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Friends United Meeting |
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January/February 2006
Friends School in Palestine Vibrantly Alive After 140 Years
Ramallah and Brooklyn Friends Schools Collaborate on Documentary
Pastoral Visit to Israel and Palestine
Josphat Lime Recognized at FTC Graduation
Friends School in Palestine Vibrantly Alive After 140 Years
Joyce Ajlouny, Director of the Ramallah Friends School, visited in the United States from October 3-20. Her deputation led her to places in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Indiana.
The Friends School is over 140 years old. Like the countries which surround it, the school has seen many changes. The school no longer is a boarding school, nor does it have separate boys and girls schools. Instead, it is a vibrant co-ed school with 1,100 students, 100 staff and many innovative programs.
Joyce highlighted several programs that are unique to the Friends School, which have become a model for schools throughout the Middle East.
The Music Program: Daniel Barenboim has funded and supported the music program at the school. His foundation provides musical instruments and locates world-renowned musicians to teach and direct the orchestra and choir.
The International Baccalaureate: The Friends School is the only school in Palestine that offers the International Baccalaureate. This is possible through funding from USAID that paid for the construction of science labs and supplied computers for the Information Technology program. With the International Baccalaureate students from the Friends School are fully prepared to enter college in Europe and the United States.
The Environmental Sciences Program teaches students how to care for their environment by taking care of the botanical garden.
Program for students with special needs: The Friends School is the only Palestinian school with a program for students with special needs such as cerebral palsy, dyslexia, ADHD and other learning disabilities. Schools from around the Middle East have sent representatives to learn about this program and develop similar programs elsewhere.
Religion and Ethics: Separate classes for Christians and Muslims are required by the Palestinian Ministry of Education. However, during weekly Ethics classes, all students join together to study mediation, conflict resolution, and find commonalities between these two dynamic religions.
Model United Nations (UN) Program: Students attend the Model UN programs in other countries to learn leadership skills. The goal is to host a regional Model UN program at the schools.
Joyce wishes to thank American Friends who provide money through FUM, which goes to student scholarships and faculty salaries.
Ramallah and Brooklyn Friends Schools Collaborate on Documentary
Brooklyn (New York) Friends School (BFS) and the Ramallah (Palestine) Friends School (RFS) are undertaking an international co-production to enter in this year’s 7th annual Bridge Film Festival.
The short film documentary will compare and contrast the experiences of two Muslim students who attend Quaker schools, one in Brooklyn and the other in Ramallah. Andy Cohen from BFS and John Hishmeh of RFS are facilitating the effort. Plans are for the project to include a live video chat between school assemblies so the two students can ask each other questions.
Pastoral Visit to Israel and Palestine
Full coverage of the FUM pastoral visit to Israel and Palestine will be the focus of the March/April issue of Quaker Life magazine.
Publishing six times in 2006 per a General Board reorganizational structure, Quaker Life will increase its pages and offer more interactive content. Watch for these new changes as the year unfolds!
Josphat Lime was recognized at Friends Theological College graduation. John Muhanji, Africa Ministries Representative, read the General Board/Richmond Minute of Appreciation and presented it to Josphat who was really grateful. At the end, he held it up over his head to show the audience, the way the students do with the diplomas!