Welcome
HOPING stands
for Hope and Optimism for Palestinians In the Next Generation.
This next generation will be the key to peace. To encourage and improve
all aspects of children’s lives we provide grants to community
projects working with children in Palestinian refugee camps.
FURTHER INFO…
The HOPING Foundation has given 183 grants to date.
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Karen Koning AbuZayd, Commissioner General of UNRWA with Bella Freud and Karma Nabulsi in Shufat Girls School in the West Bank
UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, is the United Nations agency in the Middle East working for Palestinian refugees. In November 2006 HOPING formed an alliance with this international organisation to work together to highlight and raise awareness in the UK about the urgent issue of Palestinian refugee children.
HOPING for UNRWA : Events and delegations
HOPING for UNRWA held a dinner last October hosted by Jemima Khan for UNRWA's Commissioner General Karen AbuZayd in order to raise awareness about this extraordinary UN agency, and especially the Palestinian refugee children who live in such difficult circumstances.
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Stephen Frears in Balata Refugee camp, Nablus |
"Until I saw it with my own eyes, I did not fully understand what occupation meant. Going to Palestine changed my life. I was so shocked by what I saw and so impressed by the children I met in Balata camp, who somehow, against all adversity, remained positive and hopeful about the future"- Stephen Frears, Film Director |
We also organised a trip to occupied Palestine last summer with British film director, Stephen Frears, visiting HOPING activities in Balata and Qalandia refugee camps as well as UNRWA officials and facilities. The delegation met UN humanitarian officers that work in the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as Palestinian filmmakers and artists. We believe that providing an opportunity for people to see for themselves the daily reality, and witness at first hand the obstacles impeding everyday life under military occupation, is the most useful and direct means for them to learn more about the situation.
Signing of the Hoping for UNRWA agreement
Hoping invited John Barnes, legendary Liverpool and England footballer, to Gaza Strip to be special guest of UNRWA’s "Summer Games 2008". John joined over 11,000 young people in the Palestine Stadium in Gaza City, where he played a mini football match with two teams of children, danced the traditional Palestinian dabke with a group of boys and his son Jamie, and watched the celebrations at the Games’ closing ceremony.
Barnes gave an inspirational speech to the children of Gaza attending the event. "All you need, all anyone needs, is an opportunity to show what you can do," he said. "If I use football as an example," he added; "you can look at the greatest players in the world, Pele, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, they were just like you, growing up in an area with a field and a ball. But they had the right beliefs and the right desires. So regardless of your circumstances, wherever you happen to be, you keep that in your heart; that desire, that belief, that dedication and that discipline - and you can achieve anything you choose!"
