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Problem
/ Project Background
Rafah lies in a historically pivotal location, at a
point of sharp transition between desert and sown land along
the coastal road, which has traditionally connected Africa
and Asia.
In 1967, the Israeli conquest of the Sinai
temporarily united the parts of Rafah, which were located
on both sides of the border and spurred further growth. The
Camp David accords of 1981 proved to be a disaster for Rafah
as an impassable fence was erected along the international
border. In the months before the final pullback, a 70 metre
strip was cut through Rafah's neighbourhoods, separating farmers
from their lands, workers from their jobs, and even family
members from each other.
The part of Rafah located in Palestine has
an exceptionally large proportion of refugees and settled
Bedouin compared to Gaza's other refugee camps. Unemployment
currently runs at around 70% in the Gaza strip as a result
of border closures with Israel and restrictions on work there.
Even today, most of the Rafah population is confined to a
vastly overcrowded refugee camp, with a resulting strain on
its inadequate water, sewerage and electricity services. Presently
Rafah has a population of about 120,000 of which about 70,000
live in the various refugee quarters clustered around the
city.
Following elections in the camp in 1991,
a local committee was formed consisting of a range of professionals,
doctors, teachers, social workers and elders. The committee
completed a house-to-house survey in the area, which revealed
a surprisingly high prevalence of disability.
In order to address these concerns, the RRC
was opened in November 1992 providing, as well as general
education, vocational training in sewing and computers, and
a screening unit for the hearing impaired.
The current project, the REEC is housed in
a donated community space within the RRC and runs on a shift
basis providing two sessions
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Project
Objectives
The objectives
of the REEC
are:
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To
improve the quality of life amongst disadvantaged children
in the refugee camp
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To
offer a range of activities to allow children to broaden
their horizons and achieve a high standard of education
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To
integrate disadvantaged children within the activities
of other children allowing them an equal opportunity to
enhance their knowledge, skills and abilities.
Project Activities
The REEC offers the following:
- A library programme providing material in both English
and Arabic. The programme also offers story telling and
collective reading of poetry and drama for various age groups
- A computer programme allowing hands-on work with new
or updated computer packages to challenge the children's
competence, knowledge and creativity
- A Toy and Game library and recreation programme
Beneficiaries
The target group is children under the age of 18 of which
are estimated to be around 20,000 in the Rafah Refugee Camp.
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