First High School Class in Silwan
In school year 2008-2009 Al-Wa'ad has managed to open the first high school class for girls. The first class started in the 10th grade, and next year will continue to the 11th grade, while two new 10th grade classes will join.
Repairing of Hazardous Environments
Al-Wa'ad has arranged the renovation of an hazardous courtyard in a kindergarden.
Before:
After:
The association works with local schools to locate hazardous locations and report to the municipality for immediate repair such as in the following alley that leads to the Bir-Ayoub school:
Parents' Empowerment Committee
The association works in partnership with existing committees vis-à-vis the municipality on the subject of the allocation of budgets earmarked for schools. A petition was submitted to the High Court of Justice to avoid the additional closing down of a school in Silwan. Due to the unacceptable situation in the schools in Silwan the association is organizing and supporting the parent committees in organizing a student strike starting from the 25th of May 2007.
Parents' Empowerment Committee
The association works in partnership with existing committees vis-à-vis the municipality on the subject of the allocation of budgets earmarked for schools. A petition was submitted to the High Court of Justice to avoid the additional closing down of a school in Silwan. Due to the unacceptable situation in the schools in Silwan the association is organizing and supporting the parent committees in organizing a student strike starting from the 25th of May 2007.
Preschool
The Al Waad Association applied and received the permission to establish an official preschool in Silwan, which will be the first of its kind in the neighborhood.
Consultancy
The organization will start providing information to residents about their welfare rights, National Insurance, workers’ rights, and so forth; according to the subject under discussion we will invite an appropriate professional to advise and inform the community. For example, tax-collectors of Palestinian origin have agreed to consult residents on tax issues and allocation fees.
Consciousness-raising and Educational Activities for Women
Monthly meetings for women on subjects concerning education and social issues (officially beginning in September 2007); in cooperation with volunteering social workers, psychologists and community workers from the Physicians for Human Rights, in cooperation with Achoti, Bustan Center and community advocates in the Arab communities in the North of Israel. Topics will be decided upon according to the interests and needs of the participating women, with the goal of building mutual support and empowerment.
Additionally, arts and crafts workshops for women initiated by women from the community in cooperation with female artists from the Bezalel Academy of Arts and the Barbur Artist Gallery in West Jerusalem.
Summer Games
In a large solidarity initiative in cooperation with the Beer Ayoub School, Bustan Center, Barbur Artist Gallery, Music in Me, Prelude Foundation, and Ta’ayush, as well as mothers and youth from Silwan, we are organizing a free summer camp for children that will include consciousness-raising and educational activities such as music concerts, theater plays, as well as actions to clean the neighborhood etc. Now hosted by Madaa Silwan Community Center (www.madaasilwan.org).
Social Rights Storefront
The organization will operate a Social Rights Storefront, which will be drop-in centers in local shopping centers and/or offices. Trained volunteers, together with a professional coordinator, will help citizens access their rights and entitlements in the areas of housing, health, National Insurance, home services for the elderly, debts, etc. The storefronts will also provide legal aid.