Project Details

  This activity-based project aims to bring simple games and toys to refugee children in Balata refugee camp, where local aid organization Project Hope runs activities with two local community centers.  Even the simplest of toys are hard to be found in this camp, and yet bring limitless hours of safe and healthy atmosphere in an otherwise restricted environment.  Project Hope will purchase a large supply of hula-hoops, jump-ropes, balls, story-books, picture books, and coloring materials for use in Project Hope's regular activities in Balata.  Some of these materials will be stored in the community center where Project Hope sends its volunteers, other materials will be kept on site Project Hope’s center and transported with volunteers as needed.  The $230 requested for this project will buy enough toys to entertain more than 200 children with which Project Hope works in Balata, and the items will be purchased within two weeks of this project being fully funded.   Children in Balata Refugee Camp suffer from a general lack of resources, and a lack of outlets for their youthful energy and creativity.  Local schools provide a certain amount of space and time for children to play, however schools are overcrowded and offer view after-school or extra-curriculum activities.  Local community centers provide a valuable space for children to engage in healthy and constructive play activities however, the community center suffer a severe shortage of even basic materials – for example, one local center has to borrow a football from the nearby school to run sports activities.  Balata Camp is the largest and most populous camp in the West Bank, and has suffered tremendous violence over the last ten years.  The camp is resilient as always, but needs outside support to provide even simple materials to help in the physical, social, and psychological revitalization of the camp.   This project will address the needs of the children by directly providing the resources needed for these community centers to run games and activities with refugee children.  Such games and activities provide valuable social interaction, healthy activity, and serve also as a form of stress-relief from an, at times, crowded, violent and stressful environment.