Al-Masara, Bethlehem,Aljabal St.
Bethlehem
Palestinian Territories
- International/Cultural relations
Alshmoh Cultural Center which opened its doors in 2001. The center serves the village of Ma’sara and surrounding villages by offering a different range of cultural activities addressed to youth, women and children. During the year, the center proposes movie screening, children activities and organizes special events, such as commemoration activities and sport tournaments. The center focuses on cultural heritage and collective Palestinian identity. Through its activities the center connects the daily life of farmers and shepherds with their struggle to maintain their identity under occupation. >Maintaining the farming traditions and cultural expressions are an act of nonviolent resistance. The activities of the center go beyond the borders of the country because of the connections with other groups and nonviolent movements who share similar values in their struggle against injustices
Al-Shmoh Cultural Center’s mission is to: Serve 10 Palestinian villages on the southern edge of Bethlehem District. Help Palestinian villager’s attain prosperity and peace. Pursue four “H.I.E.R.” objectives to improve village life: Health, Information, Education, and Recreation Al-Shmoh Center and its partners make our community healthier by: Bringing in free medicine and medical professionals. Building the area’s first clinic. Improving women’s heath education and awareness of their rights. Providing local homes with their first-ever drinking-water pipelines. Bringing food and clothes to our villages’ neediest. Al-Shmoh Center is an information hub. We enable residents to explore the world from the village whenever they want by: Creating Al-Shmoh Net-Lab, which provides computers, software, training and Internet access to this rural area. Building and stocking Al-Shmoh Library. Investigating ways to connect area homes to the Internet. Al-Shmoh Center is a growing nonprofit educational facility that supplements residents schooling by: Offering semester-long courses by university-trained men and women to local students of all education levels. Providing one-on-one tutorials for high-school students. Bringing in experts for workshops on topics of local interest. Providing adults with additional training in literacy and business. Al-Shmoh Center is becoming a regional recreation center. Here Palestinians can enjoy their culture and their neighbors by: Starting Al-Shmoh Summer Camp, where students play, sing, act and learn leadership skills. Hosting regular social activities based on local interests, such as a planned chess club. We call it the Al-Shmoh Algebra: Health + Information + Education + Recreation = Prosperity + Freedom
1- Embroidering, an integral part of the village woman’s life, is a folk art she inherits and passes on to her daughters and they, in turn, to future generations. The moment a young girl can manage a needle with her tiny fingers, her mother begins to instruct her in this age-old craft. She teaches her daughter the art of embroidery; the harmonious blending of interwoven colors. Women are working on embroidery to reflect the Palestinians Culture and to practice their knowledge in embroidery and to fell their free time with useful work which gave a good chance for women to participate men and to have income. 2- Al-Shmoh Summer Camp :Learning Democracy and Leadership through creative expression The Activities The title of the summer camp is “All of us Palestine”. Attendees: 105 boys and 65 girls, Ages 8-18. All Counselors received 3 week intensive leadership workshop. Divided campers into 10 groups. Each Group democratically decided group leader and name. Culture. 3- Eco work camps