About Bethlehem’s Wi’am Center by Lucy Talgieh
Wi’am Center first opened its door to the people of Bethlehem year 1994. It first started as a small organization, yet year after year it has developed into well known organization that has touched the lives of many. Wi’am has kindly been granted the use of a building for a period of ten years as an acknowledgment of its outreach work and service to the community, not forgetting its tireless commitment to Justice, peace and reconciliation. The new building’s position beside the Annexation Wall will act as an expression of steadfastness and non-violent resistance to the Israeli occupation and apartheid division of the country and also provide the Palestinian people with a symbol of hope that there can be unity, justice and reconciliation.
Moreover, there is a one Acer empty piece of land next to the building. Wi’am hopes to be able to transform this lifeless piece of land into a colorful flourishing garden. The message that we strive to convey to the children and the people of Bethlehem through the garden is that in front of the wall, an area that seems lifeless and stands for nothing but oppression and occupation, hope and life can sprout into existence, for even though occupation raises the wall higher than we can ever reach, yet hope is never out of reach.
Furthermore, this garden will have a positive impact on the center’s work, for it will provide us with an area to carry out numerous outdoor activities, instead of having to travel far distances to gain access to a garden. Also it will give the children who are deprived from free, outdoor, spontaneous play the chance to play freely in a safe area. For, play is critical to children’s healthy development, and carries profound therapeutic benefits for them, especially those who are traumatized.
Furthermore, since Bethlehem is an area that has very limited entertainment places, we hope to open the garden for families and children providing them with a place to socialize and enjoy outdoor activities such as picnics, and barbecue parties.
In addition, it will help us raise awareness and educate the children concerning environmental issues and emphasize the importance and need of having a green environment. For example, we will be able to show the children that the things such as left over food, orange peels etc., which seem to have no further use and are usually thrown away, can be turned into compost and used for fertilizing soil. We will also be able to promote recycling.
Cultivating a garden is away of expressing belief in a better tomorrow, for when you plant a tree you plant hope, help us turn our vision into reality, donate a tree, or more…
Please feel free to pay us a visit at the following address:
Wiam Center
Bethlehem, West Bank
Jerusalem Hebron Rd
(Next to the Inter Hotel)
Telfax: + 972 (0) 2-2777333
+ 972 (0) 2-2770513
Please, don’t hesitate to ask any further questions or if you have any more clarification:
hope@alaslah.org
www.alaslah.org
Lucy Talgieh
Women Coordinator ” Wi’am”
Post graduate student
Human Rights & Democracy
Palestine
