Children in the Gaza Strip are in dire need of places that offer educational and recreational activities in safe environments. Gaza Field Office seeks to invest in 15 centres for children between the age of 2 and 6 throughout the Gaza Strip. These centres will provide adapted space where children can engage in a range of developmentally appropriate activities which include drama, arts and crafts, reading, games and physical pursuits.

Under this proposal, the plan is to sponsor according to funds one or two of these childcare centres. Focus will be made on recovering from post-traumatic effects of the military attack over Gaza, promoting peaceful play, non-violent social interaction and providing alternative models. Concrete interventions that invest in children are needed if there is to be a shift from a norm of violence to development and social cohesiveness.

The centres will be equipped with adapted furniture, books, toys, games and other specialized items and staffed with necessary personnel (childcare workers) and will offer a wide range of psychosocial activities.

We reached the target of £10,000 in under nine months from various fundraising events throughout the year.

Fundraising Events

• 30 January 09 – Launch Event. A ladies’ evening of spirituality and contemplation. The Zanfha Initiative was introduced to the audience and we raised over £900 on the night.
• March 09 - Mirage Events, ‘Ladies evening of fashion, food and music for the soul’. The founding members of Mirage Events kindly offered to raise awareness of the Zanfha Initiative at their event and collected on our behalf £420.
• July 09 - Manchester to Blackpool Bike Ride. Huma Javed undertook the gruelling bike ride at short notice. Finished in 5 hrs and raised over £500. Private donations have also been welcomed.
• August 09 – Bag Packing Days at Morrisons in Chorlton, Manchester. Young volunteers of the Zanfha Initiative helping customers with their packing, collection of  money, and raising awareness of our fundraising group and our project. We raised over £800.
• September 09 - Charity Iftaar (fast-breaking) took place at Sheridan Suite organised by Naila, Alya and Rani. They kindly raised £1,682
• September 09 – Sponsored Charity Walk  Anwar Khokhar undertook the 15mile walk from Cheetham Hill, Manchester to Hale Barns. Anwar has had difficulty recently with his feet but he managed to complete the walk in under 5 hours and has raised over a staggering £1,000.

• October/November 09 - REACHED TARGET; £10,000.

Dear Rifat,

Thank you for this notification. I am pleased to inform you that the transfer was successful and that we received the GBP 10,000 on November 26 in our bank account. On behalf of UNRWA, please allow me to extend our utmost gratitude to you and the Zanfha Initiative for its generous donation and tremendous fundraising efforts to alleviate the suffering of Palestine refugees in Gaza.

We will now check with our offices in Gaza regarding the details of the project (i.e. sponsoring of a child care centre). I will revert back to you with this information as soon as I receive it.

Again, we would like to thank the Zanfha Initiative’s for its generous contribution.

Best regards,

Marly

Letter from UNRWA

Final Report UNRWA and Zanfha

Financial Report from UNRWA