Today we went to Wadi Seer, a Palestine Refugee Camp. This camp was is run by the
UNRAW ..United Nations Relief and Work Center. They have a wonderful school and
vocational center. Refugee status is given to those people from Palestine that
have been displaced and their children (4th generation) The UN provides relief,
social programs, health care and EDUCATION. This is paid for from the UN funds and
donor nations, except the educational part is funded by donations. UN schools meet
the standards of the host country. In this case Jordan. There are over 700,000
refugees, from Palestine. Refugee status is inherited. The 700,000 came in 1950,
after Israeli statehood. Another 190,000 from the 1967 War and 16,000 from Goland Heights. Unraw runs 170 schools in Jordan for 130,000 students. That is 6x PUSD!
They have a 6 day week and run school in two shifts, from 6:30-12:30 and 12:30-4:30.
They have excellent Voc ed training!!!
After the schools we went to Baqaa Medical Center and Baqaa refugee camp. That
was really mind boggling. We meet a patient that told us there are NO emergency
services or secondary services, ie PHYSICAL Therapy, rehab etc.. very sad and
I now see why Celebs are invited. If I had a few million laying around I would
donate it too.
Jordan is more than generous to allow all these displaced people to live in
their country. It places a very big burden on a country with limited resources.
I have to say that Jordan is very peaceful and that the people are always friendly
and polite to us. Jordan has BILINGUAL education and all the children learn
English starting in the first grade!
Oh, and the price of gas has gone up 80% since the fall of Iraq because Jordan
used to get gas at a very good price from Iraq.. it is now about $2.20 per gallon!!!
Tomorrow, we are going back to the University for a political discussion and to
meet teachers from public and private schools in Jordan. I am having a pretty
good time and making friends. Miss you all!
xoxo
suzi
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2 comments:
Wow, traveling abroad always really makes you reflect on our realities here in the U.S. Our educational system, health care and of course the cost of living (a gallon of gas for $3.50) sighh. What's really interesting to me is the image of Jordan you're portraying- Bush and his cronies have really led us to believe that the middle east is an aggressive, undesirable place. From you blogs it sounds quite different...
It's funny when you think about the Palestinian conflict, there is very little light shed from the US perspective on the displacement of the Palestinian people. From your comments about inheritied refugee status and what I have studied it seems there is a lot people in this country don't know what happened after 1948. I am proud of you on this journey, it takes a lot to change our personal though process and opinions. I can already tell by reading your blog that critical change is happening. Honestly, it just takes one person at a time to create change. Thank you for taking your summer to be the catalyst.
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