2009 Press Releases
U.S. Consulate General Jerusalem Donates More Than 2,500 Books to Palestinian Schools
Jerusalem
September 17, 2009
Jerusalem - As a part of its ongoing Ramadan outreach activities, the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem donated more than 2,500 new books to three schools serving Palestinian students, September 15-17. The Al Fatah Al- Laj’ah Al Thanwyeh girls’ school and the Dar Al Aytam boys’ school in East Jerusalem each received a complete set of the My Arabic Library collection (1061 books) produced by the American publisher Scholastic Books, and a collection of 130 books from the Department of State’s Regional Book Office (RBO). The Terra Santa School in Bethlehem also received a collection of 140 RBO books and publications.
The Department of State’s Regional Book Office publishes and distributes American books translated into Arabic. These books help explain American culture and address some of the issues that affect both the American and Arab communities. In addition to popular novels, RBO titles also include topics such as civil society and government, economics and business, communication and information, and the environment.
Yesterday, representatives from the U.S. Consulate General’s Public Affairs Section visited the schools to talk with students, teachers, and administrative staff. At the Al Fatah Al- Laj’ah Al Thanwyeh girls’ school, students read their favorite stories to the Consulate representatives. On behalf of the Consulate General, Cultural Affairs Officer Cynthia Harvey stated, “It is a great honor to provide children the resources that help them learn to read, and to see their excitement as a new world opens up to them.”
Randa Sunokrot, principal of Al Fatah Al- Laj’ah Al Thanwyeh girls’ school, thanked the U.S. Consulate General for its generosity and support, saying that “the book donations will have a positive and long-lasting impact for these children, who represent the future of Palestine.”
In addition to the books for the three schools, the families of the U.S. Consulate General donated 900 used books to the Old City Youth Association. The group will also receive a collection of 130 RBO books donated by the Consulate General.
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For more information please contact the U.S. Consulate’s Press Office at 02-622-6908 or 02-622-6909 or Assistant Information Officer Mindy Masonis at 054-678-8501 or Hassna Dajani at 054-678-8455.
