SJP-GWU Raises Money for SOS.

Navigation: Main page

Author: Horton, Matt

Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, DC hosted a March 2 fundraising dinner for SOS Children's Village of Bethlehem. The sold-out event was co-sponsored by the Muslim Students Association (MSA-GWU) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP-GWU).

During dinner, pictures of Bethlehem's SOS Children's Village, taken by SJP president Leila Taha and treasurer Tyler Nielsen, were projected on a large screen.

Regina Anderson-Ford, director of administration for SOS Children's Villages-USA, described the work of SOS Children's Villages, nominated 13 times for the Nobel Peace Prize. More than 100 children, either orphans or others whose families cannot care for them, live in the SOS Bethlehem Village, she said, along with their surrogate families. Launched in 1978, the village now runs a computer lab, library, medical center and schools, which are open to non-village residents as well. SOS operates three other Children's Villages, in Rafah, Nazareth and Arad, as well as four villages in Lebanon, two in Syria, three in Jordan, three in Egypt and hundreds more throughout the world.

Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek of the Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center (Sabeel) in Jerusalem commended the efforts of those working "on the humanitarian level," then addressed efforts to be made on "the political level." He spoke of Sabeel's campaign to ask churches to "examine their investment portfolio for companies profiting from the occupation." Sabeel is challenging churches to engage these corporations on their practices in the occupied territories and, if these corporations do not change their behavior, to consider disinvestment. "This is a nonviolent response to the occupation," Ateek explained. "People of faith need to stand together to achieve a Palestinian state side by side with Israel."

Huda Asfour, a GWU student who attended the National Music Conservatory in Palestine, performed three songs on the oud, including one of her own entitled "Jay Riha," and a traditional Iraqi song played in solidarity with Iraqis.

Ambassador Afif Safieh, head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Mission to the United States, told the young audience that the banquet reminded him and his wife Christ'l of their "golden age in 1968, when students were agents of change from Berkeley to Belgium, from Paris to Prague." After praising the students' efforts, Safieh discussed the recent elections.

"Islamophobia seems to be the only form of acceptable racism," he lamented, noting that Jewish fundamentalist parties that are part of Israel's coalition governments "advocate openly the transfer of the Palestinian people," a reference to the Moledet party.

In response to claims that the Hamas victory signals the end of the peace process, he asked rhetorically, "what peace process?" In the last five years, he pointed out, "the peace process was non-existent."

Fatah, Safieh said, came into the election with three major handicaps: It was "too long in power," there was a "reality and reputation of corruption," and it was "identified by a peacefully negotiated solution which was not being realized on the ground." To these handicaps, he added what he called "Fatah election campaign blunders," which sealed its loss.

Safieh said he had hope that people of conscience would resist threats to cut aid to Palestinians. Since they have opened a debate on the nature of U.S. aid, Safieh added, "we should raise the issue of U.S. aid to Israel."

The night concluded with student Heidi Mikawy discussing getting involved in SJP, and a beautiful performance by the DC Debkeh group. For more information about SOS Children's Villages, please visit <www.soschildrensvillages.org>. For more information about Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek and Sabeel, visit <www.sabeel.org>. For more information about Students for Justice in Palestine at George Washington University, e-mail <sjp@gwu.edu>.

PHOTO (COLOR): Regina Anderson-Ford describes SOS Children's Villages at a George Washington University fund-raiser.

~~~~~~~~

By Matt Horton