Charity offers small slice of normal life to refugees

Umm Ibrahim watches proudly as a group of Palestinian children gather in her little cement room to make her a plate of fattoush.
“You are my family, you are the ones who love me,” says the ailing, 71-year old Palestinian who lives alone in the Beit Atfal Dar Assumoud shelter in Shatila.
Clustered on the floor beside her bed are a few boys and girls diligently chopping tomatoes, onions, parsley, and lettuce into small pieces that Umm Ibrahim can chew.
It is thanks to Beit Assumoud, a charity organization created to care for the survivors of the Sabra and Shatila massacre in 1982, that Umm Ibrahim does not spend her days alone.
The organization, nicknamed Dar Assumoud, (House of Endurance) was originally founded as a care center after the 1976 Tel Zaatar massacre in which thousands of Palestinians were killed and hundreds of children left orphaned.
In 1987 the center expanded to include orphans from the Sabra and Shatila massacres. These children had no place to play except in dilapidated buildings, and were endangering themselves, said Jamile Shehade, the organization’s head. “A center was very much needed at that time” she said.
Now the organization functions primarily as day care for camp children three years old and younger who are not yet enrolled in the UNRWA schools that the older children attend.
In summer, the center functions as a summer camp starting July 3 and running for three weeks for children aged between seven and 14. For five hours a day, the children learn about villages in their home country of Palestine. They also spend time caring for elderly refugees inside the camp, like Umm Ibrahim.
“The purpose of our summer activities is to educate our children on patriotism, environment, solidarity, folklore, art, so they won’t spend their summer doing nothing,” said Shehade.
For children who have been so often ignored, the camp provides a creative outlet where otherwise there is nothing but the endless days of summer.
Children’s art work hangs on small bulletin boards near the entrance of the center, a modest three-storey concrete building in the midst of the camp.
Each of the three floors is divided into 4-meter classrooms. During the morning classes, cheerful sounds of chatter and laughter fill the center as the children and their teachers work on crafts that acquaint them with specific Palestinian towns. The youngsters, who are grouped according to their age, are given a name of a Palestinian village.
One day recently, members of one group ­ named Loubyeh, after a village in Palestine ­ made a tree out of crepe paper. Mona Karoum, the group’s teacher, said the children researched the village by talking to elders living inside the camp prior to working on the project.
Wafaa Freijeh, a 13-year-old in the Loubyeh group said: “I learned to draw and that Loubyeh is famous for wheat.”
Ahmed Hindawi, a 12-year-old who lives in the camp said: “I learned about Loubyeh because we visited a woman named Umm Ahmed Shahaby. She lived in Loubyeh for nine years.”
Mohammed Yassin, 12, learned about food and tradition: “Umm Ahmed told us about the foods they make at weddings in Loubyeh. They make mohamar (a type of chicken) and marateet  (a type of biscuit).”
The children have also composed a “group shout” called the Sarkha. Singing in unison, the children pay homage to their lost homeland. “Let’s go Berweh,” they chant. “You are my land, the voice of Berweh is in my heart.”
Some children relish little details about the home they have never known. Nuhad, 14, said: “I learned that Berweh is 9 kilometers from Akaa and there is only one school in that village.”
The children say it is essential to learn about Palestine because it makes them aware of the Palestinian cause, the plight of their people, and gives them a sense of optimism and hope. Many said they want to be volunteers in the center for other Palestinian children when they grow up.
“Palestine is our country and we should know more about it,” said Haitham, 12. Nuhad agreed. “When I am with adults and they talk about Berweh, I feel the need to know what they are saying because I am a Palestinian.”
As part of the program, the children have also been campaigning for cleanliness inside their camp. Mariam, a 14-year old from the Berweh group, said she was among the many children who helped clean the streets inside Shatila. Her group borrowed brooms, pails, and water from nearby neighbors and began cleaning the narrow alleyways. They even made posters reminding residents to dispose of their waste in tightly sealed bags.
“The most important thing that we want to teach our children is love for their homeland, Palestine. They need to know about the Palestinian cause,” said Shehade. “We also try to bestow them with hope for the future.”
Palestinian child sponsorships of $25 a month can be made to the institution’s account at Arab Bank, Ras Beirut: 0332-304-867-810-5
Funds go toward school books, clothing and food. The institution ensures all of its children receive an education or vocational training.

1-      The Daily Star, 16-8-2001.