Friends School

Ramallah/El-Bireh

 

2005/06 Appeal for Donations

 

 

 

 

 

Few of the 2004 Graduates:

Second Row, from left:   Suraya Hammoudeh,

Ruba Sarsour, Mariam Hijjawi

First Row, from left:         John Saa’deh, Hashem Abdel Hadi

 

 

Upper Kindergartners

 

 

 

Sixth Graders competing at tug-of-war

Profile

Ramallah Friends School (RFS) is a co-educational school with two campuses located in the twin towns of Ramallah and El-Bireh (Palestine), about 10 miles north of Jerusalem. The elementary school, originally the Girls School (FGS), is located in Ramallah and the secondary school, originally the Boys School (FBS), is located in El-Bireh. The school was founded in 1869 by a group of American and English Quakers. The Friends United Meeting (FUM) based in Richmond Indiana, USA owns the School and appoints its Director, currently Joyce Ajlouny. The school has 1040 students attending all grades from Kindergarten to 12 and teaching is in both Arabic and English. In 1999 the school was accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organization.  

 

Statement of Purpose

 

The Friends School has striven, since its establishment, to be a leading educational institution that has, throughout the past century, contributed most significantly to educating Palestinians.  The school offers Palestinian youth a rigorous academic program supported by the principles of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).  Friends seek to promote a constant search for God in all human situations, and to cultivate ethical, moral and spiritual values. The Friends School is committed, as stated in its purpose statement, to:

·          Excellence in education

·          Developing the whole person

·          Helping each person recognize her or his responsibility to society

·          Equality

 

  What makes us different

 

The School has been developing both in terms of modern teaching approaches and its infrastructure, with new buildings in place thanks to USAID/ASHA grants.  Providing the highest quality education has been the focus of the school since its inception.

1 . The Friends School continues to be distinguished among other schools in the area. With our liberal Quaker philosophy and modern approaches to education, our graduates learn the skills of mind and spirit that prepare them to step into adult life with confidence.  Our track record of distinguished graduates throughout the past century, speaks for itself!

2 . The Friends School is the first and only school in Palestine to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) option -- a program highly regarded by colleges and universities worldwide -- for 11th and 12th graders, alongside the Palestinian curriculum. Since the year 2000, this program has allowed many of our students to continue their university studies abroad and often with significant scholarship assistance.  The overwhelming majority excel in universities abroad, thanks to their hard work and the excellent education they receive at our school.

3 . Another noteworthy and exceptional initiative is the Special Needs program – the first of its kind in Palestine -- based on an Inclusive Education philosophy. This program allows children with various special needs, challenges and disabilities to be mainstreamed in the regular school system while receiving integrated special education services.

4 . Our school starts computer training from kindergarten onwards; our 7th - 12th graders have school based e-mail accounts that they use for communicating with their teachers.  This as well as our school website (www.palfriends.org), has proved very beneficial, particularly at times of Israeli military incursions and curfews.  The school has widely invested in Information Technology and plans to continue developing its resources.

   

  The Palestinian Economy & the Friends School

 

The ongoing Israeli occupation has resulted in a near collapse of the Palestinian economy, with soaring unemployment and a sharp increase in poverty. According to World Bank reports, the median family income has dropped by 40% compared to 1999 levels, to which the Palestinian population has responded by resorting to coping mechanisms such as reducing their consumption levels, selling off assets, delaying payments and incurring debts. These strategies are nearly exhausted. Also, with the Separation Wall that Israel has constructed to seal off about 50% of Palestinian Territory, the movement of goods and services has been effected as well as jobs.  Moreover, in spite of the relative calm during recent months in Ramallah, the economic situation has not improved. This alarming situation is proving very difficult for many families; making them unable to meet their tuition fee obligations due to a substantial decrease in their income.  This in turn has put more pressure on the School, which apart from dealing with the educational problems arising from Israeli closures has to now find new ways to provide needy students with financial aid.

 

  Our Supporters

 

Donors have become interested in the school in a variety of ways, such as personal contact, visits, reading articles in our School Newsletter or reading our e-mail letters. Some are Friends School graduates, while others belong to Quaker Meetings or Churches in America, Britain, Europe and as far away as New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Japan. Some donors contribute once a year while others send monthly donations. The school also receives donations directly through Friends United Meeting in Indiana and through the Quaker International Educational Trust in Britain and Europe.

 

 

Scholarship recipients

(Left to Right): Bisan Salameh (12^th grade)

Shireen Shammah (12^th grade)

 

  How You can help!

 

We are proud of our accomplishments and would like to continue our growth and development to better meet the demands of this fast changing world. While we wholeheartedly appreciate all that our supporters provide us, we remain in dire need for additional support that will help us meet the urgent financial demands of our growing school.  We are therefore, desperately seeking funding for the following programs:

 

 

1. SCHOLARSHIPS                              Amount to be raised: $90,000

 

RFS is interested in maintaining a student body that is representative of the Palestinian society and to which no student will be denied access for the sole reason that he or she cannot afford it. The Scholarship Fund is used exclusively to help needy students who cannot otherwise afford Friends education. We have committed over $130,000 in scholarship assistance for the 2004/05 school year and are yet to raise this amount. We anticipate that we will receive approximately $40,000 - $50,000 from our Quaker constituency in the US and Britain.  For the 04/05 school year, 201 students (19% of the student body) from 92 families will be receiving financial aid.  Our tuition fees range between $1500 and $2300 annually, depending on grade level. Your support can be directed through two scholarships programs: General Award and Eli and Sybil Jones Award.

 

1. General Award – partial sponsorship (any amount)

This scheme supports families of students who are at school for more than one year and find it difficult to pay fees because of the deterioration in their financial situation and/or an increase in their family size. The aim of the General Award is to  support families to keep their children in the school and encourage their siblings to join them.  Families receive between $300 and $1900 in assistance, depending on their financial situation.

 

2. Eli and Sybil Jones (ESJ) Awards  - full  sponsorship

Named after the two Quakers from New England who founded the Ramallah Friends School, ESJ awards are for underprivileged families who otherwise would never be able to send their children to school.  These families are supported in full.  There are currently seven grantees, spread out from UKG to Grade 12, with total tuition waivers (100%).  The RFS aims to expand the ESJ awards for the support of many other underprivileged families.

 

How Decisions are made

A school committee of 12 professionals appointed and headed by the RFS Director decides on granting scholarship on a case-by-case basis. It is the applicant’s responsibility to show reason why the scholarship should be granted and to support that with proper financial statements and other documents.

 

 

2. SPECIAL NEEDS                  Amount to be raised: $24,000

 

Our pioneering Special Needs program, relies heavily on the placement of teacher aides in the classrooms to allow for the proper inclusion of children with special needs in the mainstream educational environment.  We are currently able to support the program with serious limitations on the number of students we are able to enroll.  Our target enrolment is to include at least 2-3 children with special needs for each grade level.  To be able to do so, we need financial support for the provision of resources and salaries of teacher aides.  The realization of this program requires US$ 24,000 in additional funds.

 

Your contribution to the Scholarship and Special Needs Fund is a valued support to the Friends School and to its students especially under these desperate prevailing circumstances.  The support and partnership of donors in conjunction with the hard work of students and teachers will ensure the excellence and achievement of our school in this difficult time.

 

 

 

 

Sponsor a Student

Or

Support Children with Special Needs

 

 

The Scholarship Fund and Special Needs Program at the Friends School assists many deserving and talented children each year. Without your financial assistance, it would be difficult, even impossible, for these students, to attend our school. Your support and partnership will have a lasting impact on the lives of our students… our future leaders.