Palestinian children speak about their rights & dreams
Inside the small, dilapidated building structure that serves as the Al Shoumo’ community centre (“Candle Centre”) in the village of Al Maasara, just south of Bethlehem city, 12-year-olds, Balqis Hassan Burjiyeh and Mohammad Abu Hilewa seem wise beyond their years, almost as if they are adults trapped in children’s bodies. But then, as they tentatively talk about the games they like to play or the small things they dream of, tiny flashes hinting of their youth shine through.Balqis is a shy girl with eyes hinting at the strength underneath. She has carefully matched her head scarf to her clothes, but her youthfulness is apparent in the little leopard-print shoes she wears. She is initially quiet and a bit reserved, but then becomes more expressive, especially when talking about the conflict, and how it affects her and her family.
It’s my right to be able to go to our lands, my right is to live, and I have the right to eat and be clothed. It’s also my right to come and go freely... Balqis lives at home with her parents, Hassan and Samah, and her two brothers, Osayed (10) and Hareth (9), and three sisters, Batoul (10), Fatima (5), and Hind (3 months old). Balqis loves going to school, and when she is not in school, she likes to help her mother in the house or spend time with her friends.
She wishes there were more places to go in her village. “In Masarra, there is no place for anyone to really go, so I mostly stay at home”.
Balqis dreams of seeing parks and pools in her little village and places where she can play her favourite games- volleyball and basketball. “I wish there were nicer roads, and I dream and imagine that we could have a nicer country, where there would be nice houses and windows… we could have fruit trees and pools.... All we have are our streets and two small shops.” Balqis’ eyes reveal the look of so many Palestinian children- wistfulness.
Like many of her peers in the Palestinian territories, a seeming hub of conflict, Balqis is passionate about her country. When asked about how she feels about the conflict and what she wishes for the future, she takes on another demeanour. She describes how she and her family go to the fields every day, where they have to pass the Israeli soldiers and the separation wall.
“We talk to them in a peaceful and respectful way… and they don’t answer; they stay quiet. How do they answer us? They throw gasoline and arrest people…They don’t answer with words.” Her eyes turn sad. Balqis’ biggest fear is that Israeli soldiers will come and throw her and her family out of their homes.
Talking about her future and dreams, Balqis lights up, revealing the child within. She says when she’s 20: “I would like to study. I love to study, I would want to go to university, to do my masters, and my PhD, if that is possible. It would be my dream to study Physics. I would love to work in a laboratory- you can make things out of other things, invent things as you wish!” She wants to work very hard at school, so she can accomplish her dreams.
“I know that every person in the world has rights- the right to live, to be educated, to study… both kids and grown-ups… It’s my right to be able to go to our lands, my right is to live, and I have the right to eat and be clothed. It’s also my right to come and go freely... every child also has a right to their opinion… I would like to have an opinion. I would like to have an opinion in politics, in the community, in everything!”
To Balqis, it’s important to know about her rights, so she can be aware and fight for what she deserves. “We want rights, whoever wants to govern us- govern us, but we want rights, we want to live! If no one encourages us (children), how will we ever succeed?”
In contrast to Balqis’ initial reserve, Mohammad, also 12, has a ready smile, and strides past to sit down in a chair with self-assurance. He has a brown birthmark on one side of his nose. Yet it his eyes which reflect warmth, intelligence and a quiet confidence, that stand out the most. Mohammad Abu Hilewa lives with his three siblings, his sister Rawan (14), his brothers Maher (13) and Mahmoud (7), and his parents, Ilham and Sakkeb.
He considers his family to be his heroes, along with various cartoon Sumu wrestlers that he loves.
He is like many boys his age in that he loves to play outside- ball games such as basketball and going to summer camp. His eyes twinkle as he talks about how he loves to swim and draw. Mohammad proudly shares how he ranked second place in his class, and looks forward to starting seventh grade.
In the future, Mohammad says he wants to become a doctor. When he is 20, he says, “I hope I’ll be studying in a university in Ramallah. I want to be doing my PhD in general medicine.”
Talking about living in the Palestinian territories is always difficult, but Mohammad makes it seem easier than most. He talks about the situation as something he has accepted with a seriousness of an older person.
I have the right to education, to health care… no one can hit or hurt me or take my freedom away “They [Israeli soldiers] always search us, and make us get out of our car...” What is Mohammad afraid of- “I’m not scared of anything,” he says with bravado, “well, except walking alone at night [in the dark]. But my biggest fear is that our house will be demolished.”
Both Balqis and Mohammad refer to home demolitions as common place occurrences in their towns, because, in fact, they are. Since 1967, Israel has implemented a policy of planning, development, and building that restricts Palestinians from constructing buildings and planning cities while simultaneously establishing and expanding Jewish settlements. According to the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions (ICAHD), 24,145 houses have been demolished in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza since 1967.
“The more I grow up, the more I can help ensure my rights are fulfilled. When I’m young, mostly my parents are concerned about me, but as I get older, I feel more people listen to me more…I’ve always said my opinion, when I was very young and also still do now.”
Mohammad describes how important it is for children to know their rights. With an intense look, he says, “I have the right to education, to health care… no one can hit or hurt me or take my freedom away.”
As sponsored children, Mohammad and Balqis have participated in several workshops and activities, such as child protection and psychosocial support workshops, and fun trips to theatres. They have also received gifts, such as woollen scarves and hats for the winter. But there is still so much more to be done for Mohammad, for Balqis, and so many other children just like them. Such large dreams held precariously in such small hearts.
Click http://meero.worldvision.org/docs/CRC_Turns_20_screen_FINAL.pdf to view a slideshow featuring Balqis, Mohammad and other children who talk about their rights and what they would like to be doing when they are 20.
It’s my right to be able to go to our lands, my right is to live, and I have the right to eat and be clothed. It’s also my right to come and go freely... Balqis lives at home with her parents, Hassan and Samah, and her two brothers, Osayed (10) and Hareth (9), and three sisters, Batoul (10), Fatima (5), and Hind (3 months old). Balqis loves going to school, and when she is not in school, she likes to help her mother in the house or spend time with her friends.
She wishes there were more places to go in her village. “In Masarra, there is no place for anyone to really go, so I mostly stay at home”.
Balqis dreams of seeing parks and pools in her little village and places where she can play her favourite games- volleyball and basketball. “I wish there were nicer roads, and I dream and imagine that we could have a nicer country, where there would be nice houses and windows… we could have fruit trees and pools.... All we have are our streets and two small shops.” Balqis’ eyes reveal the look of so many Palestinian children- wistfulness.
Like many of her peers in the Palestinian territories, a seeming hub of conflict, Balqis is passionate about her country. When asked about how she feels about the conflict and what she wishes for the future, she takes on another demeanour. She describes how she and her family go to the fields every day, where they have to pass the Israeli soldiers and the separation wall.
“We talk to them in a peaceful and respectful way… and they don’t answer; they stay quiet. How do they answer us? They throw gasoline and arrest people…They don’t answer with words.” Her eyes turn sad. Balqis’ biggest fear is that Israeli soldiers will come and throw her and her family out of their homes.
Talking about her future and dreams, Balqis lights up, revealing the child within. She says when she’s 20: “I would like to study. I love to study, I would want to go to university, to do my masters, and my PhD, if that is possible. It would be my dream to study Physics. I would love to work in a laboratory- you can make things out of other things, invent things as you wish!” She wants to work very hard at school, so she can accomplish her dreams.
“I know that every person in the world has rights- the right to live, to be educated, to study… both kids and grown-ups… It’s my right to be able to go to our lands, my right is to live, and I have the right to eat and be clothed. It’s also my right to come and go freely... every child also has a right to their opinion… I would like to have an opinion. I would like to have an opinion in politics, in the community, in everything!”
To Balqis, it’s important to know about her rights, so she can be aware and fight for what she deserves. “We want rights, whoever wants to govern us- govern us, but we want rights, we want to live! If no one encourages us (children), how will we ever succeed?”
In contrast to Balqis’ initial reserve, Mohammad, also 12, has a ready smile, and strides past to sit down in a chair with self-assurance. He has a brown birthmark on one side of his nose. Yet it his eyes which reflect warmth, intelligence and a quiet confidence, that stand out the most. Mohammad Abu Hilewa lives with his three siblings, his sister Rawan (14), his brothers Maher (13) and Mahmoud (7), and his parents, Ilham and Sakkeb.
He considers his family to be his heroes, along with various cartoon Sumu wrestlers that he loves.
He is like many boys his age in that he loves to play outside- ball games such as basketball and going to summer camp. His eyes twinkle as he talks about how he loves to swim and draw. Mohammad proudly shares how he ranked second place in his class, and looks forward to starting seventh grade.
In the future, Mohammad says he wants to become a doctor. When he is 20, he says, “I hope I’ll be studying in a university in Ramallah. I want to be doing my PhD in general medicine.”
Talking about living in the Palestinian territories is always difficult, but Mohammad makes it seem easier than most. He talks about the situation as something he has accepted with a seriousness of an older person.
I have the right to education, to health care… no one can hit or hurt me or take my freedom away “They [Israeli soldiers] always search us, and make us get out of our car...” What is Mohammad afraid of- “I’m not scared of anything,” he says with bravado, “well, except walking alone at night [in the dark]. But my biggest fear is that our house will be demolished.”
Both Balqis and Mohammad refer to home demolitions as common place occurrences in their towns, because, in fact, they are. Since 1967, Israel has implemented a policy of planning, development, and building that restricts Palestinians from constructing buildings and planning cities while simultaneously establishing and expanding Jewish settlements. According to the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions (ICAHD), 24,145 houses have been demolished in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza since 1967.
“The more I grow up, the more I can help ensure my rights are fulfilled. When I’m young, mostly my parents are concerned about me, but as I get older, I feel more people listen to me more…I’ve always said my opinion, when I was very young and also still do now.”
Mohammad describes how important it is for children to know their rights. With an intense look, he says, “I have the right to education, to health care… no one can hit or hurt me or take my freedom away.”
As sponsored children, Mohammad and Balqis have participated in several workshops and activities, such as child protection and psychosocial support workshops, and fun trips to theatres. They have also received gifts, such as woollen scarves and hats for the winter. But there is still so much more to be done for Mohammad, for Balqis, and so many other children just like them. Such large dreams held precariously in such small hearts.
Click http://meero.worldvision.org/docs/CRC_Turns_20_screen_FINAL.pdf to view a slideshow featuring Balqis, Mohammad and other children who talk about their rights and what they would like to be doing when they are 20.
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