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Since the election of the new
Board of Directors in October 2008, the Palestine House Women’s
Committee has worked to push forward women’s social, educational,
cultural and health activities. The committee put together a working
program touching on all of these fields. It began its work by
inviting members of the community to a community iftar during
Ramadan. This was followed by our participation in preparing the big
celebrations of Eid Al-Fitr, Christmas, New Year and Eid Al-Adha
held at Palestine House. The committee also participated in
organizing the fundraising and informational activity that was held
at Palestine House after the Bait Hanun massacre in November,
particularly since the victims of the savage massacre were the women
who had taken the streets to protect their fathers and brothers
blockaded inside a mosque. The event was successful fundraising
over $20,000 for community initiatives in Bait Hanun.
In January, and under the
leadership of Fatima Ismail and with the active participation of
Rafeef Ziadah and Nariman Abu Abed, the Women’s Committee organized
a community women’s meeting which hosted Dr. Nuhad Abu Sitta
(General Practitioner) who presented on Diabetes and Rheumatism, as
well as means of prevention of these illnesses; as well as Dr. Nehad
Ayad (Dentist) who presented on gum diseases and the available
treatments, as well as proper methods of dental care.
Further on the health front,
the committee organized a lecture on February 25 on proper nutrition
and diet to prevent heart and stomach illness as well as
osteoporosis. The activity also included a film on Palestinian
refugees under threat in Iraq, who have been stuck in no man’s land
between Iraq, Jordan and Syria fleeing the brutal crimes that are
still being committed against Palestinians in Iraq at the hands of
sectarian groups, and as a result of the US occupation. The film was
followed by a presentation by Rana Abdullah who has been working
tirelessly to bring as many of these families to Canada, as well as
a talk by one of the women victimized by the horrible situation in
Iraq.
The film and presentations had a large impact on the
women participating in the event, leading a group of women from the
committee to visit the city of Hamilton to meet with an eight-member
Palestinian family from Iraq now seeking refuge in Canada. The visit
was very well received by the family which expressed its
appreciation for the concern of the Palestinian community. Since
then Palestine House has engaged in a fundraising drive to support
Palestinian families from Iraq, and the Women’s committee organizing
an extremely successful bake-sale fundraiser on March 18 at
Palestine House which raised over $11,000. Hundreds of
people contributed to the success of the event by donating money,
buying food, and having a good time. |
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