Iain Chalmers’ report for the PHT Project Committee on his visit to Gaza, the Naqab, and the West Bank, 10-18 March 2017
Jan was scheduled to give two talks about the PHT Project in Gaza, and to host a meal for designers and stitchers at the Marna House Hotel. Because Jan had been advised not to travel with the unhealed injury to her arm, I gave those and other talks about the Tapestry, and hosted a light meal for PHT-linked people and other friends.
11 March
At the invitation of my colleague Khamis Elessi, the Tapestry was presented to his Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) pathology class. Enthusiastic reception.
12 March
The Tapestry was presented to 170 medical students (men and women) at the new IUG campus at Moharrarat. Another enthusiastic reception
13 March
Tapestry was presented at a meeting convened by Ibrahim Muhtadi at UNRWA Headquarters, with Wafa al-Za’anin helping out.
14 March
The Head of English – Dr Maha Alawdat – at Kseifa School, where Yasmeen Haj Amer teaches, asked me to present the Tapestry to a class of about 20 boys and girls. It provoked a great deal of interest. Maha suggested that they should design and stitch a tapestry illustrating the history of the Bedouin in the Naqab and the children responded enthusiastically to this proposal, including a boy who said that he would like to learn stitching.
18 March
We’am Hammoudeh took me to visit the PHT contributors in the Amari Camp in Ramallah – Refa Mustafa; Dawlat Abu Shawish (Um Husam), Badriya Hamad, and Bassima Hamad (Um Samir)
Jan’s talk was presented 6 times, and was well received on every occasion. I had the strong impression that face-to-face meetings are important for those involved in the Tapestry, and they hope to see Jan before long.