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Support Playgrounds For Palestine (with your feet or with your wallet)

Playgrounds for Palestine (PfP) is always looking for exciting new ways to raise much needed funds to build playgrounds for children in Palestine. This year is no exception, as PfP founder Susie Abulhawa will put on her racing shoes and run this year’s Philadelphia Half Marathon on September 21st. http://www.ingphiladelphiadistancerun.com/home.html And in case Abulhawa hasn’t put her body through a grueling enough experience in September, on November 23rd she and veteran Palestinian-American journalist (former Al Jazeera producer, and current Editor-in-Chief of the Palestine Chronicle) Ramzy Baroud will then run the Philadelphia Marathon. Susie’s children Natalie and Amir also plan to do their part and run in the children’s 1 mile event. http://www.philadelphiamarathon.com/ PfP plans to host a party the evening before the marathon, where people can gather to support the runners –

Fun Day in Nahr el Bared

September 12 was no ordinary day for the kids of Nahr El Bared Camp. Over 200 children gathered in the Mazen Afifi Playground for a fun day organized by PfP partners Bait Atfal Assoumoud and ANERA. The purpose of the event was to entertain the children and at the same time embellish the park established by PfP, MECA, and the

Host a Palestinian Olive Oil Party

When you help PfP fundraise by buying our olive oil or hosting an olive oil party, you are doing more than simply providing playgrounds for Palestinian children. The World Bank estimates that Palestinian agriculture accounts for about 25% of the GDP, and olive trees are raised on at least 45% of all cultivated land. Traditionally, the Palestinian market for olive oil was internal, production met demand, and there were not excesses of oil to be exported to other markets. Since 2006, however, Palestinian farmers have increased production dramatically, and the increase in supply means that there is tons of oil available

PfP’s Summer Film Nights!

On August 12th, PfP is screening Saverio Costanzo’s 2004 film Private. This film explores the Palestinian situation through the means of an allegory. Here’s a short description: “Inspired by real events, documentary filmmaker Saverio Costanzo’s feature debut is a minimalist psychological drama about a Palestinian family of seven suddenly confronted with a volatile situation in their home that in many ways reflects the larger ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people.” (Palestine Online Store) And here’s what you need to know: WHAT: PfP’s screening of Private WHERE: Ethical Society Building–1906 Rittenhouse Sq, Philadelphia PA WHEN: Wednesday August 12th, 2009 @ 7PM On August 15th, PfP is screening a second film,

Thank you for another successful fundraiser

Thanks to all of you, our gala dinner and concert proved to be a wonderful evening and a successful fundraiser! We raised over $17,000 and still counting. To read all of the sordid details, click here To watch a video of the best moments of the evening, click here To donate, click here

Announcing A Gala Dinner and Concert for Gaza

On May 3, 2009, PfP will host a wonderful evening with friends and supporters for the benefit of the children of Gaza. The evening will feature a concert by renowned Lebanese singer/songwriter May Nasr. The evening will feature a concert by renowned Lebanese singer May Nasr. You can listen to her music online. Her voice is mesmerizing. Trained by Zaki Nassif, a composer for Fairuz, she is one of the few artists who can truly sing Fairuz songs with their

My Annual Olive Oil Party for PfP, by Karen Kovalcik

When I first learned of Playgrounds for Palestine’s incredible mission and gifts to children in need of hope, the obvious reaction was how can I help? After a few conversations, I found out about the wonderful olive oil that comes from this holy land and how the purchase of it brings goodness to so many. I had no idea of the reverence of the olive trees in this region of the world, and the history of these 2000+ year old trees. The privilege of having olive tree in ones’ family and passing them down through centuries of people, kingdoms, and conquests, makes me think of how wise these trees must be. The olive oil we gather from this most

Please sponsor our run in the Philadelphia Marathon!

Dear friends, family, and supporters of PfP – Please Sponsor Us! As many of you know, Ramzy Baroud and I are teaming up this year to run the Philadelphia Marathon in November to raise money and awareness of PfP. Toward that goal, on Sunday, 21 September, I (along with my wonderful neighbor, Nelson Dunham) ran the Philadelphia Half Marathon, mostly as

Three Playgrounds are on their way to Lebanon

Thanks to seed money from Dr Nabil Qaddumi, PfP was able to partner with MECA (Middle East Children’s Alliance) and ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid) to initiate playground projects in Lebanon. On September 30th, three playgrounds will arrive for installation in Ein el Hilweh and Nahr el Bared refugee camps.

Missing Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2008)

We saw you tear off your limbs To pass through the narrow passage Now you know… Where birds fly after the last sky What color is the last beat of a poet’s heart? What word is it? Is it the humble majesty of the Holy Sepulcher? Or the lullaby of the Adan over Palestine? What was that last contraction? That sent ripples of love and grief across our earth The last call from the Voice of Palestine. You left us

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PHOTO ALBUM | Ramadan 2026

At both the Phoenix School and the Modern Childhood School, our students participated in craft workshops to create Ramadan decorations

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This donation, our first to PfP, is to honor the children that see beyond conflict, and remind us to be ever present.