For Non-violence and Peace (LOWNP)
Children learning
to express themselves through words - rather than violence
Library on Wheels and Towards Humanity
Library
on Wheels is a humanitarian institution based in Jerusalem. Wissam Boustany
became involved with them when they were selected as one of five charities
to benefit from the proceeds of a peace concert for the Middle East that
was held at the Royal Albert Hall (London), February 1995. Since then
several benefit concerts have taken place and Wissam Boustany's CD Wandering
Winds contributes a £1 donation to the charity out of each unit
sold. To date an estimated $25,000 has been raised for the institution.
If you are interested in supporting this well-established charity please
contact Towards Humanity.
About Library on Wheels
LOWNP visits more than 100 locations throughout the West Bank, distributing/loaning children's books in Arabic to Palestinian children in isolated villages. The library also provides books and cassettes for blind children. LOWNP distributes educational materials and supplies such as crayons, pencils, markers and colouring books to kindergartens that lack proper supplies. Arabic copies of the "UN Convention on the Human Rights of the Child" and "Teach Children Peace" (published by LOWNP) are given to all parents and teachers that LOWNP visits.
However, the activities of the library go far beyond the supply of books and educational materials. Touring Puppet Shows are used to teach children co-operation, non-violence and peace. Video shows of educational cartoons are organised and where the family cannot afford the children's school fees, LOWNP offers financial support. LOWNP has initiated tree-planting campaigns in the office's neighbourhood, responding to Chairman Arafat's appeal for making Palestine green. As a contribution to infrastructure building for the local Al Bireh municipality, LOWNP has also initiated a campaign to provide names to Oum Al Sharait/Samiramis neighbourhood's streets (90% still unnamed). Children are invited to prepare clay with locally produced flour, olive oil, non-toxic colours and salt.
Music making is encouraged with volunteers collecting empty cans and filling them with different stones and sand in order to make percussion instruments for kindergartens. In this way, children are taught the differences in sound.
LOWNP operates seven days a week throughout the year and relies upon volunteers. LOWNP's primary goal is education and leadership training, serving as an active library promoting peace and non-violence. They listen to the problems that children and residents face and frequently describe the conditions they see in reports and newsletters, often guiding recipients towards peaceful non-violent responses to their grievances.
Contributions
Funding
for LOWNP comes from Dutch, French and Finnish organisations. Donations
from individuals are welcomed. Transfers can be made through:
Account Name LOWNP
Account number 646563-4
Bank Name Arab Bank
Address of Bank P.O. Box 2445, Ramallah-Jerusalem Street, Al-Ram
Swift Code ARABPS22110
For more information please contact:
LIBRARY ON WHEELS
For Non-violence and Peace (LOWNP)
PO. Box 20961, Jerusalem 91202, Israel
Tel: (972) 2 583 5146 Fax: (972) 2 583 5127 Mobile Phone: 050 998 004
E-mail: lownp@palnet.com