JERUSALEM – Freelance journalists based in South Africa who covered the 14-day conflict and on-going demolitions of Palestinian homes by Israeli security forces are putting together a project of hope for the children and families of Palestine.
Ata Magadla Sibetta, project coordinator and freelance journalist who recently visited Palestine, spoke to Salaamedia about the idea and aim of the project.
The idea of ‘Hope under the rubble of Palestine’ started when Sibetta and his colleagues were covering the 14-day war that flared up with the formation of a new government in Israel.
Ata says that, when he saw a child come out and stand next to the rubble of their homes, pointing that their family was under, it touched him because he did not have the ability to assist the child. Because of this, around eighty percent of Palestinian children who have lost their homes and families move into shelters and lose hope of a better future.
“Children are the ones affected by the aftermath of the war both psychologically and [physically],” says Sibetta.
When Sibetta and his colleagues started researching and speaking to these children, they found a need to come back and bring educational books because the schools were bombed. Israeli authorities claim that the schools were being used to keep up the arms of the Palestinians – a claim which has been refuted.
He says they are trying to unearth the rubble by trying to see if they can get general South Africans to contribute to Palestinians and their families.
“It is going to take a lot of time. That is why we have decided to go through with UNESCO and ‘Save The Children’ organisation to come on board to be able to help in this project as well.”
Sibetta added that “the new government has not done much. That is why the United Nations (UN) are trying to get proof and charge [the government] for the demolishing of homes through the ICC court and that is why we have even been working together with them [UN] to try and film documentaries on the children and [the] demolishing. Without these documentaries, it will be difficult for the UN to make a case against the Israeli authorities.”
He and his team hope to return to Palestine, not only to film the documentary but to build a library for the children of Palestine.
‘Hope under the rubble in Palestine’ needs your donation of educational books or toys to bring hope to the children of Palestine. To make a contribution, or for more information, contact Malick on +27 (0) 63 224 4913.
