Dear Friend,

I’ve worked with the Middle East Children's Alliance since 1998—first as the co-director of a community center that MECA supported in my refugee camp, and since 2007, as a staff member.

I know, from my own experience, how MECA’s support creates spaces for children to experience childhood.  Not only when bombs are dropping.  Not only when Palestine is in headlines.

MECA makes sure children’s needs are met all year, every year.

We couldn’t do that without you. That’s why I’m asking you to join MECA’s Children’s Circle with a monthly contribution of $5.

When I was growing up in a refugee camp in occupied Palestine, my parents’ time and energy was focused on just surviving. Most of the kids’ time was too. There was barely any place to play—inside our tiny house or in the alleys of the crowded, cement camp. Israeli soldiers entered the camp often and military curfews kept us inside for weeks at a time.

As you know, Palestinian children and youth are still trying to survive under Israel’s brutal occupation today.

The Israeli military is a constant presence in their lives. Almost every night, the soldiers raid houses, wreck community buildings, fire tear gas and sound grenades, and use deadly weapons.

But in every Palestinian refugee camp, village or big city, people are making sure children have ways to experience the childhood that the Israeli occupation has stolen from them.

I’m counting on you today to support MECA projects that give children spaces to feel respected and important, to express their creativity and humanity, to be part of a group, and to see the possibilities for a better future. 

As long as our children live under occupation, they can’t fully experience childhood. But these projects make a real difference in their lives, and give them the confidence to face their difficult future.

I’ve seen it happen so many times.

Your contribution now is an investment in Palestine’s future—nurturing new leaders, strengthening communities, creating spaces for children to experience childhood, and live in dignity.

Shukran (Thank you),

Ziad Abbas, MECA Staff

P.S. When you join the Children’s Circle with a monthly gift, we’ll send you a special large, canvas tote-bag printed with a traditional Palestinian tatriz design.

Your monthly gift will support these and other vital projects:

Madaa Silwan Creative Center provides emotional support to children who’ve been arrested and to their families, as well as academic help and books to kids confined to house arrest. A librarian leads art and literacy activities, and a there is a new computer room.

Sanabel Kindergarten in Gaza. There is no public kindergarten for Palestinian children, so a group of mothers in an impoverished area of Gaza, got together and created a little school for the local three- to six-year-olds.

Shoruq Organization. Here young people in a refugee camp have a chance to write, record, and perform songs, learn traditional Palestinian dance, videotape interviews with their grandparents, get legal help, make art, and more.

Education for Music provides music instruction in Gaza elementary schools where there are no arts programs at all.

Palestine Writing Workshop is bringing storytellers into schools, organizing book clubs, and giving children books to keep.  .