This post gives you another way to invest in Israel - through Catholic Relief Services!
First, I need to know if you can make it on Thursday to a small gathering at Prince of Peace, May 12th, 7pm. We'll get to hear indepth from Father Mike about his call to support the Palestinians. Please give me a call at 977-8903, send a post, send an email or even send a text! Hope to see you all come out and share your ideas.
This next bit is from Anne Avellone, M.Div LMSW, Director of the Office of Social Justice and Respect Life, Archdiocese of Santa Fe. She has a contact from CRS in GAZA, we'll see if we can invite her for a talk, k. Anne gives us good direction for our long term committments to the Middle East and how to encourage others to commit to helping move the change along. CRS is well respected world wide and I for one am very glad to be reminded of their good work in the Middle East.
Forward by clicking the 'M' at the end of the blog. Forward widely!
Peace out, Peggy
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You might also note that our own Catholic Relief Services does relief and peace building work in the Holy Land. Since CRS is the international aid arm of US Catholics, that might be a good place to start in terms of donations. I went to Africa (Tanzania and Ethiopia) last September with a CRS delegation…they are doing wonderful work with international development, relief and peace building. Please share this with your blog audience, so they know the good work US Catholics are doing for countries abroad!
Here is the web link to the CRS web site, then people can see what they are doing in the middle east! http://crs.org/
Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza
Catholic Relief Services has worked with local partners in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza for nearly half a century. Our projects aim to support peace with justice for all people in this troubled region, while responding to the humanitarian and sustainable development needs of Palestinians.
The current crisis in the West Bank and Gaza is one of the worst humanitarian situations in the history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It threatens not only the well-being of Palestinian civilians and the very poor, but also endangers prospects for a sustainable peace between Palestinians and Israelis.
Four decades of occupation, expanding settlements, military operations, the Separation Wall, restrictions on the movement of people and goods, and general insecurity have devastated Palestinian society. Poverty rates are nearly 65 percent and food insecurity has risen 13 percent since 2006.
CRS programs address the severe unemployment, lack of quality education, rising food insecurity and lack of opportunities for Palestinians.
Anne
505-831-8167
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CRS Partners in Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza
The work of Catholic Relief Services is accomplished in partnership with an extensive network of church and local organizations led by the people we serve. By working with partners, we can bring about real changes to systems that contribute to poverty, hunger, injustice and conflict.
World Food Program
The World Food Program, a United Nations humanitarian agency, fights hunger by supplying food to the most vulnerable. CRS is one of the implementing partners of World Food Program's Food for Work and Food for Training programs, which feed thousands of Palestinians each month.
Ibdaa Cultural Center
The Ibdaa ("to create something out of nothing") Cultural Center, located in the Dheisheh Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, was founded to provide an environment for Palestinian children and young people to develop their creativity and leadership skills through social, cultural and educational activities. Ibdaa promotes exchanges between the camp's youth and the international community through visits abroad and participation in international conferences, and by receiving visiting groups that come to Dheisheh.
Community Training Center and Crisis Management
CRS partners with Community Training Center and Crisis Management to respond to the psychological and social needs of Gazans, especially children traumatized by violence. The center provides parents with information about trauma's effects on their children and how to deal with those effects. Through entertainment and educational programs at kindergartens and schools, the center supports the healthy psychological and behavioral development of children.
National Association of Democracy and Law
The National Association of Democracy and Law was established in Rafah, Gaza, in 2003 with the assistance of Palestinian youth and the community. The association aims to protect and create awareness of human rights, reinforce democratic principles, support Palestinian efforts at self-determination, and improve the role of women in Palestinian society.
Life and Hope Association
The Life and Hope Association in Gaza focuses on social equality and justice. It works to increase cultural and sporting activities for Palestinian youth, increase awareness of the problem of drugs and ways to prevent drug use, encourage solidarity, and provide aid to needy families.
B'Tselem
B'Tselem ("in [His] image") is an Israeli human rights organization that aims to ensure that Israel's government protects the human rights of residents in the Palestinian Territories and complies with its obligations under international law. In its efforts to change Israeli policy in the Palestinian Territories, B'Tselem regularly provides Knesset (Israeli parliament) members and the media with video footage of human rights violations in the territories, and injustices caused by Israeli authorities.
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