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At the recent ‘Children of Gaza’ fundraising walk in Derramore near Bessbrook earlier this month participants heard a message of thanks and solidarity from three young Palestinian students, Rahaf Alkfarna, Yara Sabaa and Malak Zuhair.
The students were hosted by St Louise’s Comprehensive College in west Belfast in 2022 as part of a theatre exchange programme and continue to keep in touch with those they had met.
Loretta Harper a mental Health nurse from Kilcoo played the recorded message to those in attendance at the event. Louise and her family hosted the pupils at her home in 2022 and has kept in touch with the students and their teachers.
The students and their families were forced to leave their homes in Gaza City by the Israeli forces and make their way to the Southern Gaza Strip on foot and with no belongings.
Since then Loretta has worked with others to fundraiser to help the families. A donation from the monies raised at the Walk and the Christmas Morning Mountain climb was made to Louise. Monies from the fundraising events were also donated to the UNICEF Children of Gaza fund.
The two events, the Derramor Forest Walk and the Christmas morning mountain climb raised a combined total just over £5000.
Pat McGuinness representing the Community Groups and GAA members who organised the event thanking all those who had made donations said: “On behalf of the organisers I would like to thank everyone who kindly donated to our fundraising efforts. All monies raised are going to help those most in need in Palestine and in particular the children of Gaza who have had to endure such horrors.
To listen to Malak, Rahaf and Yara who have returned to Gaza City to nothing but stones and bomb craters, was truly humbling. Thanks to Louise and the Harper family for bringing these families into all our lives”.
Pat McGinn from Gaels Against Genocide who also spoke at the event said: “We look forward to the day that the young students from Gaza will return to Ireland and visit us here in Camlough. Once again thank you to all who donated and who helped organising our events. We will not stop talking about Palestine until a true peace and lasting settlement is found."
