 | PalestineConnect works in the Palestinian refugee camps of Bureij, Rafah and Maghazi. We help disadvantaged children in Gaza by providing them a safe environment in which to take free IT-related courses.
The situation in Gaza is much worse since Israel’s three week military intervention in the winter of 2008 - 2009. Charities such as our really need your support especially after Israel’s 2008/2009 military incursion into Gaza. For information on Gaza, the Occupied Palestinian Territories , giving to charities working in Gaza, donating money to disadvantaged children in Palestinian refugee camps then PalestineConnect can provide many insights. PalestineConnect is a registered charity that operates community-led centres for children in the Gaza Strip (We also have a directory of NGOs and charities that offer services in Gaza). It provide free educational services to Palestinian children in the Gaza strip. It supports disadvantaged children and young adults in Gaza. If you want to donate something to Gaza, consider PalestineConnect. |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|     |
Bureij refugee camp is situated in the centre of the Gaza Strip. We established our first computer-aided learning centre there in 1999. In the words of, Tariq El Qrenawi, Bureij centre's co-ordinator:
"The Bureij centre was established in 1999. Bureij refugee camp is located 9km south of Gaza city. The centre is located in the main street in the Buriej camp. Since the first day, we took the initiative to coordinate with the camp's UNRWA schools and the parents of children living in the camp. We did this to ensure courses were educationally relevant and that parents could learn about the advantages of the centre and the safe haven that they offer. In 2004-2006 we fitted the centre with disabled access such as a ramp and special toilet facilities, several teachers also received training during that time with regard to teaching children who have various minor disabilities such as physical, hard of hearing and visually impaired. The centre started with a small number of computers (4 PCs), but now is full to capacity with 20."
 |
|
|
|
The Bureij centre runs over 80 courses per year, it offers 9 regular courses which consist of between 12 and 18 taught hours. During the last year (November 2008 to November 2009) over 900 children aged 18 and under successfully completed free IT-related courses at this centre. In addition a further 150 adult refugees from the camp also completed vocationally orientated courses without any charge. |
|
|
|
|
|
Total number of beneficiaries under 16
|
|
|
|
851
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of the 851, those classified as disabled were
|
|
|
|
78
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total number of beneficiaries between 16 and 18
|
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of the 53, those classified as disabled were
|
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
As with all centres, the Bureij centre runs a selection of regular courses multiple times during the year and a wide range of ad hoc courses that meet a particular demand. For example we sometimes provide bespoke courses for staff at other NGOs in the camp, particularly those organisations that work with disabled children and young adults. |
|
|
|
|
|
Introduction to Computing
12 hours in duration | frequency: monthly
|
|
|
|
This is the initial course all beneficiaries, who have not had prior individual access to a computer take. It covers the basics including creating and saving various types of documents, navigating the Windows operating system and setting up an email [Gmail] account.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Excel & Word
12 hours in duration | frequency: monthly
|
|
|
|
This is one of the longest running courses - across all centres - and along with several others it is in the process of being updated. It is likely to encorporate PowerPoint in the future and become a direct follow-on course from the initial 'Introduction to Computing'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Visual Basic & Front Page
18 hours in duration | frequency: monthly
|
|
|
|
Web design is very popular with many of the children who utilise our centre. This course has been running for many years now, but is in the process of being overhauled and will concentrate much more on Dreamweaver and Web 2.0 applications/navigation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Photoshop & Flash
18 hours in duration | frequency: 6 times a year
|
|
|
|
This popular course is also the process of being updated. The new focus will be digital image manipulation for the web and Web 2.0 applications. Photoshop for printing press purposes will be moved to a forthcoming vocationally-orientated course on DTP course.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of networked printers
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of digital cameras
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disabled access features
|
|
|
|
Several members of staff have been provided with specialised training with respect to teaching and assisting disabled children (audio-visual and physical). And with the kind assistance of the Saïd Foundation (see our partners section) this centre has a specially designed bathroom and a ramped entrance for easy wheelchair access.
|
|
|
|
"...In 2008, the occupied Palestinian territory continued to experience the most
dramatic developments in the Agency’s area of operations. In the Gaza Strip, the year began and ended with major conflicts."
2008 UNRWA report
This PDF document is 154kb in size, click to view it now, or right-click and select 'save as' to store it on your computer's hard drive. |
|
|
|
In the words of UNRWA:
"Bureij hosts refugees who mostly fled towns east of the Gaza Strip such as Falouja after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. UNRWA built the camp in the 1950s for 13,000 refugees who were housed in British army barracks and tents at the time. The camp lies at the centre of the Gaza Strip west of the main north-south high way 'Salah Ed-Din' and is close to Nuseirat camp."
All of the following information is based on 2008 data:
Bureij's refugee population:
- 42,042. 31,360 are in the camp and 10,682 live outside the camp.
- The camp houses 3.92 per cent of Gaza’s total refugee population.
UNRWA educational facilities in Bureij:
- UNRWA operates 11 schools, seven elementary and four preparatory, in seven school in the camp. Four of the 11 schools are run on double shift basis.
- Enrollment in the current academic year totals at 8980.
- The total number of class sections is 244, 160 classes in the elementary schools, and 84 classes in the preparatory schools.
- The total number of teachers is 322, 188 female teachers and 134 male teachers.
UNRWA relief and social services in Bureij:
- A total of 1177 families (5894 people) residing in the camp are eligible for relief assistance under the Agency’s Social Safety Net (SSN) programme.
- 502 families are classified as abjectly poor, and receive family income supplements, 3,916 people are classified as abjectly poor.
- 194 shelters are due to be reconstructed under the SSN.
- The number of SSNP shelters that need to be repaired is 234.
Maps of Gaza
Both open in seperate windows.
 | |  |
This PDF document is 200kb in size, click to view it now, or right-click and select 'save as' to store it on your computer's hard drive. |
|
This JPEG image is 487kb in size, click to view it now, or right-click and select 'save as' to store it on your computer's hard drive. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PalestineConnect currently operate computer-aided learning centres in three of the Gaza Strip's most disadvantaged refugee camps. Around 3,000 children and young adults benefit from these centres each and every year.
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
