Women and Recovery in Palestine
Student Activities
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| Case Study | Teachers' Notes |
There has been much conflict in the area called the Middle East, including Palestine, throughout the twentieth century. Use history texts and an atlas to complete the following:
Draw a map of the Middle East today centring on Palestine and its neighbours. If possible, investigate how borders in the Middle East have changed during the century.
Draw a timeline of key events in the area since 1900. In particular, briefly explain why there were wars between Israel and the Arab states in 1947-48, 1956, 1967 and 1973.
What have been the main causes of conflict in more recent times?
The Middle East Peace Process is referred to regularly in the media. Collect newspaper articles or follow reports on the radio and television. Who are the major players in the process? What, exactly, are they hoping to achieve? How?
Australian soldiers have served in the region of Palestine throughout the twentieth century, and are mostly remembered fondly by old Palestinian soldiers. Why is this so? Begin your investigations by using history texts on the two world wars. You might also interview grandparents or older members of the community for their recollections.
With a partner, script a discussion between a Jenin woman approaching a CARE official for the first time, asking for assistance. Think carefully about the sorts of statements the woman might make about herself and other women in the community, and what she might ask of CARE. Also think carefully about the questions and statements by the CARE official.
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How is the life of a woman who marries in her late teens, such as in Palestine, likely to be different to the life of a woman who marries in her late twenties, such as in Australia?
Use evidence from the story to explain why Palestinian girls are more often illiterate than Palestinian boys.
On large poster paper, draw two futures wheels or flow charts, one beginning with a Jenin woman who has taken either a job skills or a finance course (be clear about which one), and a woman who has not. Show the various consequences for the women, their families and the wider communities arising from each situation.
Imagine you are one of the project managers. How would you promote it to a) women and b) men in the community? What aspects of the project would you emphasise? How would you deliver your messages to your audiences? (Remember that not all people can read.)
Imagine you are one of the Jenin women managing the project after CARE has withdrawn. You have decided to reduce the number of courses under offer by three so that you can invest the extra money and effort in the five remaining courses. Currently the courses are: i) basic sewing, ii) clothes design and making, iii) curtain design and making, iv) embroidery, v) traditional straw craft, vi) hairdressing, vii) food processing, viii) ceramics.
Which five courses would you continue to offer, and why?
Share your selection with a partner. Have you chosen the same five? If not, discuss your reasons and try to reach agreement on the five.
Share your discussions with the class, including the ease or difficulty you experienced in attempting to select only five. What did this aspect of the activity highlight about decision-making in aid projects?
What do you think have been the main contributing factors to the success of the Skills Training and Income Generation Project? Prepare a speech for a conference on successful aid projects.
Invite a guest speaker from CARE Australia to speak about the Jenin project or others which CARE manages. Find out if there are other ways in which you can assist CARE.
For an overview of recent Australian aid initiatives to Palestine, visit AusAID's internet site, consult the Focus articles listed under Resources, or obtain AusAID's statistical summaries of programs. Alternatively, find out how AusAID helps women through projects in other countries. (AusAID contact details in Teachers' Notes.) Make colorful posters either showing how Australia's overseas aid program assists Palestine, or how it assists women in a range of locations.
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