2007 Programs and Events
U.S. Consulate General Donates Books to New Community-Based Learning Center in Hebron
August 21, 2007
Representatives from the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem presented over 725 books for a new library at the Community-Based Learning Center in Hebron today in a ceremony attended by the Governor of Hebron, Dr. Hussein Al-Araj. Staff and families from the U.S. Consulate donated the books and over 350 magazines from their personal collections to stock the shelves. The library, whose shelves were bare before the U.S. Consulate donation, is now fully stocked with resources for the citizens of Hebron.
At the donation ceremony on August 21, Public Affairs Officer Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm presented the books to the Center Coordinator, Omar Dahman, remarking that “when we told our Consulate colleagues about your new library and asked for book donations, we were overwhelmed by their generosity as books came pouring in. The entire U.S. Consulate community supports your excellent work in Hebron and hopes your students will benefit from these books.”
The Governor of Hebron, Dr. Hussein Al-Araj, thanked the U.S. Consulate for its kindness and support for the people of Hebron. Several dozen students and other library-users, as well as representatives from local organizations, eagerly looked through the books and chatted with staff from the Consulate.
Among the books donated by the U.S. Consulate are children’s books, scientific textbooks, encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, English-language learning materials, cookbooks, medical references, biographies, history books, and texts focusing on social issues and self-development, as well as a number of magazines.
The new Community-Based Learning Center on Ein Sarah Street in Hebron was established by Relief International—Schools Online (RI-SOL) with funding from the U.S. State Department. RI-SOL is a non-governmental organization active in over 40 countries implementing programs that provide services to empower beneficiaries through emphasizing education, civic participation, online collaborative projects, and teacher exchanges.