West Bank, 25 November 2006 - UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd, Bella Freud and Karma Nabulsi today, at Shufat Girls School, signed an agreement consolidating cooperation between UNRWA and the Hoping Foundation.
The Hoping Foundation, co-founded by Bella Freud and Karma Nabulsi, is a British-based charity which provides grants for community projects working with Palestine refugee children in camps.
Speaking ahead of the signing, Karen AbuZayd commented: "We are delighted with this new affiliation and envisage a long future with the Hoping Foundation. Together we will continue to provide innovative and inspirational projects for children and youth."
Karen AbuZayd, Bella Freud and Karma Nabulsi made an address to all students of the school. This was followed by a meeting with representatives of the school's Parliament, young Palestine refugee girls between the ages of 10 and 14. The Parliament shared their hopes and concerns for the future, exploring with AbuZayd, Freud and Nabulsi possible project ideas that could benefit children in the community.
Dr. Nabulsi said to the girls: "We at Hoping are able to support the camp associations with their work only because so many people in Britain care about Palestine and believe in you all. We hope the local association here in Shufat will be able to plan some fantastic activities for you to enjoy."
Bella Freud, British fashion designer and great-granddaughter of Sigmund Freud, is a firm supporter of Palestine refugees and has openly spoken out about the harsh conditions they endure.
Karma Nabulsi was a PLO representative from 1977-90, working at the United Nations, in Beirut, Tunis, and the United Kingdom. She was an advisory member of the Palestinian delegation to the peace talks in Washington from 1991-1993.
Previous Hoping Foundation projects have included the provision of a specially-equipped bus for disabled children for a camp in Nablus; a poetry competition for Palestinian children with local writers in Syrian camps; a painting workshop in Damascus; and English language and computer training courses in the West Bank and Gaza.