We
have promised to keep all of you who have shown enthusiastic
support for Tent of Nations updated
on what’s
been happening since Daoud Nassar’s initial visit in November/December
2007. With that in mind, we can truly say that more progress than
we had hoped for has taken place over just a few short months.
With the knowledge that your financial help is on the way, the
Nassar
family’s long-term vision of hope for the future is
not just a dream written on paper - it is ‘reality happening’ even
as you read this update.
Thanks to the support of hundreds of FOTONNA members and that of
other international groups, Tent
of Nations has begun work on several
critical projects at Daher’s
Vineyard, which is located about six miles southwest of Bethlehem. Much remains
to be done, however, and more funds will be needed over the next few years
as programs expand and infrastructure needs continue to grow. Program
and infrastructure
are inseparably connected as Daoud and his family members pursue their vision
for peace and coexistence. Here is an update on progress and current needs:
- New Generator – With
funds collected since his visit in November, Daoud has been
able to purchase
a new generator (quieter, more efficient,
higher capacity) that will be online by April 1.
- Solar Power – A
European company has donated solar panels (with free installation)
which will enhance energy independence. Energy generated
by these solar panels will be highly economical, and Tent
of Nations will become a demonstration model for the use of environmentally
friendly technology.
There
are plans for a vocational school located at Tent
of Nations to teach
young people
how to become self-sufficient farmers.
- Cistern – An
additional cistern is urgently needed; however, the Nassars
have not been able
to hire a backhoe operator to begin the
job. The Israeli authorities have been confiscating heavy equipment used in
area C building projects,
so no contractor has been willing to take on the job. The Nassars must
have more water; agriculture (including the continuation
of the all-important
tree-planting
drive), volunteer labor, cooking and hygiene depend on it. FOTONNA
is initiating a one-time-only drive to help the Nassars purchase
a good used backhoe to meet
this urgent need. We need to raise $15,000 within the next
couple of weeks. Several individuals are offering a dollar-for-dollar
match up to $7,500. If you can take
advantage of this opportunity to ensure the success of this one-time
request, please send your donation as soon as possible directly to:
Kay Plitt, Director of Finance - 5621
N. 9th Road - Arlington, VA 22205. Make the check out to: FOTONNA
and designate it for the purchase of a backhoe. The
continuation of all of Tent of
Nation’s programs depends on the success of this drive!
- Women’s
Education Center – Forty women from the
neighboring village of Nahalin have signed up for the computer, crafts
and English classes being offered by Tent
of Nations. Since only 20
were expected, they were
very
pleased with the response. This is a testament to the success of
the Nassar’s
outreach to the neighboring village communities and the great desire
for education among the women of the village. The Nassars are facing increased
costs for
additional space and supplies.
- Olive Trees – Daoud,
with the help of many volunteers (plus your donations), was
able to
purchase and plant over 400 young olive
trees. This is an arduous process, and it is a true act of faith, as it can
take from 15-20
years before these trees begin to bear fruit. Maximum cultivation
of the land is essential for economic survival and to protect the land from
confiscation. Planting trees is a powerful sign that there
is still hope for
peace and justice.
Tree planting is an act of solidarity and a very effective way
to bring people together - Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals. Every
$10 sponsors one
tree.
- Volunteers – Tent
of Nations has been
flooded with volunteers! The word is spreading around the globe.
People from
everywhere
are hungry for something concrete to do in support of Peace with Justice.
The Nassars have completed
improvements to their kitchen facilities and are making renovations
to an existing building to accommodate additional volunteers who make long-term
commitments
to work on the land. More volunteers mean greater needs for
food and water, however. We need to see that they are fed and
housed adequately in
return for their hard
work. It costs $600+ a month to feed and house a volunteer
on the land. Costs this summer are expected to be particularly
high because of the
children’s
programs.
- Summer Youth Camps – Plans
are in full swing for the Children's Music Festival which will take place this
July! Children from
the neighboring villages, Bethlehem and the West Bank are coming, and there will
be an influx
of volunteers in the arts from Europe and the US to participate
in this exciting event. In addition, Tent of
Nation’s regular summer day
camp program in collaboration with local schools and churches continues. Costs
for food
and materials
are estimated at $250 per child for the two-week camp.
EUROPEAN TOUR AND UPCOMING RETURN VISIT TO
THE USA
- In addition
to visits to the United States, Daoud has just completed a
very successful two-week visit to Germany where he spoke
at schools and churches and met with people at the company which is providing
the solar panels. He
had an enthusiastic reception, just as he did here, and it
is good to know that Tent of Nations has support from others around the world
- Finally,
Daoud Nassar will be in the United States again for The June
2008 USA Daoud Nassar Tour! FOTONNA will be
sponsoring this trip, and he and his wife, Jihan, will
be visiting
sites in Ohio and the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Specific dates and places will be announced as plans
are confirmed. We hope all of you will be able to attend
at least one of his
presentations.
HOW YOU CAN HELP?
Current Members – It
is truly exciting to have all of you current FOTONNA members
as a part of this
international
show of support for hope in the face
of great obstacles - hope for the future - hope for smiles on the
faces of children and laughter in their voices - hope for dreams
come true. Your past
support has
been most welcome; however, in order to keep that hope alive, and
because
all of these projects are long-term, the work of FOTONNA
and Tent of Nations will
be ongoing for many years. We need your future support, also. If
you are able to make a commitment to a monthly, quarterly,
or
annual donation that we can
count on and plan around, that would be wonderful! Please continue
in this endeavor to bring light to this 100-acre farm filled
with big hopes and big
hearts and
great love by using the link provided below.
New Members – To learn more about FOTONNA
and Tent
of Nations, please go
to www.fotonna.org.
To join FOTONNA, simply click on the link provided below. It is very
easy to become a part of a growing movement that will provide so
much personal satisfaction as you watch
the seeds of peace grow – and grow – and grow.
Click
here to download the donation form to mail.
MANY THANKS FROM:
FOTONNA STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
|
Daoud
Nassar – Director
of Operations
Mark
Braverman – Executive Director
Bill Mims – Director of Projects
and Planning
Bill Plitt – Director of Community
Outreach
Steve France – Director of Communications
Kay
Plitt – Director of Finance
|
PERSONAL THANK YOU FROM DAOUD:
Dear Friends,
We
are glad to see the work of the Tent of Nations growing and bearing
fruits. We want the Tent of Nations to be a light and a sign of
hope for the ones who are losing their hope for a better future. It
is wonderful to have Friends of Tent of Nations who are sharing
the same vision with us and supporting the work we are doing. Thank
you for your support, for keeping the spirit of the Tent of Nations
high and for keeping hope alive. It is a big encouragement for
the Tent of Nations to feel the support of people all over the
world. Thank you all for this solidarity. |