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A fun day for children in Gaza

February 27, 2007 - Gaza - "Children need to have fun to change their mental outlooks when the daily life is full of bad news in the Palestinian territories, especially in Gaza. They need fun days and recreational activities that refresh their troubled spirits." said Muna, a mother of four, one of which is a student, who attended the fun day that was organized by Caritas Jerusalem in the Latin School in Gaza City on 25/2/07.

This is one of our responses in the Gaza Strip to allow children a space to enjoy carefree moments away from the security disorder and the hard circumstances that have devastated Gaza's population over the last few months.

Muna added, "I hope that Caritas Jerusalem will support more such enjoyable gatherings for children and families."

Her daughter Sarah says with a big smile on her face, "I am so happy today to see the big rabbit and the fox. They made me laugh a lot... I also like the chocolates that were given to us."

About two hundred children gathered with their families in the Latin School's big yard to have fun and enjoy the games, plays, and songs. The activities were held by the pupils themselves and with the help of a group of skillful entertainers.

Maha Al-Emari, a psychologist working for Caritas Jerusalem in Gaza and the project coordinator for the Educational Program for Child Mental and Physical Health, a project conducted by Caritas Jerusalem with support from Caritas Espana and the government of Arragone in Spain, expressed her happiness about this day. She commented: "This program is so significant for everyone not only children. As you see, children are enjoying their time." We at Caritas Jerusalem will continue to do our part in putting a smile on a child's face and hope in a child's heart.

The Educational Program for Children Mental and Physical Health focuses on building the capacity of teachers, parents and children on the importance of child mental and physical health. It began recently by holding lectures, meetings and activities in six schools in the Gaza Strip. Maha Al-Emari adds, "This program works on reducing the stress and helping limit the pressure that children face in our society." The project will also see 24 fun days conducted throughout Gaza in the different schools.

In the Gaza Strip, Caritas Jerusalem secured the services of the wellknown Amjad company to undertake all of the scheduled fun days planned in this project. This company includes a theatrical group, clowns, face painters, and acrobats who undertake entertaining and wholesome activities for children. This firm is the only one in Gaza working to bring these important activities to the young people.

While the results of this project are not physically tangible, their impact promises to have a lasting result which will benefit the future generation of children in Gaza and to have a time of fun and joy to break up the daily life in Gaza which is one of such pain and sorrow for all.

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