Schools

The aims of this project are firstly to link schools in the Brighton and
Hove area with schools in Tubas and the Jordan valley. The links are at
the level of friendship between the children and teachers.

Secondly the project is part of a wider effort to publicize the
humanitarian issues facing Palestinian Communities within the Jordan
Valley.

Friendship links depend largely on those traveling between Brighton and
Tubas. Letters in English and Arabic, drawings, pictures and films are all
taken by individuals or posted back from Jerusalem. We have one post box
within the West Bank. There is no postal service for Palestinians in the
occupied territory and little access to the internet in the rural areas.

Despite the communication problems we have nevertheless been able to
establish and sustain friendship links both at Primary and Secondary
level.

Many villages in the Jordan Valley have been denied schools by Israel.
Publicizing their situation leads to pressure on the military occupation
to change its approach. This includes publicizing the efforts of local
Palestinians and Brighton area citizens to build 'illegal' schools.

The Story of Upper Fasayil School

At Easter 2007, and with the help of local contacts a group of visitors
from Brighton visited a village in the Jordan Valley who had lost nearly
all their land and were shown a site for a school. Immediately some basic
school books and equipment were purchased from Jericho and left with the
villagers.

Money was raised in Brighton and in the summer two friends from Brighton
spent a month helping to build a mud brick building with a pitched roof.
The village was issued with an injunction to stop building but publicity
prevented this being enacted.

Heavy rain damaged the bricks before they could be sealed and money was
then raised for a breeze block structure. This has now been finished and a
teacher is soon to be appointed by the Palestinian Authority.

The building of Fasayil School generated international press attention.
The villagers refused to stop building and the school gained more press
attention. An international petition against the injunction gained
thousands of signatures. The Civil Military administration for the region
said that the army would not be going ahead with the demolition due to
'humanitarian concerns'. In March 2008, after Fasayil was mentioned in
negotiations, North Fasayil was listed as an area where Palestinians were
entitled to build meaning that the threat to Fasayil School and the other
houses in North Fasayil may be over. This change has undoubtedly occurred
due to the pressure put on the Israeli authorities and the PA by the
people of Fasayil and their international supporters.