 | 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. |
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We opened our third centre in Maghazi refugee camp which is situated between the Bureij and Rafah camps. In the words of, Monib Eid, Maghazi centre's co-ordinator:
"The Maghazi Centre was established in March 2006, with ten computers. The Camp is located 10km south of Gaza city. The center is located in the central area of the camp and close to UNRWA Schools. The staff members get experience in networking and work with community during working in both Burij and Rafah Centres. Thus, the centre succeeded to attention of people in the refugee camp."
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The Maghazi centre runs over 100 courses per year, it offers 12 regular courses which consist of between 12 and 24 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 280 adult refugees from the camp also completed vocationally orientated courses (including English for Special Purposes and Vocational Mathematics) without any charge. |
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Total number of beneficiaries under 16
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832
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of the 851, those classified as disabled were
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40
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Total number of beneficiaries between 16 and 18
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69
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of the 69, those classified as disabled were
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11
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As with all centres, the Maghazi 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. |
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Introduction to Computing
12 hours in duration | frequency: monthly
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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.
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Excel & Word
12 hours in duration | frequency: monthly
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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'.
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Internet User & PowerPoint
12 hours in duration | frequency: monthly
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This course is set to be overhauled (Powerpoint will be merged with the Excel & Word course - see above) and this one will focus on Web 2.0 aspects of internet usage. There is likely to be a greater emphasis on blogs and other social netwoking mediums. The duration of this course is also likely to increase, from its current 12 hours to 18 hours.
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English for Specific Purposes
24 hours in duration | frequency: 6 times a year
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This course is very popular with the older beneficiaries. This is for two reasons very high unemployment rates - a greater understanding of practical English is considered to improve one's chances of finding employment - and, because of years of Israeli occupation and military incursions, many beneficiaries missed out on a considerable number of schooling hours.
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Number of networked printers
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1
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Number of digital cameras
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1
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Disabled access features
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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.
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"...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. |
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In the words of UNRWA:
"Maghazi Camp is located in the center of the Gaza Strip south of Bureij Camp. It was established in 1949 on 0.6 km2 to shelter 9,000 people who had fled from villages in central and southern Palestine."
All of the following information is based on 2008 data:
Maghazi's refugee population:
- While the total refugee population of this camp is 47,812 only 23,981 permanently reside in the camp.
- The camp houses 4.45 per cent of Gaza’s total refugee population.
UNRWA educational facilities in Maghazi:
- UNRWA operates seven schools in four school buildings in the camp, four elementary and three preparatory. Three schools are run on double-shift system.
- Enrolments in the current academic year 2008/2009 totals 6206.
- The total number of class sections is 166 among them 105 classes in the elementary schools and 61 classes in the preparatory schools.
- The total number of teachers is 222, 127 female teachers and 95 male teachers
UNRWA relief and social services in Maghazi:
- A total of 659 families (2877 people) residing in the camp are eligible for relief assistance under the Agency’s special hardship program.
- The number of families classified as living in abject poverty and receiving Family Income Supplement is 262.
- There are 1,984 people classified as living in abject poverty.
Maps of Gaza
Both open in seperate windows.
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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