their homes being destroyed by Israeli bulldozers, others had to witness their parents tearing down their home in front of their eyes. Not to mention all the violence that accompanies such acts, of Israeli forces repressing people for protesting these home demolitions and evictions, to violently detaining Palestinians protesting against these violations … etc.”

Why are we telling you this when we’re supposed to provide updates on the Child Literacy project, it’s because this has a direct impact on children’s education and well-being. And with the deliberate neglect from the Israeli authority, in addition to its direct role in the deteriorating situation to begin with; centers like Madaa and its branch of the Edward Said Library are extremely important and carry the huge responsibility of attending to all these children and their needs within the context of the library’s purpose and mission. 

The library has become a safe haven for both the children and their families in these extremely hard times. While taking the necessary covid-19 measurements, the library has been able to turn into an educational center for children, whether through tutoring, or book discussions for various age groups, including the mothers group as well. The library is currently run by the amazing Abeer Abbasi, where she supports tutoring lessons to children who need to in various subjects, she also organizes English courses for the mothers group, coding and programming courses. At times the activities of the children’s group and the mothers’ intersect; including English lessons, book discussions, artistic activities … etc. Not to mention recently introducing the Film Lab initative with Power Group, that helps make Palestinian films available for the public and organizes for people to interact with Palestinian producers and film makers for discussions and Q&As after the film screening. 

We realize that none of this would compensate for the loss of a home and a lifetime of memories, but the Edward Said Library has become yet another home where the children of Silwan and their families can invest in, build new memories, and re-empower the sense of community and unity, until there is a time where no family has to lose its sense of belonging and most importantly; home. 

We’ve shared with you before about the amazing work that the Edward Said Public Library in Gaza has been doing; especially under the even more complex reality of life under covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions. Today we would love to take you from the Edward Said Libraries in Gaza to the Edward Said Library in Silwan; the heart of Jerusalem. 

The Edward Said Library in Silwan is part of the Madaa Silwan Creative Center, in Wadi Hilweh, where it has opened its doors amid a global pandemic in early March of 2020. This might appear to be an irresponsible move, but realizing the rather tricky and challenging reality that was now imposed on everyone, it was rather vital to have the library get up and running to attend to the newly developed needs on the ground and behidn screens. 

We’re talking about either schools closing, or have reduced numbers of students or classes, zoom classes, having kids spend more time in already crowded households and neighborhoods due to the ongoing Israeli policies regarding planning and zoning. Palestinian homes contiued to be demolished leaving children and their families in rather tough and vulnerable emotional, mental, physical and financial state. And children were still being put under home-arrests. 

A year later, following the opening, the staff and volunteers working in the library have gone up and beyond to turn the library (that has its own cafe as well) into a safe haven; not only to the children of Silwan-Wadi Hilweh, but also their mothers and fathers. The library has had Book Clubs (virtual and personal with taking necessary precautions) for both the mothers and the children. They had programming courses, writing courses, campaigns to encourage reading books, and they even launched their first magazine early this year and it was shared with other kids at their libraries in different areas in Palestine. 

Dealing with such a harsh reality under military occupation is rather challenging on its own, let alone with a global pandemic, that only emphasized the weaknesses and gaps we already have within our communities. Yet, regardless of all of that, the team (staff and volunteers) at ESL in Silwan have managed to light a candle in such dark hard times. 

We are beyond honored to have been part of this journey, and we are beyond excited to see where the journey takes them next.  The library is raising hope; one child at a time, and the Edward Said legacy of knowledge and empowerment lives on.

Links:

• Edward Said Public Library in Gaza (Facebook)
• Edward Said Library in Silwan (Facebook)