newsletter n.16 - Gerusalemme

EDUCATION
Growing up in East Jerusalem
The activities that are organized
within the framework of the emergency
project “Promotion of the
psycho-social wealth and the resilience
of children at-risk in the neighbourhoods
of Bab Hutta and Al
Bustan-Silwan (East Jerusalem)” are
addressed to children and teenagers
of these two complex neighbourhoods
in the city of Jerusalem. The
project, funded by the Italian Cooperation
with a contribution of
€115 thousand, has been carried out
by ARCS-ARCI Culture and Development
together with Educaid and
the CGIL cooperation network.
The project operates in the areas of Silwan
and of the Old City with the objective of
protecting the rights of children, their
right to play and to healthy grow up, offering
them recreational time in a secure environment. “By intervening in areas of high
social conflict, we work with children who experience daily forms of violence, often
developing highly aggressive behaviors -explains Federico Lenzarini, ARCS project manager-
ttherefore, in this context, it’s important to develop educational methods accurately
thought to overcome these traumas, by helping children to express emotions and
discomforts.”
There are four lines of action which make up the project. Thanks to the partnership with
Educaid and the team of the Palestinian National Theatre, moments of entertainment
and educational activities are organized in the two neighbourhoods Bab Hutta and
Silwan. The Ludobus periodically visits the children who anxiously wait the bus’s arrival
for an afternoon of play and of fun. In addition to the Ludobus, the project offers shows,
open days with clowns, theatre classes and workshops in painting and murals.
The second component of the project is addressed to the training of educators, volunteers
and teachers in primary schools and aims to strengthen the knowledge and the
ability to interact with children who live and develop stress disorders and behavioral
difficulties. “For every game we associate a purpose, trying to enhance the educational
component - says a volunteer - Thanks to the training we learned how to explain to
children the meaning behind every game.”
Moreover the project organizes workshops on children’s rights, which are addressed to
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NEWSLETTER N.16