Reflections of the children of New Askar refugee camp

Abdul Kareem Al Ka’be, 10 years old

I loved this camp very much and I liked the activities because they made me smile from the heart and I could do all my hobbies there. I learnt many things there, like music, Dabka dancing and painting. After meeting some of the disabled children, I really hope that they will recover soon.

Abdullah Al Ashkar, 8 years old

Before this camp I had bad ideas about the foreigners, but after meeting them I liked them very much. The most special thing about them is that they kept smiling all the time. I felt sad when I had to go home because I hate staying at home where there is nothing to do. I hope to participate in the next summer camp.

Almasa Abu Zaid, 10 years old

I liked the camp and I liked the way the local and international volunteers treated us. I learnt how to love the others. This is the second time I have participated in the camp and I hope to participate in future camps. The camp showed me that the internationals want peace and they just want to make us smile, and I discovered that they are very kind people.

Sujod Abu Lehya, 8 years old

I much preferred participating in the camp activities than staying at home. I liked the international volunteers very much and I especially liked the English language activities and playing the musical instruments. I feel that despite what we suffer, Palestinian children will resist the occupation through our smiles and we hope that the future will be better.

Shayma`a Al Tak, 9 years old

I didn’t expect to be as happy as I have been. This is the third camp that I have participated in and with each year my attachment grows. This year I learnt lots of new words and expressions at the English ‘corner’ that will be useful to me in the future.

Mohammad Mabrok, 15 years old

I really liked the camp, during which I learnt Dabka and traditional dances. I used to be afraid of disabled people but now I see that they are humans just like the rest of us. I am grateful to the volunteers for the efforts they made to please the children and I hope to participate in the next camp.

Etaf Ghazl, 11 years old

I was so happy during the camp that I couldn’t stop smiling all the time. I love the international volunteers and I agreed to stay friends forever with many of them. The time when I was least happy was when I had to leave. I liked playing, dancing, and reading stories. Also, before the camp I used to be afraid of the disabled but now I consider them brothers.

Anas Aramsha, 14 years old

During my participation in the summer camp I learnt many things such as commitment, Dabka, and theatre. I really loved the internationals because they had a great sense of humour. I enjoyed the summer camp very much and I hope that it will happen again next year.

Shady Far, 7 years old

During this summer camp I learnt how to follow rules and to respect the morning queue. I loved playing sports with my friends and I hope that all the children will participate again next year.

Hanna Al Khaleli, 12 years old

I learnt to respect the disabled children because they are still humans just like us. I really prefer to spend my time at the camp than at home.

Nora Abu Lehya, 11 years old

My experience in the camp had a great effect on me because I learnt many things like music, English, arts, discipline, scouting, and Dabka. I hope that in the future the camp will last longer because I really liked the internationals.

Batol Shalabi, 12 years old

The camp gave me the chance to practise all my hobbies like Dabka, sports, and music. My friends encouraged me to participate and I loved all the internationals there. They treated us equally with the disabled and this is what I liked the most.

Linda Al Madani, 10 years old

I participated in all the activity corners and I especially liked the music corner, where I learnt the most beautiful songs and tunes as well as dances like the Dabka, which is an important part of our heritage. The time I spent there was full of happiness, joy and fun activities.

Reem Shatara, 11 years old

I liked the camp very much and I learnt many things there, like discipline, how to treat each other with respect, and cooperation. And the best thing was that I could practise all my hobbies which I can’t practise at home and I could be creative in it with my friends.

Kholod Karam, 12 years old

This is not the first time that I have participated in the summer camp. This time I was able to improve in activities like Dabka, music and theatre and I learnt how to correct my mistakes. I encourage all the other children to participate in future camps because they will have a lot of fun.

Mohammad Abu Zaid, 8 years old

I loved the camp very much, and especially the international volunteers. I used to be afraid of disabled people but now I respect them and I can appreciate how much they suffer. I liked the camp because it brought me and my friends together and there were a lot of great activities and corners in it that I enjoyed.

Ahmad Mashayekh, 12 years old

The camp was great! I learnt a lot of things like reading, Dabka, drama, theatre, and I learnt how to help the disabled and make them laugh. The atmosphere was very friendly. I had a lot of fun and I hope to participate again next year.

Gamela Abu Zaid, 6 years old

If it weren’t for the camp I would have remained bored at home. I learnt how to depend on myself, I had a lot of fun in the camp and I loved the music.

Najah Al Madani, 7 years old

During my participation at the camp I learnt many things like discipline, commitment, theatre, painting, scouting, singing, Dabka and how to remove dangerous objects from the road. I prefer to spend my time at the camp rather than at home because there I can do all the things I like.

Besan Zaghal, 13 years old

I especially loved participating in the Dabka corner because I was able to learn some new dance moves. I feel that the camp gives us hope and makes all the children smile.

Alaa’ Tahan, 11 years old

I learnt many things during this camp and I made progress in English and in Dabka dancing. This is not the first time that I have taken part in it, but every year I discover new things that fill me with happiness. I want to thank Zajel and all the volunteers for all the effort they go to in order to make us happy, because I like to see all the children smiling as that is what they deserve.

Zen Awad, 9 years old

I benefited a lot from the English corner, as I learnt how to write my name and age and how to say things in English. It’s so exciting to take part in the summer camp and I’m already looking forward to the next one.

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