Hope Flowers in Bethlehem

Take a look at these pics.

These are kids at the Hope Flowers School in Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine, and these pics were taken in the last few days.

They are orphans from Gaza, and refugee and special needs kids from the West Bank. Apart from giving a good education under difficult circumstances, the school gives kids the tools to process their anger, loss, fear and trauma, so that they grow up knowing there is another way. Another way from what has happened over the last hundred years in Palestine and Israel.

Note the performers. These look like visiting Europeans. They are independent humanitarians: they set about brightening up the lives of people in places like Palestine and they make a big difference. They often fund themselves to do so, and travel cheap and crash on sofas. Some are performers, some hairdressers, some are welders and some are law graduates, artists and retired professionals. Have you ever considered doing something like this?

Forget Trump and Natanyahu: this is the human frontline, where the real work of peacemaking happens. These children are, I hope, the generation who will see a big change across the Middle East. The times of war need to end now: we must do things another way. And these are the people who will do it. That is my prayer for them.

Here’s the translation of the text that came with the pics:

---

In an atmosphere filled with fun and positive energy, the professor of physical education, Mr. Mustafa, organized a special recreational day for the students of the school, in cooperation with the refugee center, where play, art, and laughter came together in an unforgettable day ✨

⭕ A variety of events between animated games that enhanced activity and interaction, face painting added colors of joy to the faces of children, alongside a theatrical circus that presented pleasant performances that brought joy to the hearts🎪😊

‪Our students also participated in playing with parschute and other group activities that contributed to promoting a spirit of cooperation, active discharge, and building self-confidence in a fun and safe way 🌟

⛔ This day was an open space for joy and expression, and an integrated recreational educational experience that emphasizes the importance of play in supporting our children’s physical and psychological development 💚

ـــــــــ🍂ــــــ We learn for human well-being ــــــ🍂ــــــــ

---

Here’s their website:
https://hopeflowers.org/wp/

and their FB page (mostly in Arabic, for locals):
https://www.facebook.com/Hope.Flowers.School/posts/pfbid02mtAFNELopcSZ3eknikmSvQFouFghRGcHyPNWG4uQPzhWPMWgfWhBZecKdf2myzaTl?rdid=hVLn6DjWEM1DLRTP

To make a donation to Hope Flowers, go to this page for links to Hope Flowers’ supporting organisations in different countries:
https://hopeflowers.org/wp/support/

Here’s a readable story about the history and philosophy of the school. It’s from my book Pictures of Palestine, and it’s called ‘Korea meets Palestine’. (Korea and Palestine were both divided in the same year, 1948.)
https://www.palden.co.uk/pop/korea-meets-palestine.html