Summer camp in Bethlehem organized by ATS pro Terra Sancta and AVSI

The summer camp in Bethlehem supported by ATS pro Terra Sancta in collaboration with AVSI is now taking place. AVSI is in charge of the overall project “Supporting emergency education in the Palestinian Autonomous Territories” which is financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The project was proposed due to the fact that the area around Bethlehem has been heavily hit by the occupation: playtime, recreational and cultural activities have been reduced to the bare minimum. In this context, it is precisely the children who suffer most from the situation, and are thus in need of support and recreational activities that will permit them to improve their academic results, on the one hand, and to amuse themselves, on the other.

The Bethlehem parish has made available the Al-Amal al-Katholiki center to host the three-week summer camp that is entitled “I love you my sons”.

A total of 189 children from eight to twelve years of age, who attend the Terra Santa Boys School, Terra Santa Girls School (St. Joseph), Ecole des Frères, American School and the Lutheran schools Talitha Kumi and Dar al-Kalima, are participating in the camp.

The camp counselors are made up of 45 teenagers (over the age of 16) who come from Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour and who are volunteering their free time to the Bethlehem parish. Among the activities offered by the camp: creativity workshops, screening of films, singing, dancing and swimming.