Dear folks,
Since December 27, 2008 when the Israelis started bombing Gaza, children and women have suffered the most. Over 800,000 children have been exposed to extraordinary levels of violence and insecurity, some 1,600 have been injured and more than 300 children have died. Gazan children who have survived are experiencing unimaginable trauma every day, cowering from fear and suffering from stress-related health problems such as asthma.
Even though there is now a truce, the ordeal of the children is not over. Many are still fearful, in pain and have an uncertain future because they have lost their parents and siblings.
In trying to think what I, as a mother, could do, I came up with this idea and have teamed up with UNICEF Malaysia and +wondermilk to launch To My Friend in Gaza (Untuk Kawan Ku di Gaza) today. The basic idea is to get Malaysian children to write letters/cards/postcards or make drawings for the children of Gaza to show their support, provide encouragement and let them know that they have friends here who are thinking of them and praying for their safety.
The letters will be translated into Arabic by a team of volunteers and will then be handed over to UNICEF Malaysia to be sent to UNICEF in the Occupied Territories to be then distributed among the children in Gaza. +wondermilk designed the logo which they say "is a celebration of hope, peace, love and happiness". I think it's the absolute antithesis of aggression.:-)
I believe that knowing that someone out there cares about them will help these children heal more quickly and will make them realise that there is a world out there where violence and war is not the norm and where there is hope for peace.
I've already received my first letters when the news about this project spread via email, Facebook and word-of-mouth. The first ones came from a bunch of 4 and 5-year olds from a church in PJ. Really sweet messages that say simply 'I love you, I will pray for you'. There are many parents who are asking their schools to get their students to participate so I hope there will be many many more letters that we can send over.
If you would like to help, this is what you can do:
1. Please talk to your children, their friends and their schools and ask them to participate. All letters can be sent to:
To My Friend in Gaza, c/o 48, Jalan Terasek Dua, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.
Preferably by February 20 please.
2. If you have a blog, could you kindly display the logo and link to mine so more people will know about it?
The letters can be in any language at all. I will try and scan some and put them on this blog from time to time.
Thank you so much, folks, from me and my partners in this project and most of all, from the children of Gaza.
36 comments:
Hi MM,
A good move.If we cant give material things to them,showing love, giving hope and support,bringing solidarity are the least we can do at times like tis.Insyallah..I ll have that letter-writing session in my class..from Malaysia to Palestine with love..
I have put the logo in my blog. I also have copied and pasted your post in my blog with a link to your post (credit). I hope by doing this I can spread the campaign to the whole world.
Sorry for not asking permission at the first place MM.
I love this idea.I will ask my child to draw something to show our support..Thats great
You hypocrites,clean up your back yard first?Have a look at the video,where a 23 yr old boy was beaten up so brutally and killed by the police.
Listen to his mother's cries.So what would you do if you were his mother?Your father drove these people to be the new underclass of society and led them to a world of crime,and now they are being killed like dogs.Is this is how you want to achieve,2020 status,Marina?Remember, these are the people who had been faithfully voting since time immemorial to keep your father and his corrupt gang and cronies in power,hoping and hoping that,one day the sun will shine on them.Is this the way you majority treat a hard working and sincere minority society,who have been always submissive and docile?
Now,you answer me,as a mother what would you do,even though your child is a criminal(the making of NEP).Where is the court of law?Where is the justice,where is the human right?Charity begins at home,esp when those people have been sincerely contributing for the country despite years of marginalization.Is this some sort of 'selective genocide'against the Indians in Malaysia now?What a shame,you hypocrites.
Have posted the link on my blog. Thanks.
Dear Marina,
My name is Noor Azalina. I'm a teacher and would love to ask my students to write, may i ask if i were to ask my students to write it in a sort of a big wishing card, would it be suitable/ or possible?
What a waste of resources. Shouldn't you be more focused about Malaysia instead of Palestine? The under privileged children of Malaysia need help first. Start here first, after charity begins at home. Get famous later.
Marina,I copied this post into my blog too.I hope you dont mind.
Palestine or Malaysia, they are all children of God. Aren't some of you discriminating against the Palestinian children simply because of their nationality now?Regardless of gender, nationality race, or religion, we are all humans and children of God, first and foremost.
I think we should try to help all who are suffering, Malaysians or Palestinians, children or adults. So I'm definitely supporting this project. ^^
Rin said...
Palestine or Malaysia, they are all children of God. Aren't some of you discriminating against the Palestinian children simply because of their nationality now?Regardless of gender, nationality race, or religion, we are all humans and children of God, first and foremost.
I think we should try to help all who are suffering, Malaysians or Palestinians, children or adults. So I'm definitely supporting this project. ^^
=========
All I am saying is there is work to be done at home. The govt of Malaysia had neglected them, pick up the slack, start HERE.So nothing to do with nationality. Also did not hear much about children in Dafur, Africa.
Marina,
You should highlight this atrocity that is occurring within our own borders which parallels the atrocities that go on in Gaza.
http://tinyurl.com/msiapolicebrutality
I strongly believe you should do a write up on this. That is, if you can understand and feel the pain of the mother of this tortured deceased.
I support Israel. May God bless these children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. May God uphold Jerusalem and His children as He promised King David long ago.
Shankar-Selina, this is NOT a government or political initiative. It is a private one initiated by me. So if there is any 'waste' of resources, it is of my time and effort.Everyone else involved has donated their time and expertise. There is very little money involved at all, unless you count what I spent photocopying the press releases for yesterday's media launch.
I think I have done a lot already for local causes and continue to do so though not necessarily with any publicity. So occasionally I will do something for those overseas in need, as do many of our local NGOs etc. Anyone who is concerned about people and human rights violations cannot make distinctions between those at home and those abroad. The suffering of any human being is our suffering too.
Village Idiot, I have great sympathy with any mother whose child is suffering or has suffered. But I cannot do every single cause going, as much as I want to. Everyone needs to do something and not just rely on a few people.From what I've read, there are already quite a few people pursuing this particular case and I'm sure they are doing it much better than I can.
Lastly, Joseph, I can't say anything if you choose to support people who have no qualms about killing women and children. There has to be a reason why the entire world community, including Christians and Jews, is condemning Israel for its actions. If you choose to remain blind, there's not much I can do. (What is to stop you from doing a similar campaign for the children of Israel, to spread love and peace, rather than hate?)
This project made for the kids to show what they want... how about teenagers?
i want to do something to help the...but i just dont know how
Nymph, there is no age limit, teens also welcome.
Nor Azalina, forgot to answer you. You can send me anything abd we'll find a way to send it over.
May the things that we do with the right intention in our hearts, mind and soul are blessed in many ways...amin...
:)
I support Israel. May God bless these children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. May God uphold Jerusalem and His children as He promised King David long ago.
kesian Joseph … so retro. the Israel he’s talking about was millenniums ago and he got duped into thinking the one today is the same one. kesian …
which reminds me, Joseph, still waiting for your 12-tribe genealogy. trace la the Babylonian diaspora to present day state of Israel, i nak jugak tahu. and it will help greatly in your campaign to legitimise your Zionist cause.
but ya … i join you in prayer, Josey. may the Almighty protect His faithful stewards since Ibrahim, Ishak, Ya’kob and indeed keep Jerusalem standing, as well as its faithful inhabitants, as He promised the great Daud once upon a time way back in the days when there weren’t state borders, killing machines and nuclear weapons. amin.
emm.. MM, your idea of getting Jews children to love peace is good one. But I thought they don't teach hatred at Jews schools.. =.=
Anyway, we don't even have Jews in Malaysia. Then how can we share our thought with them?..haiz >.<
On another account, MM, It's a bit intriguing that you read the book Middlesex.. @_@ great read huh?
Hi MM,
Saya ingin mencadangkan agar pihak NGO membawa seberapa ramai anak2 Palestin ke Malaysia lalu di berikan pendidikan formal. Individu-individu yang berminat boleh menaja persekolahan anak2 Palestin ini.
Kita bukan sahaja memberi ilmu, juga dapat membantu mereka dari dibunuh oleh askar2 Israel.
Kita berharap agar ilmu yang mereka perolehi itu nanti dapat membantu saudara mereka di Palestin.
terima kasih.
"Saya ingin mencadangkan agar pihak NGO membawa seberapa ramai anak2 Palestin ke Malaysia lalu di berikan pendidikan formal."
Good idea! Give them bumiputra status. Teach them "Ketuanan Palestin"!
Problem solved. Guaranteed!
Hi
I have supported and will support any campaign to save lives any innocent life. Yes the Palestinians have suffered too long even at the hands of their own rival fatah and hammas where the world are not told of how they commit similar acts of violence against each other to gain power and their atrocities are similar to what Israel had done the past weeks.Agreed, take care of immediate needs but let's not be blind and simply condemn Jews, Americans, Palestinians, Hammas or which ever camp or ideology you subsribe to! I hope we do take care of our backyard too and that the policies and systems that contribute to such conditions are changed. So help with your money, time and don't forget your VOTE too! www.jonathan66-my.blogspot.com
MM,
Are you aware of whats happening in Sri Lanka? Do you know how many innocent tamil children are being killed there? Why HASNT anybody spoken about it in Malaysia? Why all the fuss about Palestine? I think most pple knw the reason...its because they are Muslims and those in Sri Lanka are Hindus. It seems to me that most malaysians(which includes you) wouldnt mind the children of Sri Lanka die...but lets put some effort in helping every Palestinian Msulim children.
I might be cruel saying this...but i WILL NOT donate a single sen or put the slightest effort on anything to do with Palestine unless some concern is raised on the problem in Sri Lanka....for all i care...let the same thing that happens in Sri Lanka continue in Gaza...if the Tamil children deserve that..so does the palestinians!
RajKumar, yes I am aware of what is happening in Sri Lanka. I've been there many times and have many friends there and most recently posted this devastating indictment of the Government there, http://rantingsbymm.blogspot.com/2009/01/editorial-by-ghost.html
I would be only too pleased if there are offshoots of my To My Friend in Gaza project to do the same for children in Sri Lanka. Just that what puzzles is me is why is it everyone expects me to do everything, have good ideas about everything? If the whole issue is as you believe only about religious kinship (BTW not all the children in Palestine are Muslim, there are Christians too. Just like there are Tamil Muslim children in Sri Lanka), then how come the Tamil community in Malaysia has not done anything for the Tamil kids in Sri Lanka? If they start a To My Friend in Sri Lanka campaign, I will be only too happy to support them.
I think it is a matter of knowledge. Our papers have been publishing news about SL but only in military terms. I think that's because the SL government doesn't allow any other news about the war there.But I'm sure there are concerned people here too.
So start something yourself!
(Funny, I get scolded for doing something for overseas children and 'not' for local children. Now I get scolded for doing something for some overseas children and not others! Can't win!):-)
When emotion gets involved religion and race issue will be brought up for some mess. I hope Malaysian will open their eyes wide that it’s not about race and religion issue but human being’s life.
P/s: It pretty sad to see a well-grown adult can’t think any better than youth.
Alot is being done by the tamils here for the sri lankan tamils. Do get your facts right! Just that you dont knw whats being done. Thousands are collected every year...but sadly the campaign is only among the indians. It never gets the support from other races....i wonder why? :-/
Dear Raj Kumar,
I understand your frustration,as I have also expressed my frustration in my earlier comment above,but to say `if the Tamil children deserve that...so does the palestinians'will hurt your own conscience.What would be the difference between you and these people then?Kids are kids,they are innocent,let it be tamils,palestinians,israelis,africans etc they all deserve a good life.
Just accept the fact,that hinduism teaches us to do good things to all regardless of race and religion,those good karmas will take care of us on judgement day.If you are going to ask yourself,why muslims never support the cause of others who are also suffering due to war,then you are going to feel hurt.May be thats what their religion teaches them.They may deny it,but thats what they do after denying.Maybe not all,but majority of them
Well,I live in a western country now,I get to see the the sufferings of people both in Gaza and in Israel,of course 70% of the time,I get to see the casualties suffered by the innocent Palestinian kids and women.It really pains my heart to see kids dying in my living room.I always pray that,such atrocities should stop forever,the least I can do now.
BTW we got alot of mess in our own backyard.God bless.
JoeNathan, thank you for your response. I do think though to be fair to all, it IS a matter of education and awareness. If there is a lot being done by Malaysian Tamils, there isn't a lot of information about it that non-Tamils can access. Perhaps it's in the Tamil newspapers which unfortunately the rest of us can't read. I have not seen the type of coverage by the international press of what is happening in Sri Lanka equivalent to the coverage on Palestine especially of the humanitarian issues. If there has been, please point me to them. I may have missed them.
Nor do I think it is fair to say that Islam says we should only care for those of our own faith.It doesn't and I hope to elucidate on that in my next post on the Quran.
In practise, everyone first of all feels kinship with those of the same faith or ethnicity wherever they are in the world. That is human. But with further knowledge, then we find other things in common, perhaps as fathers and mothers or as women or other commonalities such as living with HIV. The reason so many people of different faiths have been so appalled by Gaza is precisely that, that people feel it is a common humanitarian and human rights issue.
For Sri Lanka, there is the same need to present it in the same way to the mostly ignorant public, no matter what race or religion they may be. I don't see any Chinese or Christians raising concern about Sri Lanka either for that matter, not just Muslims.Though I would suggest that it's not a bad idea to educate Muslims that there are Muslim Tamils being killed in Sri Lanka too, as a strategy to raise awareness about the issue.
I think there are so many terrible things happening in the world today that people do get fatigued. If I try talking about AIDS now for instance, people are likely to say that it can wait because Gaza or Sri Lanka or Darfur or wherever is more urgent. Yet in fact many things need our attention all at the same time. It's just not humanly possible to do that however. The cause we want to champion is always important to us but other people need not necessarily see it that way.I've been working in AIDS for 15 years and 60 million people have been infected around the world. Yet there are still people who don't think it's that important.It's all a matter of education.
Passion of youth + Wisdom of age - Rage without violence = Sarcasm.
Charity begins at home and at that is the practice at CBN(1). However, we have also extended our arms to the needy ones out of our school. Now the opportunity has come for us to help the children of Palestine. Its a simple way to inculcate the right values in our children. Why make it complicated or twisted? When someone is doing something good, we should take the cue from there instead of criticizing the effort. Thank you and we are supporting the "To My Friend In Gaza" project.
With available technology, its not hard to see whats happening in Sri Lanka(other than those told in papers and local media)
1) Video made while shells were falling. Shows the search for the injured & scenes at the displaced/makeshift hospital where doctors work with almost no medical supplies:
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=eyfXwUlOCn0
2) Interview with woman from Children's Home for the Vision, Hearing & Learning Impaired that was shelled by the Govt of SL on 22 Jan 2009:
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=8FCFs5_ Mzl8
3) Interview with woman whose 2 children were killed in a Sri Lanka Army shelling:
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=xAxeJUuLfUM
4) Interview with displaced woman (Tamil with English subtitles)
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=p8qG04rscB8
5) Interviews with civilians injured by shelling & doctor who treated them
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=OBA3VQqdfBk
6) Injured & their relatives at the hospital after a Sri Lanka Army shelling:
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=JjPhq2Fbmzk
TRO YouTube Channel - for more videos:
http://www.youtube. com/user/ TROKilinochchi
MM,
I am amazed at how people like RajKumar and Joenathan are attacking you for doing something good.
I understand their frustrations over not getting enough support for the cause that they fight for, but why take it on you?
I am a Christian living abroad, and no matter who - be you Muslim, Jews, Hindu - I will support all I could for the right reason.
However, I will not condemn others like how they did to you.
I shall tell ALL my friends about it!
Salam Ma'am,
am copy-pasting this to my blog!
http://ibumommymum.blogspot.com/
I've posted a picture of the card we're sending:)
let do it is
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