English Language Textbook Support Project 2013

DSC_0082Project 7

APPEH is proud to have supported UNRWA’s Textbook Development program, which is creating English language textbooks for Palestinian refugee children in Lebanon. UNRWA are in the process of completing grade 3 part 1 English textbooks and will be introducing these to schools at the beginning of the new scholastic year in October.

Last year (Project 2), APPEH funded the purchase of three computer and software packages necessary to produce these texts, as well as training in the use of the software. Now the project has gained momentum and needs more hardware and software. Continue Reading…

Supporting Palestinian Families Who Have Experienced Political Violence

Project 6

The Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture (TRC) is based in Ramallah and has offices throughout the West Bank. Over the last 15 years, the TRC has deployed its unique multidisciplinary approach to mental health from a human rights-based perspective and has directly treated over 15,000 survivors of violence since its inception. The TRC offers a full range of services to assist victims to fully recover from their debilitating traumas as they transition towards survivors and advocates of human rights. Continue Reading…

AVI Long Term Volunteer

Project 5

Samar Habib began her two-year term as the AVI volunteer to UNRWA in September 2012. Samar is a Palestinian-born Australian, so she has an enormous headstart. It’s a great opportunity for APPEH, not only for our ongoing investment in our education program but also to strengthen Australian–Palestinian connections. More news soon about her projects.

Monitoring and Evaluation 2012

Project 4 

APPEH recognises the importance of monitoring and evaluation of all its projects. Thus it funded Dr Emily Steele (who had earlier evaluated the visit of Palestinian educators Malak and Iman to Australia), to visit Lebanon in October 2012. Emily’s main roles were to evaluate the APPEH English Language Textbook Support Project, explore options for APPEH to continue their supportive role in Palestinian educational activities, and collaborate with AVI volunteers Shazleen Lateef and Samar Habib about possible future projects.

Emily also met with AVI Regional Manager, Cassandra Mathie, to discuss the ongoing partnership with AVI, UNRWA and APPEH and the opportunities for program support and development. A summary of her report will be posted shortly.

Short Term AVI Volunteer 2012

Project 3 

Throughout its existence, APPEH has worked closely with Australian Volunteers International (AVI).

In April 2012 AVI nominated a short-term volunteer to UNRWA Lebanon in the role of English Language Adviser: Curriculum Support. The volunteer visited Adelaide on 4 May before leaving Australia for her new post. While in Adelaide she met with Department of Education and Child Development (DECD) staff including English as a Second Language support staff, leadership consultants and the assistant national director of the Northern Region.  The volunteer commenced work in late June and reported that her project went well. Continue Reading…

TRC: Hard Times To Sustain Services

The Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture (TRC) is a non-governmental, not–for-profit and independent organization that mainly works in the field of providing medical, psychiatric and psychosocial services to survivors of politically motivated torture and organized violence in the Palestinian territory, in addition to activities related to fostering Human Rights through Training, Advocacy and Research. It is considered a human rights organization with focus on mental health issues especially for those suffering from the ongoing conflict in the area. Continue Reading…

English Language Textbook Project 2012

DSC_0110Project 2

APPEH supports UNRWA’s Education Reform, part of which is to address the inadequacy of the Lebanese Ministry of Education’s textbooks that have been used in English language classes in UNRWA Palestinian schools. The APPEH English Language Textbook Support Project was established to train UNRWA staff involved in textbook production in the use of new hardware and software, and to support the textbook team to design new textbook materials by mid 2012 (specifically Enjoy English! Grade 2 Part 1 Student Book, Activity Book and Teachers Book, as well as cards and posters).

To achieve these aims, APPEH engaged a consultant, Hamish Walker, at ‘volunteer’ rates to train the textbook team in the use of PhotoShop, InDesign and Illustrator. Continue Reading…

APPEH Textbook Project

We are still seeking investors to purchase each of the following for our English Language Textbook Support Project. To date we have received support for a software package and one computer and would very much appreciate your support in contributing to or purchasing any of the remaining items. Continue Reading…

Educator Visit To Australia 2011

Project 1

Provision of mentoring and technical support for the UNRWA Lebanon Field Education Department in the discipline of English Language teaching and learning.

During the course of 2010, in his capacity as English Language Adviser, the Australian Volunteers International (AVI) volunteer Richard Steele had discussions with UNRWA about developing a partnership between the UNRWA Lebanon Field Office’s Education Department and South Australia’s Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS). Continue Reading…

Fallacy of the Middle Ground and Why We Should Risk Being Wrong

Professor Jon Jureidini is a child psychiatrist trained in philosophy. He is the Head of the Department of Psychological Medicine at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Philosophy at Flinders University in South Australia.

In this talk Professor Jureidini puts a philosophical case for making tough decisions and not walking the middle ground.