Balata Camp, Palestine: Urgent Request.

international | miscellaneous | press release

Thursday July 21, 2005 17:05

by Jon Glackin - Street Seen

streetseen04 at hotmail dot com

07743275533

Financial Support Required!

Just recieved this urgent mail from Palestine:

We are writing this at a time of urgent need. As many of you may know, in
7 days a group of 22 children from Balata Refugee Camp will begin their
Ireland and UK tour.The "A'eedon" [we will return] troupe will be
performing a fusion of dabke dancing and drama.

This schedule for the month is comprised of many different venues and
events,with the intent to reach as wide and varied an audience as
possible.Starting in Ireland, the group will take part in a Feile
Festivalas a central part of a Palestinian theme.From Derry the group
will travel to Scotland, where they will perform at the world-famous
Edinburgh FringeFestival and other venues. Performance in Wales, Exeter
and London aim to bring Palestinian culture to people who might have
forgotten that Palestine has a culture. Numerous cultural exchange
forums and joint social outings will allow the children to meet with
local youth and learn from one another.

Although the Israel/Palestine issue is fairly high-profile in the UK and
Ireland, voices of camp residents remain marginalised. The "A'edoon"
performance will offer a rare insight into and emotional connection with
Palestinian lives, allowing the children to represent themselves not
merely as victims but as a people continuing their struggle.

None of the children have ever left Palestine, and for many it will be
their first time out of Nablus/Balata. Each child has his or her own
story of despair, poverty and struggle; most have family members
imprisoned or murdered. The alleyways of Balata provide little respite
and no means of dealing with trauma. Performance has given these children
a voice, a means to express their frustration, needs and resistance.
Taking these kids on tour will further challenge their isolation and
loneliness, giving them some hope in humanity and rebuilding their
self-confidence. Being allowed to perform their art to foreign audiences
and being appreciated for their skills will be one of the most amazing
experiences these children have ever?had.

Originally based on Marcel Khalife抯慉hmed Al-Arabi the "A'edoon"
production chronices the expulsion of Palestinians from their village and
their ensuing oppression as refugees. Based out of the Yafa Cultural
Centre, this innovative performance takes the audience through a
rollercoaster of the extremes of human emotion - from pain and sadness,
resentment and outrage, to laughter and finally inspiration and hope.

An intense amount of organizing has been put into this tour over the last
year. Fundraising has been done through entirely grassroots means, with
over 7,000 raised thus far. We are writing to request donations to help
with a vital aspect of the tour that we have not been able to find funds
for yet.牋 The group arrives from Jordan at London Heathrow on July 28th,
but the tour begins in Ireland on July 29th. So we are currently in a mad
scramble to find funds to cover this first leg of transportation.

Most of our avenues for fundraising have already been exhausted. Thus, we
are forced into sending this call-out for funding, in the hopes that some
individuals will be able to contribute to this tour actualizing. The
task is a bit daunting; we need to find funds in 1 week. Donations of
any amount would be highly appreciated and welcomed. If we do not
raise this amount of money we are unsure of how we will make the tour
happen. If there is any excess beyond the costs, the extra funds will go
directly towards the Yafa Centre and the group's future activities.

Donations can be put directly into a bank account, but please also email
info@balatacamp.net to tell us the amount donated to help our planning.

Bank details:
Swansea Palestine Community Link
Co-operative Bank
Acct Nbr: 65141771
Sort Code: 08 92 99

Please forward this email to anyone who may be able or willing to help.

Thank you for your support in making this tour happen!

in solidarity,

balatacamp.net collective
Street Seen

www.balatacamp.net