Despite the horror of the suffering of the people of Gaza are living because of the killings, destruction, as well as the displacement of tens of thousands of citizens, their solidarity during these difficult times sets an example of giving and solidarity. In spite of the fact that there is no safe place for the people of the Gaza district to reside whether it be in their homes or in the schools, they still manage to host each other in their small crowded homes and share their loaf of bread that was extremely difficult to attain.

 

Some of the displaced preferred to reside in the United Nations Relief schools and Works Agency searching for safety, others fear that Israel would follow them to the schools and bomb them, just like what happened in the Fakoura School in Jabalya, in which almost 50 displaced people were killed. Osama Abed Al Fatah a citizen from the Al Shikeh Radwan in the Gaza neighborhood said that there is nowhere safe in the Gaza district, when the citizens leave their homes to find a safe place to hide from the bombings, and by the time they reach another shelter they discover that the home they are seeking refuge in has been threatened (in which Israel will bomb it) or the house next to it, and once again they are forced to carry their belongings searching for a safe place in Gaza for their children.

 

 

The pain and the suffering that currently exists brings flashbacks of scenes and sufferings from the two previous Nakbas (also known as the disasters) in 1948 and 1967, in which people were displaced from their homes giving them the title “Refugees”. Now, once again the Israelis are chasing them, even from their refugee camps, forcing them to seek asylum and immigration again after sixty years on their first immigration, forcing them to leave their country without mercy, as if they are saying to the younger generation, “We did not allow your parents and grandparents to live peacefully, and now it is your turn”. the elderly Um Mohammad, who is sixty seven years old, gathered her belonging and took her son Ziad from their home which is located on the borders between Egypt and Palestine, in an attempt to find somewhere safer for themselves, and the only place they found was the Junior high school "A” for refugees in Rafah as a shelter for her and her son from the cold and the bombings and the destruction that destroyed everything.

 

The elderly Um Mohammad had no other choice but to seek shelter in the junior high school “A” for refugees after she attempted to go to her relatives and other acquaintances she knew. Who she was surprised to find out that their homes were unable to shelter any more displaced people more than the fifty people who were already residing in each house. She says, “however, after two days residing in the school, one of the citizens who is seeking God’s blessings, offered to host us in his home until the crisis was over, and we went embarrassed from his generosity that we did not expect, and there were several other cases similar to ours.”

 

The elderly Um Mohammad’s case is only one of more than forty thousand citizen’s tragedies who were displaced from their homes on the borders of Rafah after the occupying forces distributed flyers warning them from staying in their homes who will be subjected to bombing and destruction.

Similar numbers of displaced or even more went to their relatives and beloved ones in the Gaza district, which raise the number of the displaced to almost one hundred thousand who are left without any shelter.

 

 

The citizen Owni Wafi from Khan Younis said that the forms and types of solidarity in the Gaza district are numerous and diverse, in which the mosques, the Zakat committees (donations committees), and the neighborhood committees worked together to organize a campaign to gather money to provide blankets and food for the displaced. The campaign was able to collect a larger sum of donations despite the difficult circumstances that the citizens are suffering from, along with the increase in the percentage of poverty which reached almost 80%, moreover, due to the Israeli violence; the employed citizens could not spend their wages. Some people donated blankets and clothes; others provided daily meals for the families residing in the UNWARA schools along with other donations.

 

The solidarity between the citizens did not end with the donations and the relatives hosting each other in their homes, but included the citizens hosting their friends and their acquaintances or merely displaced citizens that they do not even know in which they would provide all forms of support and condolences to them. This is what happened with the displaced Yousef Abed Allahand and his family in which they were provided with shelter by one of their distant acquaintances in Tal Al Sultan neighborhood in Rafah. The Palestine blood continues to shed, and the people in the Gaza district are living in a humanitarian crisis which begins with lack of food and material supplies especially flour in which attaining it has been extremely difficult for many families.

 

The citizens suffering did not end with their inability to attain the necessary material supply and flour, rice and other things but it also consists of their inability to attain other supplies such as baby formula, pampers, oils, meats, vegetables, and other materials that had disappeared from the market and whatever small amount was left of it was being sold with extremely high prices.

 

The citizen Abu Anas Darwish from Tal Al Hawa neighborhood in Gaza said, that the Monopoly and exploitation and the insane increase of the prices has hurt the people of Gaza more than the details of the Israeli war and even death itself. Abu Anas did not leave one bakery or flour shop that he did not go to in order to attain a loaf of bread or some flour but without any luck, until one of the citizen directed him to some of the traders in order to register his name in order to attain flour for 180 Nis that is to say double of its original price, however, until now he is waiting for his turn that will perhaps never come.

He says, “for days we did not have a piece of bread in my home except for what we get from our neighbors in which as fate would have it, they stored some flour In their before it ran out of the market, indicating that him and his family that consists of five members only eat together one meal in which they get the necessary bread for it from the neighbors.”

 

The forms of solidarity have even reach the graves, in which in the midst of the crisis of burying the dead, the escalating number of martyrs, as well as following in the teaching of prophet Mohammad which said, “ bury the dead with dignity”, and due to the huge number of victims along with shortage of the material necessary for preparing the graves, some of the citizens donated their relatives graves that have been dead for almost two years. That is to say that for almost two years Israel has forbidden the material necessary for building graves and cement into the district which has lead to a crisis in providing the graves. what has made matters even worse is that some graves which are close to the border with Israel which noone can reach for fear of being targeted by artillery and Israeli warplanes, which has forced some of the citizen to bury their relatives in the graves of their other relatives in which they opened the graves and put the bones aside in order to bury next to it a new body. That is what happened with Sami Halabi which was buried in his brothers grave Khaled in Al Shikeh Radwan graveyard, and the same incident repeated itself with Majd Mateer which was buried inside his bothers grave.

 

 

 

 

 

Thoria is a changed name for a girl who got married when she was fifteen years old to an alcoholic. Her husband used to force her to join him when he drank, and when she would ask him what is it she is drinking he would tell her it is apple juice. And that is how her story began with alcoholism, taking drugs, and addiction.

 

She said, “When I was pregnant with my first child, the drugs went into her when she was still a fetus in my womb, I was in a very bad psychological state. I did not feel like myself and I was not in touch with my motherhood. I would have neurological periods through which I despised myself since I was aware that I am not only hurting myself but also injecting poison into my daughter.”

She continued saying, “My daughter was born underweight, and she stayed in the hospital for several months until she was completely cured from all the drugs in her system, but the effects of the drugs did not end there, and until this day my baby has neurological problems from time to time, the drugs affect the newborn genes and the nerve cells after it goes into the blood through the placenta.”

She continued to say, “I wish I could go back in time and not do the mistakes that hurt me and my daughter, but I cannot go back in time, my choices were made out of ignorance and not knowing any better, so have I fallen a victim of early marriage? Mother of drugs and poison that destroyed my body and messed with my life?”

 

Whether Thoria is a victim of her ignorance, in which she got married early in her childhood years and did not know the meaning of marriage with a deviant husband which pushed her slowly to addiction when she could not refuse or if she is a victim of drugs that were widely spread in Jerusalem which had become easy to attain in front of the occupying police that make no effort to fight the destruction that has occurred due to the spread of this phenomena in which several families live through in east Jerusalem.

 

 

In Jerusalem early marriage is considered one of the most important negative social phenomenon that is spreading widely. Yousef Kari the director of development material and media in organizing and protecting the Palestinian society says that the negative living circumstances and the increase in the percentage of the unemployed, along with the occupation procedures that’s main target is to put more pressure on the Jerusalemite citizens, all these condition helps increase early marriage for young girls, and according to studies the percentage of early marriage increase in poor neighborhoods, in which the number of family members is correlated with the decrease in the living situation which pushes the parents to marry their girls off early in order to lessen the burden on the family.

 

Anan Samom director of the Palestinian counseling center stressed saying, “forbidding the Jerusalemite citizens from making their homes bigger, and not giving them the necessary permits for building, as well as demolishing their homes had led to the increase in the number of people living in small crowded rooms, which leads to the accumulation of the social problems that result from over crowdness and family interference in order to preserve their right to reside in Jerusalem.

 

He continued to say, “The Jerusalemites are careful to continuously prove their right to exist for fear of the occupational procedures, in which its main target is to lessen the number of Jerusalemites through revoking their ID, or preventing them from having health insurance in which these conditions go hand in hand. Along with the high taxes and the sever rules, contribute to the increase of early marriage in the midst of the dire living condition and high population density.

As for the social aspect, Kari indicates that “early marriage” in considered socially acceptable, due to the fact that society still has a degrading outlook to educating girls and working women, this also leads to the increase of early marriages.

 

Kari also shed the light on the problems that result from early marriage, such as an increase in the number of people that get divorced. That is to say that “early marriage” is the marriage of minors in which they are under the age of eighteen, and therefore they are incapable of going through the experience of marriage and handling its responsibilities, which leads to the accumulation of problems which eventually lead to divorce.

 

Samom sees that the mental and emotional maturity plays a major role in the success of “Marriage” organization, that is to say that lack of maturity could lead to many social pro blems which correlates many times to domestic violence,

As from a physical health perspective, Kari emphasised that many girls are subjected to health problems due to early marriage such as continued abortions, delayed pregnancy, or getting Obstetric fistula.

 

Kari pointed out that most of the parents are unaware of the dangers that early marriage can have on the health of their children and the effect that pregnancy and giving birth has on the girl’s body during childhood, in which the definition of “child” according to the Charter of United Nations is from age 0-18 years old. The statistics indicate that the number of girls that dropout from schools is more than the boys due to early marriage.

In this regard Kari said, “Making secondary education mandatory will help lessen the amount of early marriages untill they finish high school, in which this will delay the age of marriage from sixteen years old to eighteen years old.”

 

 

From another perspective Samom indicates that the Israeli law forbids marriage for anyone that is under seventeen years of ages, and whoever breaks that law is sentenced to one year in prison. However, this law is not implemented in east Jerusalem with the excuse that the content of the Arab culture and traditions encourage early marriage for girls.

 To overcome this phenomenon, we should point out the important role that many of the social organizations play through awareness programs in an attempt to shed light on the dangers of early marriage through field visits to homes, or organizing lectures and workshops as well as conferences. In which a number of these programs do not reach to all the places where this phenomenon exists, emphasizing the importance of making geographic studies which are practical and well studied. And to put plans and programs that suit each area specifically and after that executing it in order to reach the required goal.

 

He also stresses on the importance of the amendment of the Palestinian family law in which the legal age for marriage should be changed from sixteen to eighteen years old, indicating the importance of collaborative work among the civil society and the media, in which Kari said, “Some of the awareness programs collide with religious and social beliefs” stressing the importance of collaborative effort in executing the awareness programs in a qualitative studied form.

 

 

In the ancient alleys, who have heard the tales of yore, passing through the domed roof markets, there live the people of Jerusalem with the misfortune of occupation. They stand strong in their ancestral land, while being haunted with the fear of displacement and exile from the Holy City. They endure the unjust laws of the occupying authority. From this reality, with enforced isolation of Jerusalem, dreams search for youth to make them a reality. Therefore, what will happen to the fate of young hope, while humiliating checkpoints and racist wall exist?

 

Hiba Haji, a female in her twenties, working in sales and advertising in Jerusalem, spoke of dreams and the reality occupation has created for the people of Jerusalem. Occupation has enforced military checkpoints, as well as isolating Jerusalem with a wall. The walls restrictions, limited her ability to pursue her higher education, or work outside the boarders of Jerusalem, which consequently meant her missing out on many opportunities to boost her career.

 

Hiba stated: ''Jerusalem needs organisations to help recruit the large number of graduates within their field of specialization. Moreover, my degree from Al-Quds University is not recognised due to political reasons. This means I am not permitted to work as a teacher at a government school, which is the most comfortable and stable job to have''. 

 

Mohammad N is an ambitious young man in his early twenties from Jerusalem. Yet, financial hardship affected his high school results negatively, which prevented him from pursuing a university degree. Mohammad is worried about his future; he is currently working at a petrol station where he is paid a good monthly salary. He works daily in order to support his family, and make his father's dream of building a family house come true. Nevertheless, Mohammad wants a better future for himself, not one where he will fill up people's cars. ''I wish I could go to university, where I could obtain a degree that will enable me to work at a respected organisation. I wish my circumstances were different and I had less worries'', he explains.

 

Abir Hussam is a young lady who has recently obtained a university degree in Biology. She has never left Palestine, yet her dream is to complete her postgraduate studies abroad. She is not willing to work as a government school teacher in Jerusalem, since they employee both the qualified and unqualified.

 

In the past, Abir was not permitted to travel; she suffered at a lot of checkpoints, because she does not have a Jerusalem ID card. A result from her father not being a holder of a Palestinian (West Bank) ID card. But today, the whole family have a Jerusalem ID card, enabling her to travel freely. Abir mentioned: ''I do not want to work at an Israeli organisation; with the occupier. I also do not want to become a teacher. Living in Jerusalem means enduring a harsh reality, due to occupation, and I am sorry to say that Jerusalem has become the city of lost dreams''.

 

Abir is currently looking for a job, and is ashamed from the fact that her family pay her health, as well as, national insurance. She wants an end to the Israeli occupation, and the ability to interact more with her fathers family, who reside in the west bank. 

 

Furthermore, Nabil F, a newly-wed man, works two different jobs from eight in the morning to eight in the evening, in order to provide his family and self with a decent life. He sees Jerusalem as a symbol for resistance in the face of occupation. He believes that the sun will rise again in Jerusalem when its unjust occupation ends. Nabil's message, as a native of Jerusalem, is to stand strong in our Holy Land, and to leave our children, with the legacy of loving this Holy City.

 

Ms. Hanya Al-bitar, head of PYALARA youth organisation, expresses the reality of Jerusalem's youth. She finds that direct daily contact with the occupation is what differentiates the youth of Jerusalem from others. Even though some may consider them lucky to have rights to social security and freedom of movement, as a holder of a blue ID card. Nonetheless, they face bigger problems and struggles; they face the dilemma of identity, from the moment they are born, all through the developmental stages of life. They face pressures which aim to question and make uncertain their Palestinian Identity. This all leads to crises in answering the question of ''who am I?''

 

As for the level of political and cultural awareness of youth in Jerusalem compared to those in the West Bank, Al-bitar finds one cannot generalise. There is a spectrum, when it comes to the youth of Jerusalem, where on one end; there are those who have national as well as cultural awareness with a sense of belonging. Whereas, on the other end, there are those who live in inherited fear, concerning the lifestyle of living in Jerusalem, in addition, to the constant threat of loosing their Jerusalem ID. Therefore, Al-bitar concludes, that there is a link between the ways families in Jerusalem raise their children, which affects their level of awareness. For instance, a family who raise their children with extreme care and ignorance of laws aiming to protect the rights of Jerusalem's people consequently do the following. They distance their children from all that is Palestinian, and from those who take pride in their identity. This isolates the individual, creating a physical Palestinian in body, with little or no patriotism.

 

Regarding the absence of Palestinian organisations in Jerusalem, Al-bitar states: ''the main issue is not the lack of organisations, but the insufficient national strategy. A strategy which should work on strengthening a Palestinian presence in Jerusalem. One that aims to create cultural awareness among the city's youth, to put them on a path that leads to a prosperous future. Nevertheless, there are some active organisations operating individually, yet what is needed is group effort and team work to effectively succeed. And without the presence of an orchestral conductor there will be no harmony''.

 

Furthermore, with Jerusalem's current reality, Al-bitar finds, there are two paths which its youth take in determining their future. On the one hand, there are those who choose the easy way out, by becoming part of the Israeli labour force. Even though working is not an obstacle in the way of gaining a good education, Jerusalem's youth opt to giving up. This is due to the difficult circumstances they are faced with, in addition to some level of ignorance. Consequently they end up as merely labourers who are relatively well paid. On the other hand, there are those with ambition, who persevere, work hard in their studies, obtain university degrees, and succeed in various areas of life.

 

In conclusion, Al-bitar finds that the success of an awareness campaign, aiming to provide a brighter future for Jerusalem's youth, depends on four essential parties. First, the family, who play an integral developmental role, should encourage their children to participate in extra curricula activities, and become members of various organisations. Secondly, schools should cooperate with organisations to involve and encourage students. Third of all, the individuals interest in organisations community service, and volunteer work. The fourth component is the organisation itself, and its ability to attract the biggest number of youth. Finally, these parties are capable of creating a sense of belonging to ones identity, and homeland for youth to take pride in. 

 

In addition, PYALARA as an organisation encourages youth in Jerusalem to play an integral role. Al-bitar indicates that statistics show that the organisation recruits 80 members each year from Jerusalem. The organisation, through empowering its members with strong patriotic traits, enables their voices to be heard. Additionally, it gives them the ability to address influential decision makers. At the end of the day, this creates prototypes of youth leaders. Another objective of the organisation is to merge the youth of Jerusalem with their Palestinian surroundings. Therefore, instead of concentrating on bringing Palestinian youth into Jerusalem, the opposite is done, through familiarising Jerusalem's youth with the rest of their country's cities. By doing this, a bond is created, between the people of Jerusalem and the rest of Palestine which they have been isolated from.

''The biggest struggle of the people of Jerusalem is between 'self' and 'other'. The occupation encourages individualism, whereby each person looks out for themselves. Therefore, it is essential that national strategy is formed, in order to compromise between both concepts. This emphasizes, that without proper representation, the people of Jerusalem will no longer develop and become vulnerable to loosing direction''. Moreover, this is how Al-bitar ended her thoughts, and aspiration for Jerusalem's youth to become more in touch and better rooted in their heritage.

 

 

Two hundred and twenty five thousand people protested outside the Israeli embassy in London, against the massacres Israel commits against our children, elderly and people in Gaza. Meanwhile, the biggest protest in American history took place to condemn the killing of Palestinians in Gaza. All over the world, tens and thousands of people took to the streets in protest against the Israeli offensive force against the isolated and besieged citizens in Gaza. They raised Palestinian flags, wore the traditional Palestinian kofiya (scarf), and held high pictures of innocent children dead and wounded from the Israeli massacres. These acts of solidarity gave promise to the Palestinian people that the crimes of Israeli occupation are no longer hidden, but have been witnessed on an international scale.

 

In Norway, a young man is seen on television wearing a Palestinian kofiya shouting on the top of his voice ''free Palestine'' and ''stop the killing of children in Gaza'', while another person carried a symbolic coffin of a child.

 

In Spain, thousands took to the streets of Madrid to express their anger against what is happening. In Turkey hundreds of women lit candles for the souls of martyrs in Gaza. The Italian producer, Michael Angelo Sifergini, announced a hunger strike in Istanbul, which was supported by many, after hearing of the Israeli offensive against Gaza. Sifergini, also called upon the international community to join his international campaign of ''hunger strike''.

 

In Lebanon however, heavy rain did not prevent thousands from protesting in front of the United Nations offices, in an attempt to be heard. And for the United Nations to acknowledge that what is happening in Gaza is a crime against humanity that must be stopped.

 

Numerous acts of solidarity were clear on an international and Arab scale, against what is happening in Palestine. Many organisations both Arab and international, started collecting aid for the citizens of Gaza. Other organisations lent a helping hand by donating medical supplies, food, and anything that will help ease the suffering of children, women and citizens in general.

 

Furthermore, Rabiha Diab, a member of the Palestinian legislative council and Fateh central committee, finds that the solidarity witnessed today is a continuation. It started with the siege of Beirut up to the recent siege of the late Palestinian president Yassir Arrafat in Ramallah. Yet this time solidarity was at its strongest, which coincides with the level of Israeli brutality, which led to a high death toll of children, women and civilian martyrs. Diab mentions: ''we sincerely appreciate the acts of solidarity. We also view the delegations trying to reach Gaza, and who come to Ramallah, as a huge body of support and one that brings to light the Palestinian Cause''.

 

Rose Shomali Musleh, an active woman, and head of the Women’s Affairs Committee, reflects on the outstanding level of solidarity. She finds it is among the largest on all national levels. The cause behind this in her point of view is down to the effective media coverage, which has been able to reach international public opinion. In addition, it created a national uproar to support our people in Gaza.

 

Rose Shomali Musleh adds: ''from my position as head of Women's Affairs Technical Committee, I could sense the humanitarian support from international partner institutions. Such organisations are women's educational association, Diakonia organisation, Norwegian teachers' union, Spanish organisations, etc. All of which asked how they could help, our response was informing them that efforts should be made to protect the Palestinian people, and to acknowledge the right to a free independent Palestinian state. We also connected them with UNRWA, as well as, the Palestinian Red Crescent, in order to donate food and blankets to help ease the suffering in Gaza''.

 

Shomali, realises that it is crucial to continue building and gaining international solidarity not just in times of crises. Because, this will help create bonds, that stand strong in the face of the Israeli media, which fabricates and distorts facts.

 

Today, we find a clear international stand with the Palestinian people, and as for the Palestinians themselves they contributed with the following. Protests across the West Bank and especially in Ramallah took to the streets to condemn the Israeli massacres in Gaza. Rabiha Diab finds: ''Palestinian people have always supported one another. During the Israeli war on Gaza women; took initiative independently and as part of organisations to collect donations. This portrays the integral role Palestinian women play within society. In addition they focused on projecting the reality of the situation in Gaza to unions in the Arab world, as well as, internationally.

 

Reema Tarazi, head administrator, of the Palestinian Women's Union/ Palestine branch, talks about the role of women organisations and that of civil society in supporting the people of Gaza. She adds that everyone condemns the brutal killings the Israeli occupation perpetrate against our people in Gaza. Furthermore, Tarazi explains the activities of organisations ''everything is done on a public scale, yet the turn out of people is not as big as it is in other Arab countries and the world at large. This is due to difficulties in movement which is restricted by checkpoints that divide the West Bank. Nevertheless, this did not prevent Palestinians from taking to the streets in angry protests against the war on Gaza''.

 

Tarazi adds; ''individual as well as group efforts have continued to send emergency aid to Gaza. As a women's association and general union we coordinate with people in Ramallah with national influence. We decided on a unified strategy, where different activities are performed daily. One was a protest on Sunday 01/11/2009, which called for all Palestinian women and women of the Arab world to take to the streets at the same time as form of solidarity. It was a success and people from all walks of life participated''.

 

Tarazi continues: ''we were the first to suggest that the Palestinian flag be raised, and that activities should take part every day. We meet daily to discuss the current situation. It is no secret that Palestinians are involved in their cause which is like no other. Our people have been drained from the amount of suffering it endures from the Israeli occupation. Moreover, there is not an individual without family or friends in Gaza, we are one nation and share the same struggles''.

 

Siham Al-barghouthi an administrative member of the women's association technical committee, the director of women’s labour association, and activist for women's rights, sees the significance of international, Arab as well as national solidarity with the Palestinian people. Al- barghouthi, believes that nations help each other on the path to liberation and freedom from occupation, especially if it is as savage and cruel as the Israeli occupation. She also realises the importance of protesting in order to say ''Enough'' to the killings in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. Jerusalem today is being turned into a Jewish city in attempt to erase its Palestinian identity. Al-barghouthi explains that national uproar should be supported with other forms of action, such as boycotting Israeli products, filing a case in the war crime tribunal, against the Israeli leaders for committing war crimes against the Palestinian people. She emphasizes the importance of gaining international support of opinion, and for nations to call upon their governments to place pressure on Israel to stop its actions, and to cut ties with them. Al-barghouthi also finds that it is important that the international community, Arab world, and Palestinian people continue efforts after the war ends, when the number of dead, injured and amount of damage is calculated. She adds: ''the role of women organisations and that of civil society should be to offer psychological help for   the children of Gaza, and to offer women a place within the organisations. Finally, organisations should offer financial aid for the people in Gaza''.

 

She moves on her wheelchair from one place to another with a smile on her face, which attracts you from beyond. Nothing can limit her from practising her rights, her right to education, to work, and serving the community. At our last meeting in Amman where we were both attending the Diakonia conference on 'civil society and the future', I noticed a child sticking on her during every coffee break. He would sit on her lap and she would stroke his head tenderly. Was he her son? From that moment I knew she had a story to tell, not just one, but quite a few, that deserve to be told.

 

The truth be told, by experience with disabled people is very recent. It started in 2008, when Diakonia asked me to train social workers along with disabled individuals on how to integrate the disabled within their local community. The training taught me a lot about the disabled, their capabilities and potential when given the right opportunity. The lady made me curious, making me want to learn more about her.

 

She was not hesitant when I asked her about the child, ''he is my son Mahdi',' she replied. She did so while indicating to a handsome man standing by the door, he was far enough to give her privacy, yet at the same time close enough if she needed assistance. ''He is my husband Mohammad''.

 

She said: ''society, took a stand against my marriage to Mohammad Abu Al-ghaim. Especially his family, who thought I could not have a child, while my family was convinced he would divorce me because of my disability''. She looked towards Mohammad and mentioned: ''I was convinced with the idea of marriage, and knew that divorce could happen with or without a disability''. She paused, stroked Mahdi's hair and said: ''Mohammad's family accepted our marriage after I had Mahdi''.

 

I could not help myself to ask her about her relationship with her husband, seeing as she was a working woman, a mother and socially active. I would see her at some of the civil society meetings. She informed me: ''that in our family roles have been switched-Mohammad does all the household chores, while I work as a consultant for organisations working with the disabled. Additionally, I work in training, assessment, and I am a human rights activist''.

 

I had to delve deeper into her story, she seemed like a woman who had no limits, and her husband is not a typical man. I asked her ''how did you meet your husband?'' she told me: ''I met Mohammad in 1993 when the 'Abu Raya' rehabilitation centre was first opened. A Swedish doctor asked me to visit the centre and work with them. At that time all patients were male, which meant females were not taking advantage of the facilities the centre offers. Therefore, they asked me stay on for an extra week to encourage females to come. And it is at the centre I got to know Mohammad Abu Al-ghaib, who was an employee there. We became close, and he continued to visit me at Bethlehem University where I was studying at the time.

 

However, in my third year at university I did not have enough money to pay my tuition fees, as well as my living expenses. Nevertheless, I was fortunate enough that a German organisation took the initiative to pay my fees, living expenses, and a salary for the following three years, as long as I worked at Abu Raya centre. Therefore, I got the chance to know Mohammad even better during the five year period, which was enough to be sure of our feelings towards one another, to study our social situation, and to take the decision of getting married''.

 

It is very rare to find a man willing to perform household duties, while his wife has a career and social activities. It is also extremely rare to find a man who is willing to marry some one with a disability. Yet, Ola points out: ''my husband studied in Yugoslavia, where it is normal to marry somebody with a disability. We were aware that we will not have traditional roles, and he was honest in embracing the situation''.

 

Furthermore, the decision to conceive is not an easy one to make, and it is even harder for women in Ola's situation. She had to visit a woman in a similar situation in order to find out what was waiting for her. Ola informed me of her visit: ''her husband takes care of her, and she has a career. I learnt so much from spending the day with her. I learnt about problems I will face and how to deal with them, in addition to what I can and can not do''.

 

As for Ola's relationship with her son, she told me with so much pride: ''our relationship is excellent. At the beginning I could carry him, but not be able to offer him much. Mahdi knows what to do, I assist him, yet he is aware of my needs. At times he wants me to take him to school, as if to tell the other students I exist. And that, I am capable, of performing my maternal duties, as well as buying him toys like the rest of the mothers do''. 

 

Nonetheless, Ola knows her strengths and limits, which she elaborates on: ''I am no superwoman, my right arm is weak and I can not stand or walk. I am not independent, I need constant help when outside, unlike my home which is equipped to facilitate my needs. I spend half my time at the organisation I head, and the rest at work consulting and training. I feel a sense of responsibility towards my field of work. I have a message to convey to society, as well as to my family. I am also aware though, that my work does get into the way of spending time with my family. However, being able to make a difference in the lives of people around me is important''.

 

There was a question on my mind, which I was shy to ask, but it was as if Ola knew what I was thinking. She explained: ''I was not born handicapped; it started when I was 13 years old. It was a result of a tumour in my spinal cord. However, I was fortunate enough to meet a foreign lady who helped me move to Bethlehem, where I attended Talita Kawmi School. I am originally from Nablus, my home was not equipped to facilitate my disability. My family is not wealthy, but they paid for my medical expenses. Leaving my family was a positive step in my life, I got the opportunity to study at Bethlehem University, and live alone for four years. I was the first person with a physical disability to attend the University, so they fitted the entrances with ramps, and installed elevators in the buildings. Yet, I would always need to go home in order to use the toilet, because the ones at university were not fit for disabled individuals''.

As for Ola's relationship with her fellow peers at university, she explains: ''I was careful. At the beginning some looked at me with superiority, yet I was a good student with high grades, which made them see me in a different light. The male students where shy to offer help, so I put up a sign on my wheel chair saying 'Push Me'. After that the students became receptive''.

 

Ola Abu Al-ghaib is successful in a number of fields, and has also learnt to drive. Nevertheless, there is one thing Ola wants to do more than anything else, that is to teach. She explains: ''I would love to teach, and specialise in education to help create awareness among students. In addition, to change their view of disabled people, and make them see they are equal and human like everyone else''. She adds with sorrow that the issue of disability is marginalised by the ministry, the union for the disabled has problems, society's view to disability is negative, which changes the way disabled people see themselves.

 

Ola describes, the situation of the disabled in Palestine: ''there are no basic facilities, no supply of medication. The ministry of education can not suffice needs, and it is students with physical disabilities who mainly attend schools. The disability law is less than internationally required, with no specific details. Nonetheless, its presence is positive, but what is needed are specific guidelines to work on. Duty free cars are also a good gesture, yet the number of disabled people who can afford a car are limited. And, from experience it is essential to provide medical care, facilities and special aids.    

Moreover, Ola is director of 'Nojoom Al-amal' organisation. She states: ''1 out of 8 girls with a disability enrol at university which makes a difference in their lives. A training programme in cooperation with Beir Zait University was established to train people with disabilities on how to become leaders. They also received training in various subjects, such as commerce, English, leadership, communication, computer and social skills, in addition to counselling. Furthermore, as an organisation, we created a poster, produced two films in January 2007 for the national day of disability. One of the two films was about my experience using a wheel chair, titled 'Try the Wheel Chair', while the other film, 'In the House Next Door', tells the story of a young disabled girl from Salfit, who managed to make a difference in her life and environment. In addition, we participated in activities for human rights, have ties with Bethlehem University, and with all organisations dealing with the issue of disability. We aim to create awareness on the issue of disability, the rights of the disabled, change the way people view the disabled, and make them leaders within their community''.

 

Ola is successful, but things could have turned out differently if it was not for the help she received in completing her high school diploma. In addition, to the financial and moral assistance she received at university, which included adapting facilities to meet her needs. We can not go with out mentioning the effect her husband has; a cultured man who was capable of seeing her as an equal. More importantly it was her belief in change, and that it is possible to make a difference in her life, as well as the lives of others in similar situations, which elevated her success. Moreover, on a Palestinian front, we need to create awareness on the subject of disability in all its aspects, we need to support and integrate the disabled within their local community. This is crucial now more than ever before, due to the vicious Israeli war on Gaza, which has created an increase in the number of disabled Palestinians.