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Unique Summer Camp in the Holy Land

26-Jun-03
Robert Younes, MD
Contact: Robert Younes, MD
(301)983 3022
younes@hcef.org

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The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation*
News Release

For Immediate Release                    Contact: Robert Younes, MD
June 26, 2003                                  (301) 983 3022, 
                                                        younes@hcef.org

Unique Summer Camp in the Holy Land

The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation announces that it will fund a unique ecumenical coeducational summer camp for 250 children ages 10 yrs. – 14 yrs. in the West Bank’s Bethlehem district. Children from 12 Christian church groups from Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour will participate in the program during the first week of July 2003. There are 10 cultural events scheduled to encourage social, civic, and environmental responsibility. In addition, sports and other recreational activities will be integrated with the summer camp program.

At the moment, there are very few activities for children during the summer when the children are not attending school. Many of the venues for socialization such as restaurants, social centers and other places are closed due to the current Intifada. Church officials and towns people were concerned that without such activities, the children were likely to be in danger considering the presence of armed troops in the area.

The program was conceived to provide children with recreational activities to relieve the constant tension created by the military occupation, closures, home demolitions and shootings in the West Bank.  It is hoped that this program will allow participating children recognize their common humanity despite belonging to different church groups.

Any contributions to further enhance the camp program are welcome.

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*The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization 501 (c) 3, committed to improving the lives of Christians in the Holy Land through building bonds of solidarity with between Christians in the United States and Christians in the Holy Land. We have two goals: inform Americans about the Christians in the Holy Land and provide humanitarian assistance for the needy in the land where Jesus Christ was born, preached, died and rose again.  HCEF, 6935 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 214, Bethesda, MD 20815 (301) 951-9400, Toll Free (866) 871-4233 (HCEF), www.hcef.org Email: news@hcef.org