PEACE TO GAZA FROM IRELAND….

July 2, 2010 at 13:19 (Activism, Gaza, International Solidarity, Ireland)

SALAM GAZA FROM DERRY

NOTE: the following article below is from the Derry Journal, for our own report on the successful end to our Link for Learning pilot program go HERE (Be sure to click on link for photos and a very touching video)

SALAM GAZA
St. Mary’s College in cultural exchange with Gaza Strip primary school…

When the call went through, everyone smiled.

St. Mary’s College had successfully linked up, via live video, with a girls’ primary school in Abasan al-Kabera in the Gaza Strip.
“Salam Gaza,” said the St. Mary’s girls. “Salam Derry,” replied the girls from Abasan Primary School.

Organised by Mr Stephen Crockett (St. Mary’s College teacher) and Mr. Patrick McCourt (St. Joseph’s School teacher), of the Derry Friends of Palestine’s Educational Committee, the event was set-up as a cultural exchange.

It was a remarkable exchange of ideas, stories and songs. Everyone in the room was struck by how both schools mirrored each other.
As Stephen Crockett encouraged his students to speak up, minutes later, so did Gazan teacher, Mrs. Nisra. As the St. Mary’s IT technician instructed the girls to look towards the camera, so did his Gaza counterpart.

The Year Eight pupils of Class A16 at St. Mary’s were given a classroom and all the equipment required to make the live link-up possible. However, because of the continuing Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, the girls from the Abasan primary school had to travel to the local university to take part.

St. Mary’s began their performance with a wonderful solo rendition of ‘Ag Críost an síol’ and it was, in turn, met with applause from the young Gazan girls.

Soon after, several St. Mary’s students conducted two simple science experiments. Again, because of the Israeli blockade, the Gazan girls were unable to return the favour because the apparatus required is not allowed to be brought in to the Gaza Strip.

The Derry students continued with a short but impressive presentation on Bloody Sunday. The Year Eight pupils explained what happened on January 30, 1972 and relayed the importance of what happened recently in Guildhall Square when all 14 people who died as a result of Bloody Sunday were declared innocent.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the St. Mary’s performance was the finale. The award winning school choir sang parts of ‘Danny Boy’, ‘The Fields of Athenry’ and ‘I’ll Tell Me Ma’. The Gazan girls loved what they they were hearing and clapped again and again.

After St. Mary’s had finished, a little 12-year-old girl from the Abasan school was introduced and, on her own, sang an exquisite Arabic song about the famous Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

The little girl’s performance was so emotive that it brought Sinead MacLochlainn (Derry Friends of Palestine – Chairperson) to tears.
“I have visited the Gaza Strip before and you come away feeling that the people there are tremendously isolated,” she said. “This is one of the reasons why our Educational Committee organised this event.

“When the little girl was singing her song, I was really moved. I thought it was just wonderful. Although most of the people in the room may not have understood what she was singing about, I think they felt it. It was such a wonderful thing to experience.”

Ahmed Alnajjar (Ministry of Education & Higher Education – Gaza) helped to coordinate the event in Abasan. He praised both St. Mary’s College and the Derry Friends of Palestine for their support and added that they hope to stay in contact.

Mr. Alnajjar made sure to add his support to the findings of the Saville report.

“We, the people of Gaza, have a lot in common with the people of Ireland. When he heard about the Saville report last week, the people of Gaza rejoiced,” he said.

Mrs Lena McMorrow, Vice Principal of St Mary’s College, described the event as exciting and one which they hope to repeat again.
“It was a very exciting opportunity for all those involved. I know a lot of work has gone into the organising of the event and I have to commend everyone involved. It’s a remarkable piece of work and one that I am proud that St. Mary’s is part of.”

Twelve-year-olds Emily Crawley and Caitlin Quigley both took part in the video exchange.

Emily, who was part of the choir, said: “The event has taught me that we are all the same in God’s eyes. I really enjoyed listening to what they had to say and I hope that we can talk to them again.”

Caitlin, who helped to carry out the science experiment, said: “I really enjoyed it and it has taught me so much about what the people of Gaza are going through. Hopefully they will have peace like us someday.”

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