Bethlehem faced lockdown before most of us (6th March 2030) - another fearsome challenge in a day to day life that is already difficult. This diary was created to bring together the personal stories of a broad range of Bethlehem's residents and raise awareness.
My name is Melissa Scott and about four years ago I decided that I would like to do something to support the Palestinians in their long-standing battle for independence and human dignity that they have faced for so long. It was no whimsical urging; My parents lived in the region throughout my childhood and I first visited Palestine in 1979. I have a degree in Arabic and have travelled extensively in the region since. In recent years I have visited Palestine frequently, partly working to support Alrowwad Centre for Arts and Culture, for which I founded a charity, Friends of Alrowwad UK, last year, and partly to support the remarkable work that the Hands Up Project do, bringing remote theatre to Gaza and the West Bank.
I would like to thank all who took part and gave so generously of their time to pull together this material. I hope that it will have played some role, however modest, in raising awareness the daily challenges that the residents of Bethlehem face every day.
My name is Melissa Scott and about four years ago I decided that I would like to do something to support the Palestinians in their long-standing battle for independence and human dignity that they have faced for so long. It was no whimsical urging; My parents lived in the region throughout my childhood and I first visited Palestine in 1979. I have a degree in Arabic and have travelled extensively in the region since. In recent years I have visited Palestine frequently, partly working to support Alrowwad Centre for Arts and Culture, for which I founded a charity, Friends of Alrowwad UK, last year, and partly to support the remarkable work that the Hands Up Project do, bringing remote theatre to Gaza and the West Bank.
I would like to thank all who took part and gave so generously of their time to pull together this material. I hope that it will have played some role, however modest, in raising awareness the daily challenges that the residents of Bethlehem face every day.
