Today the Boys from Abu Dis boys school made postcards for the students at Hamstead. You will have to wait for Wa'ad to arrive to receive them! The boys thought the uniform that Hamstead wear is very amusing because it looks like the students are going to work! As you can see in the pictures, the students at Abu Dis Boys School wear blue t-shirts and black trousers.

Grade 7 making postcards for the students at Hamstead

Grade 8 using their artistic skills

Making stronger the lunchtime club ....

Me (Safia) and Tarek , after the meeting with Rafeef, help-teacher in Hampstead School, start to work in the idea how to make more stronger the twinning betweem the lunchtime in Hampstead School, and in Abu Dis !

The first idea is to start to teach some arabic work, to allowed students to make a skype conversation.
But, we have to distribute leaflets, and try to get a how is possible to talk in the next Assembly.

About the School,  It's a very equipped school, with more than three building ....

The students have to wear an black uniform, 
The Hampstead School motto is  'Learning Together Achieving Together', they provide the right support enabling students to develop confidence and encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning, and  develop morally, spiritually, culturally and socially....

Another day in Hampstead School

Today, Tarek and Safia went to Hampstead School, and they met Rafeef, and they discussed some ideas about how to attracive the students to join us to do our projects, then we went to the Women Center and, Safia distributed some leaflets to tell them about our projects and about the Organization, then we went back to the office to talk with Nandita, and to do the blogs.

FIRST DAY AT ABU DIS BOYS SCHOOL

Today small groups from grade 7,8 & 9 at Abu Dis Boys School met with the CADFA volunteers for the first time. The boys were excited about the opportunity to be involved in the twinning project and to learn about life in the UK from children their own age. Some of them had been involved in CADFA projects before and most had been to Dar Assadaqa (Friendship House) to have fun, make friends and practice their English.

The boys had many questions they wanted to ask the students at Hamstead …

·      What are your names?
·       How old are you?
·       Where is the school and what does it look like?
·       What are your teachers like?
·       Where is your favourite place in London?
·       How many brothers and sisters do you have?
·       What is the weather like in London?
·       What subjects do you study?
·       What football team do you support?

All the boys had interesting stories to tell about their school and life in Palestine. Abu-Dis boys school has 600 boys coming to the school every day and the classes have up to 40 students. The boys love playing football and basketball. Some of them support Barcelona and some support Real Madrid!

They also wanted to say that the Israeli occupation is very disruptive to their studies. Sometimes the school has to be closed because tear gas is thrown into the school. Can you imagine that! They also say that some of their friends have been taken by soldiers, which means their friends cannot learn at school. They cannot enter their capital city, Jerusalem, because of the occupation wall, which makes them feel sad.

Next week is Eid, a Muslim holiday, which means the boys get next week off school, so next time they will tell Hamstead about their holiday. The boys look forward to meeting the students at Hamstead and understanding more about their lives! 

FIRST SCHOOL SKYPE MEETING BETWEEN LONDON AND ABU-DIS

Today children from Abu-Dis Boys School met with children from Hampstead School, Camden for the first time using Skype. Although the meeting was short, it was a great opportunity for the children to introduce themselves and meet their twinning partners from London and Palestine. As it was the first ever CADFA School Skype meeting there were a few technical problems, which will be fixed for next time. The kids had many questions and stories to ask and tell each other, but did not have enough time today, however they were excited and enthusiastic to speak more next time. The children in Dar Assadaqa left a video message for the kids in London full of good wishes for future meetings. Everyone at Dar Assadaqa is looking forward to building on this opportunity and to share more projects in the near future.