Tuesday June 10th 12:00 Noon
Sami Awad
"Nonviolence & the Palestinian Struggle for Human & National Rights"
at the Resource Center for Nonviolence

A brown bag conversation with Sami Awad, Director of the Holy Land Trust
in Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine. Awad has been among
the foremost Palestinian advocates for use of nonviolence to challenge
the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip of Palestine. He
has been involved in developing the international solidarity movement
and nonviolence trainings for former armed fighters. Bring a lunch if
you want. Or just come to join in the discussion. A donation will be
accepted.

Please encourage your friends to take advantage of the opportunity to
meet these two extraordinary men.

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Dance Performance by the youth of Dheisheh Refugee Camp, West Bank,
Palestine

Saturday July 5
8:00 PM
Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium

General Admission: $10.00
Children & Youth: $2.50
Families: $25.00
Reserved seats $50 call (831) 423-1626


Sponsored locally by the Middle East Program
Resource Center for Nonviolence
(831) 423 - 1626
_www.rcnv.org

Local individual and organizational sponsors are being sought.
Contact Scott Kennedy 457 - 8003.

Ibdaa is a Palestinian youth dance troupe from Dheisheh refugee camp,
near the city of Bethlehem in the Israeli occupied West Bank. It is a
project of Ibdaa Cultural Center, which provides educational and
cultural activities for the children and youth in the refugee camp. The
dance troupe is made up of 18 young men and women, aged 15 - 18. They
perform dance pieces that tell the history, struggle and aspiration of
Palestinian refugees by intertwining debkeh, traditional Palestinian
dance, and theatrical choreography.

Since its founding in 1994, Ibdaa has performed in over ten European and
Middle Eastern countries.This tour will be Ibdaaís second visit to
the United States, following their successful 5-city tour in the fall
of 1999, sponsored by the Middle East Childrenís Alliance (MECA).

In the summer of 2003, MECA is bringing back Ibdaaís youth, touring
eight major cities in the United States.They will be performing at
local theaters and visiting with communities.Ibdaa hopes that they will
meet as many people as possible to let their their voices for a just
peace heard in these critical times of the history, and to build a
bridge of friendship and solidarity.

About Dheisheh Refugee Camp

Dheisheh camp was established in 1949, after the expulsion and flight of
more than 750,000 Palestinians following the creation of the State of
Israel.Those that fled to Dheisheh originated from 45 villages west of
Jerusalem and Hebron, the descendants of whom comprise the 11,000
inhabitants of the camp today.A resilient and active community, Dheisheh
has a long history of struggle against oppression.Until the
Israeli army's withdrawal in 1995, the camp was surrounded with a high
barbed-wire fence.Soldiers and violent confrontations filled the alleys,
killing tens of residents, while hundreds were injured, imprisoned and
disabled for life.During the peace process years, the worsening plight
of refugees was largely ignored in the negotiation framework, bringing a
sense of stagnation and desperation to the community.Since the second
Intifada (Palestinian uprising) began in September 2000, Dheisheh has
been continuously besieged and invaded by the Israeli army, and losing a
number of its residents in the violence.

Ibdaa -- to create something out of nothing

Ibdaa, which means ëto create something out of nothing, is a grassroots
initiative of Dheisheh Refugee Camp.Founded in 1995, Ibdaa serves over
1,500 children and young people annually through various programs, while
providing job opportunities to over 60 families in the camp.Ibdaa's
mission is to provide an environment for the camp's children and young
people to develop their ability, creativity and
leadership skills through social, cultural and educational activities
that are not readily available in the camp.Ibdaa strives to empower
the children and instill in them confidence and strength to face their
difficult future, while educating the international community on the
Palestinian refugee issue.Ibdaaís program includes a nursery,
kindergarten, childrenís library, computer and Internet centers,
restaurant, multipurpose hall, sports programs, community mural, women's
cooperative, music courses, guesthouse, income generation projects, and
scholarships.

Middle East Children's Alliance is a nonprofit organization working for
a just peace in the Middle East, focusing on Palestine, Israel, Lebanon
and Iraq.Since its founding in 1988, MECAís programs have emphasized the
need to educate North Americans about the Middle East and U.S. foreign
policy, and to support projects in the Middle East that aid and empower
marginalized communities.MECA believes in ensuring the human rights for
all people in the region, especially the rights of children.

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For more information contact: Scott Kennedy
457 8003
kenncruz (at) pacbell.net