Jenny Haughton, Rania Maayeh, and Feilim McLaughlin (representative of Ireland to the Palestine National Authority). Photo: Courtesy of Jenny Haughton.
Central presence: Jenny Haughton visits Ramallah
‘I have learned a lot from this brief experience.’
In mid-August 2024 I volunteered at Ramallah Friends School (RFS). Arriving at Tel Aviv airport I walked past a line of posters of loved ones lost in the 7 October assault. Within fifty yards of RFS, I walked past a similar line, but of those killed in the period since. There are no winners here.
When I expressed a wish for peace I was answered with ‘justice, then peace’, an echo of the troubles in northern Ireland. I was questioned by border authorities about the wisdom of coming to a country at war, and then warmly welcomed by the Palestinian community.
What did I do? As a recently-retired educator I was able to co-teach with exhausted staff, to bring warmth and cheerfulness, and to try to lighten the load. My proposal to the incredibly able principal of RFS, Rania Maayeh, combined three actions, and over the course of three months I was able to realise these. One was to introduce the Alternatives to Violence project. We have now completed the first level and will get more advanced in 2025. Collective activism is key to Friends’ work, and during my stay it was lovely to welcome Quaker ecumenical accompaniers into the classroom, and to hear of the work of peace teams whose embedded presence is vital in informing the world.
On Sundays I would walk to Ramallah Meeting House, situated on the main street, set back in an olive garden. Its sense of calm became a vital oasis from the bustle of the streets and the jets flying overhead. My experience was enhanced by the Tesdell family, Elizabeth in particular, who would lead us into song as a closing prayer. What did puzzle me was the absence of an active community around the Meeting house. Given its presence on the main street, there is so much that could be done to open its doors.
I have learned a lot from this brief experience. Firstly, that being sixty-five years old heralds the beginning of a service, not the end! Secondly, a Quaker presence in the midst of strife is essential. RFS is in the centre of Ramallah life, with untold ripples of affect. It makes me wonder about the rebuild in Gaza. In Ireland, a percentage of any construction programme is set aside for the arts; what better way to invest in humanity?
What can readers do? RFS welcomes any Quakers who can help in education, particularly those with skills to work with children with behavioural issues. RFS is a big organisation and funds are always needed. Its buildings are in urgent need of renovation, with an estimated cost of around US$20,000, and any contributions to this project would be greatly appreciated. Alternatively, funds directed towards the Learning Support Programme would be immensely helpful, whether for teacher training or providing diagnoses for children.
It was a privilege to witness RFS and its dedicated staff. It is imbued with Quaker values, and is providing a consistently high quality of education for students, equipping them to work anywhere in the world.