After a few hairy moments while landing at Luton in December due to unprecedented snow and ice the CTIE team made it back in one piece from their Bethlehem adventure.
During the week-long visit, the students and staff sampled Palestinian hospitality, staying with families and in the SOS Village, going to a Palestinian wedding and visting famous sites such as the Church of the Nativity. Additionally they spent some time exploring the Separation Wall, erected in 2003 by the Israelis. Photographs of the trip can be viewed on Tom Bond's Daily Photo (www,tombond.co.uk). I think there may also have been one or two shopping expeditions!
In terms of the practical work, Hannah and Sian were able to run therapeutic art sessions in the SOS School and Village. In organising these, they faced many challenges, including language issues and unfamiliarity with the nature of therapeutic work. However, they both rose to the occasion, and I think the course and University can be proud of the way they stepped up to the plate and determinedly carried out their therapeutic work. I know they worked very hard to ensure they delivered the sessions as well as they could. Everyone at SOS was very appreciative of this, and on the last evening we were all invited to dinner in the appartment belonging to Abu Tamer, Director of SOS Palestine.
Excitingly, while there Liz Coombes was invited to another school in Beit Sahour, a locale of Bethlehem. They have expressed great interest in a therapeutic music programme, and also hosting Newport University students as volunteers in the future. If you would be interested in being part of any such volunteer programme, do get in touch with Liz via her University email (Elizabeth.Coombes@newport.ac.uk).
Watch this space for images shortly to be uploaded
Monday 7 February 2011
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