November 2008 Message to the Friends of UNRWA
We have much to celebrate, despite continuing economic concerns. Americans are coming together to wish the best for Barack Obama and his family as they embark on a brave new journey together. Moslems celebrated a major religious holiday in October and look forward to another in December, while Christians and Jews also look forward to religious holidays in December. For most American families, Thanksgiving Day thus marks the start of the year-end holiday season.
At Friends of UNRWA Association we also have cause for celebration. UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd visited us at our Washington office on October 27 and delivered a substantive update on the needs and concerns of Palestine refugees at both the Middle East Institute and a dinner reception at the Cosmos Club. She then went on to New York, for the annual meeting at the United Nations where donor nations make their annual pledges for UNRWA’s core budget.
Also, Friends of UNRWA Association recently hired the third member of our staff, completing a trio that now includes Shannon O’Hara as Development Officer and Abby Smardon as Admin Officer. Thanks to all who have sent in applications for these positions; we hope that you will continue your interest in assisting Palestine refugees in the years ahead.
I will be traveling most of November to visit UNRWA project activities and officials in the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. I will be back to Washington just in time for Thanksgiving, and plan to issue a trip report early in December, outlining what I have learned about the current situation in UNRWA’s fields of activity
For now, I just want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, and to express the hope that you will keep the Palestine refugees in mind for any year-end giving that you may be able to plan this year.
Please note that Friends of UNRWA is seeking candidates to fill a new Development Officer position, with a closing date of October 14. (See below for a copy of the Job Vacancy Announcement.) Many thanks for your help, and thanks to all who have expressed interest in working with us.
JOIN US AS WE DARE TO DREAM
The following projects are a sampling of projects UNRWA hopes to
carry out on behalf of the Palestine refugees. For further information on how
your contribution will support these and other projects, please contact us at
info@friendsunrwa.org
Equipping UNRWA Elementary
Schools with Portable
Computer Projectors
UNRWA’s schools
endeavor to provide refugee children with an education that is
competitive and that provides qualifying skills. Projectors to
facilitate proper computer training are needed so pupils can
take advantage of higher education and employment opportunities.
Approximately 20,000 students and their teachers will benefit
directly from this project.
Total
Project Cost: $25,308
Establishment of Dental Clinic in Zarqa Town's Health Center
UNRWA’s Health Program
provides dental health, to all of the registered refugees.
A dental clinic in the Zarqa region is essential. The only
two dental clinics currently available offer up to 33
consultations per dentist per day to the 156,000 people
that reside in the area.
Total
Project Cost: $16,650
Improve Maternal Health Care in Dera Camp
UNRWA’s
Health Care Program offers maternal health care to approximately
3,342 pregnant women each year. This proposal will establish a
new women’s health center.
Total
Project Cost: $16,650
| About Friends of UNRWA Association |
Our Mission:
The mission of the Friends of UNRWA Association is to support the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for the benefit of Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Background:
The
Friends of UNRWA Association is a non-profit organization that supports
the work of UNRWA for the benefit of Palestine Refugees. Our
goal is to raise private sector funds within the United
States to help refugees help themselves.
§
To
fundraise for targeted programs and special projects in
education, health, women’s issues, and humanitarian relief.
§
To
develop leadership and team building among refugee youth of
all ages, both girls and boys, through extracurricular
programs and sports.
§
To
support and promote vital medical initiatives including
health and wellness education.
§
To
create opportunities for growth and advancement for women
living in hardship.
§
To
maintain UNRWA’s conflict resolution and human rights
curriculum throughout UNRWA schools, serving more than
500,000 students.
§
To
provide for emergency medical and food
relief which, due to the rising humanitarian crisis, is
critically needed by Palestine refugees in Gaza and the West
Bank.
Board of Directors:
Ambassador Richard W. Murphy - Chairman
Richard W. Murphy has followed Near Eastern
developments for 45 years, 34 of which were spent as
a career foreign service officer. He served with the
State Department in Southern Rhodesia (now
Zimbabwe), Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.
In 1974 he became Ambassador to Syria and later
became ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
From 1983-1989 he served as Assistant Secretary of
State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs.
During that period he was particularly active in the
Israeli-Arab peace process.
Richard Murphy has received the President’s
Distinguished Service Award three times and the
State Department’s Superior Honor Award twice.
| Peter Gubser |
| Yvonne Haddad, Ph.D. |
|
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Advisory
Committee:
Lisa
Anderson
|
Dean, School
of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University |
| Ambassador Clovis Maksoud |
Professor of International
Relations and Director of The Center for the
Global South at American University |
| Talat Othman |
Co-Founder, The Chicago
Ten and President, The Chicago TenTrading Co. |
| James J. Zogby, Ph.D. |
Founder and President of
the Arab American Institute (AAI) |
| |
|
| Staff: |
|
| Thomas Neu, Ph.D. |
Executive Director |
| Shannon O'Hara |
Development Officer |
| Abigail Smardon |
Administrative Officer |
Tax-Exempt Status:
The Friends of UNRWA Association, Inc. is a 501c(3) tax-exempt
organization. All donations to the Friends of UNRWA Association,
Inc. are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by
law.
UNRWA ENDORSES THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE FRIENDS OF UNRWA ASSOCIATION, INC.
Click here to read the letter of support from UNRWA
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