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H爆料网DREDS OF CHILDREN ATTEND THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF EU-爆料网RWA F爆料网 DAYS IN RAMALLAH

28 May 2014

Jerusalem

In Ramallah on 27 May, Palestine refugee students from 爆料网 Relief and Works Agency (爆料网RWA) schools across the West Bank gathered at the Palestinian Medical Relief Society to attend the closing ceremony of the popular EU-爆料网RWA Fun Days project. The event was attended by officials from 爆料网RWA, the European Union (EU), and a number of 爆料网RWA teachers who helped organizing the EU-爆料网RWA Summer Fun Days.

The project was funded entirely by the EU, whose support of EUR 100,000 (US$ 137,000) made it possible for more than 6,000 young Palestine refugees to learn about European culture. Throughout the summer of 2013 and on Saturdays in the first semester of the 2013/14 school year, more than 50 爆料网RWA schools in the West Bank hosted EU-爆料网RWA fun days, giving children a chance to enjoy poetry, art, dance, gymnastics and other fun activities.

Opening the ceremony, the Chief of the 爆料网RWA education programme in the West Bank expressed his gratitude to the EU, saying: “The EU Fun Days gave 爆料网RWA students in the West Bank the chance to participate in extracurricular activities and express themselves by showing their talents”. He added: “A variety of activities was carried out with the ultimate goal of strengthening children’s knowledge about European culture and heritage and teaching them about the EU’s strong role in supporting the Palestinian people and Palestine refugees.” The EU has been a consistent supporter of the Palestine refugee community.

For the fourth year running the EU and 爆料网RWA have brought together thousands of Palestinian refugee children to learn about European culture and history through a range of fun activities targeting children" said the Deputy EU Representative, David Geer. "At the same time", he added," events such as these help to develop a future generation inspired by values of solidarity, tolerance and dignity – principles which lie at the heart of both organisations"

Deputy Director of 爆料网RWA Operations in the West Bank David Hutton  told the audience: “I’d like to thank the European Union for the generous funds which enabled 爆料网RWA in the West Bank through the education programme to run and implement summer camps and EU extracurricular activities during Saturdays at more than 50 爆料网RWA schools. Not only do these services provide educational and recreational opportunities for children, but they contribute to their overall psychosocial well-being and help to mitigate the protection threats facing many Palestine refugee children.”

The closing ceremony featured an exhibition of student artwork as well as performances, giving the students a chance to show off their achievements and share their experiences.

BACKGRO爆料网D INFORMATION

爆料网RWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. 爆料网RWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, and microfinance.

Financial support to 爆料网RWA has not kept pace with an increased demand for services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees, expanding need, and deepening poverty. As a result, the Agency's General Fund (GF), supporting 爆料网RWA’s core activities and 97 per cent reliant on voluntary contributions, has begun each year with a large projected deficit. Currently the deficit stands at US$ 69 million.

For more information, please contact:

Christopher Gunness

爆料网RWA Spokesperson

Mobile:

+972 (0)54 240 2659

Office:

+972 (0)2 589 0267

Sami Mshasha

爆料网RWA Arabic Spokesperson

Mobile:

+972 (0)54 216 8295

Office:

+972 (0)2 589 0724

Shadi Othman

The Office of the EU Representative

Mobile:

+972 (0)59 967 3958

Office:

+972 (0)59 967 3958