“Wow, this is really rare,” Laila El-Haddad, the author of Gaza Mom: Palestine, Politics, Parenting, and Everything In Between, and a resident of Columbia, MD says about the California based Rebuilding Alliance’s Backpacks 4 Gaza project for its neediest children. She became their Maryland project lead and spent most of the month of May collecting new and gently used books to send to Gaza in a container organized by the non-profit.
El-Haddad often sees container of goods collected for Syria, Afghanistan and other destinations, but says she almost never hears about containers going into Gaza due to the near hermetic closures through the blockade and the siege, which controls all the access and freeways into Gaza. Many items are banned including books. “Basically everything has to be approved, as aid is restricted to eight organizations,” she says.
Rebuilding Alliance, in partnership with many Palestinian organizations, has managed to get approval. “This is a good way for people here to contribute something material to counter the siege,” says ElHaddad.
She disagrees with the stereotypical portrayal of Palestinian children as always in need in food. “Yes, there are many people who need food [assistance] but there are also many aid agencies providing food. “This is also a siege on their education and their freedom to seek higher education,” says ElHaddad, ”there is a dearth of good quality books in Arabic or English - imagine an area that is completely cut off.” On her visits to Gaza, youth ask her to bring them books. “People view language as an opportunity — a ticket forward. University students ask for classics, newly released books by Palestinian authors or just any new literature,” says El-Haddad.
“This is amazing being able to nourish young people’s minds,” she says. The Palestinian ministry of education and the minister of education, Dr Khalsa Shakhsheer, approved a book list for this project.
Cindy and Craig Corrie are founding board members of the Rebuilding Alliance (RA). 23-year-old Rachel Corrie arrived in the Gaza Strip in 2003 as part of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), which aims to use nonviolent methods to resist Israeli military actions, such as attempting to interrupt the construction of the West Bank barrier and block army vehicles. Khaled Nasrallah, a pharmacist, lived in the home that Corrie died defending. Donna Baranski-Walker, founder of Rebuilding Alliance, went to Palestine to meet with Nasrallah family. “After Rachel Corrie was killed, I met her parents.” says Baranski-Walker, who also serves as the Executive Director. Nasrallah came on a speaking tour of seven states and RA was able to buy new land for his home. The team hoped that the Nasrallah home would be the first in their effort to rebuild the neighborhood for all 2200 families who lost their homes at that time.
After the blockade they had a hard time getting the cement shipments into Gaza. “Last time we could take cement in easily was before Operation Cast Lead,” says Baranski-Walker. The Rebuilding Alliance sent materials in the Freedom Flotilla in 2010, as part of their More Than Chocolates for Gaza campaign. The ship, MV Rachel Corrie, was impounded. “Certainly the blockade of Gaza deeply impacted our ability to purchase building materials in Gaza. We tried every route to no avail with test shipments via Egypt, by meeting with Israeli Peace groups in Sderot to ask their help in purchasing and sending building supplies, and by sending supplies aboard the M.V. Rachel Corrie... in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. We actively sought diplomatic assistance too and we did our best to engage creative know-how at a conference in Doha Qatar focused on building without cement or steel,” she wrote to donors after announcing the decision to shift the focus of the organization from building homes to providing activities for young people. RA now builds soccer fields and runs the Annual Rachel Corrie Ramadan Soccer Tournament.
Volunteers for Backpacks 4 Gaza gathered in New York to box almost 4,000 backpacks for shipping to school children in Gaza. Photos courtesy of Backpacks 4 Gaza.
Amongst other projects that they are proud of is that they have helped the villagers design, finance and build the first three Rebuilding to Remain homes for families returning home to the village of Al Aqaba in the West Bank and built the Al Aqaba Kindergarten in 2004.
In the midst of last summer’s bombings, Donna shares that Nasrallah, who now works as a social worker, told them that the plumbing system has failed at the schools, which are serving as the emergency shelters. “If you can get them soap and shampoo,” suggested Nasrallah, noting that it would make a difference in the lives of the refugees.
“Rebuilding Alliance partnered with the Rachel Corrie Foundation and ADC-OC to distribute hygiene kits to provide relief to families sheltering in UNRWA-Gaza schools,” shares El Haddad. These reached families in Khan Younis, Rafah and Jabalia. Cleaning supplies were collected on credit from local Gazan stores.
With the help of groups of all faiths such as the Jewish Voice of Peace, Yaseen Foundation and some Catholic high schools, Rebuilding Alliance successfully sent a container with clothes, shoes and bedding to families hit hard by winter storms in 2014. The container was eventually delayed at the border. After that experience, Kelly Leilani Main, the Gaza Campaign coordinator, says that Rebuilding Alliance learned to maneuver the complex system of Israeli customs. The Backpack 4 Gaza container will travel through Ashdod Israel, and is precleared for shipment to Gaza.
Rebuilding Alliance also organizes the Stay Human Conference Calls to bring members of Congress and constituents together to hear from Palestinian and Israeli peacemakers first-hand and find ways to help. At this critical time, few are listening to the peacemaker, says Main who recently spent 5 weeks in Palestine. Stay Human Conference Calls amplify their voice, build coalitions in each US congressional district, and press elected officials into action to keep children and families safe. “Together, we share insight, information, and next steps. This is about heart, connection, and learning from Palestinian and Israeli peacemakers.”
Adam Ramadan is a Palestinian-American advocate from New Jersey. He is working closely with ElHaddad. His father was born in Palestinian town called Bir Nabala and migrated to America when he was 17 years old. His mother, Basima, also from Bir Nabala was raised in Brazil and migrated to America when she was 5 years old. “Bir Nabala was once a flourishing village so close to Jerusalem; after the wall was built right through Bir Nabala, it divided it into two— leaving my family’s land behind the wall with no access to Jerusalem,” says Adam.
“I am working closely with Rebuilding Alliance with this project. The campaign “Backpacks for Gaza” aims to send 10,000 backpacks with new school supplies to Gaza’s neediest children to help them return to and succeed in school. For only $20 dollars, you can send a backpack kit with new school supplies essential for a student’s success and ability to attend school. The backpack kits also have much needed drawing supplies like crayons and markers to help recover from the trauma of prolonged attacks and loss of family and friends,” says Ramadan.
Every donation is matched by GlobalGiving.org and qualifies for Microsoft for projects that support youth. The customized backpack kits are assembled in Oklahoma and have been approved by Israeli authorities. Anyone who wants to contribute to more containers in the future can run campaigns in their localities.
“We are really excited,” says Kelly, “This is accessible project that everyone can support, and we want to bring out the sense of humanity we hope it will grow minds— this is not just about backpacks.” Rebuilding Alliance has advocacy strategies in place if they have any trouble.
To learn more:
Website: http://www.RebuildingAlliance.org/backpacks-for-gaza
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backpacks4gaza
Laila's Book Drive: https://www.facebook.com/events/829914500377619/
Rebuilding Alliance Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RebuildingAlliance
To donate new and gently used books (story books, activity books, science and math workbooks) contact Laila ElHaddad at laila.elhaddad@gmail.com