On Monday 1st February, we were honoured to host a visit from Mr Ibrahim Issa, Co-Director of Hope Flowers School, located in Palestinian territory just south of Bethlehem (about four miles from Jerusalem. A small independent school, Hope Flowers is unique in the Palestinian territories in that it has a remarkable educational philosophy. It has a special curriculum dedicated to peace, democracy, human rights, conflict-resolution and understanding. The school also hosts meetings and programmes for local people and parents to discuss issues regarding their children’s education as well as general topics such as women’s rights, democracy, health and other community concerns.

There are 200-300 pupils at the school, although these numbers vary depending on the degree of the Israeli curfew on pupils from neighbouring villages and further afield. The school’s small size and financial limitations mean that much of the teaching is done by volunteers, a number of whom are Jewish Israelis. Hope Flowers School also visits its link schools in Israel; these visits allow pupils to exchange stories and experiences, and to learn about each other’s lives, helping break down prejudice and stereotyping.

Photo: College Chaplain, the Revd Dr Reynaud de la Bat Smit and Mr Ibrahim Issa

Hope Flowers School was founded in 1984 by Hussein Issa, a Palestinian refugee who had been impressed by the lives and work of Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Hussein thought that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict could be solved non-violently only if Palestinians created a new generation believing in peace, coexistence and respect for each other's rights. He believed that if Palestinian and Israeli children were brought together from early on in their lives, teaching them to move beyond the fear and stereotyping that results from years of conflict, then they would create a generation of Palestinians and Israelis who would bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Ibrahim Issa spoke in College Chapel to our whole school community, explaining the philosophy of Hope Flowers School. He referred poignantly to the problems and difficulties facing the school, including its location and philosophy. Owing to blockades and security measures it is often very difficult for pupils to get to school. Furthermore, it is not always easy for Hope Flowers to obtain the funding it so desperately needs, because so many people have an intense objection to its ideals. The whole project is under threat, because the Israelis have issued the school with a demolition order to drive the massive 703-Kilometre West Bank Barrier (Security Wall) through the heart of the school.

After Ibrahim Issa had given his address, our College Chaplain, the Revd Dr Reynaud de la Bat Smit, paid tribute to the inspirational and admirable work of Hope Flowers School, and presented Mr Issa with a donation of £1000.00 from the Chaplaincy of Cheltenham College.

Mr Issa invited the College to form a partnership with Hope Flowers School, and at a subsequent meeting with the Headmaster and the Chaplain, a number of ideas were explored as to how the partnership might be forged. Watch this space.

For more information on Hope Flowers School please visit the following sites:

http://www.hopeflowersschool.org/intro.html

http://www.hopeflowersschool.org/founder.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7027794.stm

http://www.justvision.org/en/profile/ibrahim_issa

http://everything2.com/title/Hope+Flowers+School