Summer 2014Amos News No.128www.amostrust.org

Meet our partners Amos Day 2014

New Amos Website

Experience Nicaragua Travel with Amos in 2015

I am Somebody Rio 2014

Emergency Appeal for Gaza

hope where it should not exist

“There is no future and no hope for us here. We are forgotten”

This is what one of the three young men I met while watching football in Gaza City in 2011 told me. Sadly his conclusion is as true today as it was then. Gaza only reaches the news when, as in recent days, rocket-fire from Gaza and Israeli bombings result in fatalities.

Back then, the siege or blockade of Gaza by Israel was only five years old but it was all too apparent that it was a permanent state of affairs. I had entered Gaza via the Erez Crossing, a vast sterile strip of land with a separation wall, watch towers and automated machine guns, which demonstrated all too clearly the way in which Gazans were being treated.

My other abiding memory from my 2011 visit is meeting young people involved in our partner project, the Near East Council of Churches (NECC)’s Vocational Training

Chris RoseDirector Programme. They showed me their artwork

including a picture of the Dome of the Rock, a place they had never visited and had no hope of being able to visit, even though it is at the centre of their faith and only 50 miles away in Jerusalem. When the group talked about their feelings towards Gaza’s leadership and the Israelis, what stood out was their lack of bitterness. There was the obvious and highly appropriate anger and frustration, but none of the rage I had anticipated. I could only put this down to the fantastic therapeutic work of NECC’s team of trauma counsellors, who had managed to transform these young people’s despair and sorrow into hope. As the bombs have rained down in recent days I have been thinking about these young people and how Israel’s actions can only breed hatred, despair, fear and anger.

We have had limited contact from NECC staff since the violence began, but a few weeks ago before the situation intensified, they sent out a report describing living

2 3Amos News Summer 2014 Palestine – Israel Amos News Summer 2014Palestine – Israel

conditions for families cut off in Gaza. They reported shortages of everything including fuel, resulting in days without electricity, no sewage processing and a limited water supply. You can download the full NECC report from www.amostrust.org

Our other partner in Gaza is the Al-Alhi Hospital. Despite shell damage they have been open continuously during the recent crisis, attending to those who’ve been injured in the bombing raids. Before the current attacks medical supplies were dangerously low and they are in urgent need of basic antibiotics.

I have also received an email from a long-term friend of Amos Trust, whose family live in Gaza, who sums up the reality of the situation there:

“A rocket landed on our neighbour’s roof but luckily it didn’t explode so my family had a lucky escape. They have been called five times since yesterday by the Israeli army asking them to leave their home, but they haven’t

as there’s nowhere for them to go. The UN schools [providing emergency shelter] are crowded and my Dad is too ill to leave home … We are all holding our breath ….”

Amos Trust exists to proclaim justice and hope for the forgotten and a major part of our work for the next three years will revolve around the call for justice for Gaza, for Palestine, and for investment in projects, such as NECC and Al-Alhi Hospital’s Cancer Screening Programme, which provide hope where it should not exist.

Please continue praying for the people of Gaza, the young people and staff of NECC and of Al-Ahli Hospital. Download our prayer for Gaza here www.amostrust.org and see the back page for details of our emergency appeal for Gaza.

This article was written on 28 July 2014, see our website for the latest news from both our partners in Gaza.

Below LeftCarpentry students at a NECC training centreBelow RightThe Erez Crossing into Gaza© Amos Trust

Below LeftArriving at the Erez crossing into Gaza 2011Below RightStaff have to cope with out of date equipment in the Operating Theatre at Al-Ahli© Amos Trust

5Amos Day4 Amos Day

We love to tell our partners’ amazing stories but it is even better when you can hear from them directly, so we are delighted that not one but two of our partners will be visiting the UK in the Autumn to speak to Amos supporters around the country and at our annual day for supporters and friends Amos Day on Saturday 27 September 2014.

It promises to be an informative, challenging and uplifting time. We will be joined by Marwan Farajeh from Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem and Gilberto Aguirre from CEPAD in Nicaragua.

Amos News Summer 2014 Amos News Summer 2014

Amos Day

Saturday 27 September 2014 10.30am to 4.30pm St Mary at Hill Church St Mary at Hill, Eastcheap London, EC3R 8EE

Book now

To book your free place for Amos Day, visit www.amostrust.org and follow the links to the online booking system or call the office on 0207 588 2638. Please note space is limited, so booking in advance is essential.

Far leftMarwan FarajehLeftGilberto Aguirre with his wife Damaris Albuquerque, who is Director of CEPAD© Amos Trust

meet our partners autumn 2014

Partner tours 2014

We are delighted that both Marwan and Gilberto are coming to the UK to tour the country talking about their work.

These two tours are being hosted by Amos supporters, who are organising informal events to introduce Amos Trust and our partners to their friends, churches and networks. There are venues as far afield as the West Country, the North East and everywhere in between.

Marwan will be in the UK for 10 days following Amos Day, 27 September. His tour is the launch our latest home rebuilding project working alongside Holy Land Trust which will take place in Spring 2015. (See the postcard enclosed).

Gilberto will be taking his wisdom, warmth, experience and vision to venues around the UK between 19 and 29 September 2014. In addition to solo speaking engagements, he will also be travelling with our founder Garth Hewitt to do some special evenings of songs and stories.

To find an event near you, visit www.amostrust.org/news for full itineraries for both Marwan and Gilberto’s tours together with local contact details.

Please take the opportunity to meet these inspiring people. Warning – it may just change your life!

Marwan Farajeh

Marwan is the Area Field Coordinator for Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem, Palestine. Marwan’s role is to lead Holy Land Trust’s grassroots activities, particularly in the rural villages around Bethlehem. This involves community building activities and training together with organising non-violent resistance campaigns against the separation wall and land confiscations. Marwan heads up the home rebuilding projects that we have done with Holy Land Trust. He will be talking about his work including our planned 2015 home rebuild.

“Those of you that have met Marwan on one of our trips to Bethlehem will know that he is a force of nature. His energy and passion are utterly compelling and his ‘heart-on-sleeve’ humanity demands a response to the things you see and hear. Not just from your head, but also from your heart.”

Nive Hall – Operations Manager

Gilberto Aguirre

Gilberto is the Development Director for our partner in Nicaragua, CEPAD (Council of Protestant Churches). CEPAD trains and equips local people with the practical skills they need run to essential community development projects, such as farming co-ops, community banks and livestock share schemes, which enable their whole community to rise up out of poverty. Gilberto also heads up Radio CEPAD, which enables their trainers to impact even the most remote communities.

“Described as ‘the threat of a good example’ Nicaragua is a country that prioritises the poor and shows the rest of the world how to build a community with equality. CEPAD are leading the way in this. Gilberto and his team work with communities, with huge commitment, unerring compassion and immense warmth.”

Garth Hewitt – Founder, Amos Trust

6 Street Child World Cup Street Child World Cup 7

Photos from Rio© Wilf Whitty / Street Child United

Amos News Summer 2014 Amos News Summer 2014

the street child world cup brazil 2014

200 children who have lived on the streets. 80 incredibly dedicated street child project workers. 150 fantastic volunteers. A couple of World Cup winners and Olympians, a handful of politicians and the world’s media. 10 days in April in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Friendship, competition, tears, laughter, learning, winning and every child a champion. Every child knowing beyond any doubt that they are important and what they think and say matters, that they can proclaim “I am Somebody.”

To find out more about the incredible outcomes from the 2014 Street Child World Cup, visit www.amostrust.org/amos-street-child

I would tell the world that I have met so many problems in the street and now I am representing children who live in the street: we are somebody.— Kenya team member

There was a boy from the Argentinian team, I didn’t know his story, but he seemed troubled. He didn’t want eye contact or any other communication but each day he returned to the art area to quietly weave another friendship bracelet and it seemed to give him solace. Amidst all the chaos I found this very moving.— Arts programme volunteer

Most of these children have been abused and feel worthless but every day you tell them they are important and I can already see the difference in them.— Street Child Project Worker

We want to go to school and to be respected.— Indonesia team member

Through this Cup I can shout to the world that I’m somebody and I’m not just a street child but a child who has my own purpose that will make the world change.— Philippines team member

Street children are important. Please give us a voice— Mozambique team member

dates for your diary

In addition to Amos Day and tours for Marwan and Gilberto (see page 4) here are some other dates for your diary, which you can find full details of all the events listed at www.amostrust.org/events

8 Amos News 9Amos News

new websiteWe are pleased to announce that our new website www.amostrust.org will be launched by the end of August. It has been an exciting and involving process redesigning the site and it has enabled us to take time to think about how we explain our campaigns and tell the stories of our partners. The range of campaigns, projects and partners we are in regular contact with has widened in recent years, so to reflect this we have divided the website content under three main headings – Amos Street Child; Amos Palestine and Amos Communities, where you will find information on our partners in Nicaragua and India.

Other new features include:

– In-depth features about all our partners and campaigns.

– Resource section with free resource packs, schools materials and prayers to download.

– Events section with a full list of everything we have got planned for the next few months

– Site can be read on any mobile, tablet or computer as it scales in size.

– New Get Involved section with loads of ideas of how you can deepen your involvement, meet other supporters and take action.

Amos News Summer 2014 Amos News Summer 2014

world week for peace in palestine – israel

Join Christians around the world praying for Palestine and Israel from 21–27 September 2014. Enclosed with this newsletter is a flier produced by our friends at Pax Christi, with details of this focused week of prayer organised by the World Council of Churches. The theme this year is Child Prisoners.

Visit www.worldweekforpeace.org for further inspiration and resources.

garth on tour Our founder, singer-songwriter Garth Hewitt will be on tour around the UK this Autumn singing songs and telling stories from Amos partner projects around the world.

The Something for the Soul Tour runs from September 2014 – early Summer 2015 and includes new material from his forthcoming album of the same name. Visit the website for dates. If you would like to host a concert with Garth at your church or in your community, contact isobel@amostrust.org

experience nicaragua 22 february – 5 march 2015

amos advent carol service tuesday 2 december, 7pm St James Piccadilly A special carol service focused on Bethlehem and Palestine, with music and special guests. More details of the line-up and how to book tickets on the website in mid-September.

Join us in Nicaragua next spring on this 10 day trip, hosted by our partner CEPAD. This trip combines visiting Amos’s partner projects and seeing how they are transforming lives with exploring this country of revolutionary history and great natural beauty. There are two itineraries to choose from:

Latin American Pilgrimage Led by Amos Founder Garth Hewitt and his wife Gill Hewitt

Spend time with the community activists, theologians, politicians and artists, who have shaped the spirituality and approach of Amos Trust.

Journey to the Streets Led by Katie Hagley, our Community Engagement Manager with Sarah Rose, conference facilitator at the Street Child World Cup

Spend time on the streets of Managua with street child project, Casa Alianza. Join the outreach team supporting children living in the bario and on the city dumps. Take part in the art and sport programmes and meet Casa’s 2014 Street Child World Cup team.

Visit www.amostrust.org/travel to find out more about this trip, these two itineraries and to book your place.

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Palestine – Israel

One of the best things about my job is that I get to take groups to Palestine. In June this year it was my privilege to lead a (very!) diverse group to the second Bet Lahem Live Festival.

The festival is organised by our partner Holy Land Trust with support from ourselves and the Greenbelt Festival. The group was made up of UK artists taking part in the festival and travellers taking the opportunity to see the situation in Bethlehem and experience the line-up of music, dance and art.

This year’s festival took place during the immediate aftermath of the disappearance of the three Israeli teenagers These events had a profound effect on the festival, summed up in these words from the organisers:

“Clashes, shutdowns, and rumours of worse swirled around us, but we stayed focused on our goal: nurturing a grassroots nonviolent peace movement, bringing people of all backgrounds together, and celebrating life with art, music, dance, laughter, friendship, commerce, and fun!”

In all my visits to Bethlehem, I think this trip had the highest highs and the deepest lows. We saw the site of a freshly demolished Palestinian home where the dignity, hospitality, grace and determination of the family moved and challenged us all. We also shared the thronging main street of Bethlehem where music, food, theatre, art and comedy breathed new life into the ancient stones in the heart of the little town.

We danced, we sang, we laughed. We listened, we saw, we wept.

One of the most profound things about visiting Palestine is the overwhelming sense of life you find in such a troubled place. Sami Awad, Director of Holy land Trust quoted Palestinian poet Rafeef Ziadah in his closing words of the festival – “We teach life!”

Visit www.amostrust.org/news where you can find links to blogs and videos from the UK artists from Bet Lahem Live 2014.

bet lahem live festival

Nive HallOperations Manager

RightCrowds on Star Street© Amos Trust

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Airstrikes have caused structural damage to our partner the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, but staff are maintaining an around-the-clock presence at the hospital, receiving wounded people and providing care as best they can. Even before the violence broke out, the hospital had low stocks of essential medicines and medical supplies.

When the siege ends, the hospital will need to rebuild and restock. It will cost £3000 to restock the antibiotics the hospital needs to provide ongoing treatment for the injured and to continue to provide every day health care for the population.

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Above Doctor and patient at Al-Ahli in 2011 © Amos TrustCover Team celebration at SCWC 2014 in Rio © Wilf Whitty

Near East Council of Churches or NECC Youth Training Project provides vocational courses which, whether in building, sewing or engineering, include mentoring and counselling to help students to deal with the anger and trauma of living in such difficult circumstances.

Please pray that the team are able to stay in touch with their students and support one another during this terrible time.

The UN estimate that the number of under 16s suffering from trauma due to what they have seen in recent days, and who will need long term psychological support, is 25,000 and rising.

Your support will enable NECC to continue their vital work with the young people of Gaza, which is needed now more than ever before.

Thank you for your support.

emergency appeal for gaza