Childreach International project partner EJE (les Enfants, le Jeu et L'Education) is now preparing its fourth play festival, which will take place at the Children's Happiness Centre in Hebron, from the 7th to 9th of April. The festival is open to everyone from 3pm and 7pm. The title of the festival is “All Together With Children”, reflecting on the idea that playing is not only for children but can be beneficial for the whole community.

Through this festival, EJE is aiming to give the opportunity to a large number of people in the Hebron district (one of most populated areas in the West Bank) to discover and realise the importance of education and games for developing creativity imagination. The festival will present a unique opportunity to discover and promote the field of educational games in Palestine.

To this aim, EJE will present, for the first time in the Hebron district, 100 games which will fall into three categories: rules based games; scientific games and popular wooden games which were produced in Palestine during workshops led by EJE experts. Through these games, the participants will learn that games all over the world reveal what we have in common, develop our knowledge, analytic skills and critical thinking.

Children are the leaders of the future. One of EJE's core principles is believing in children, helping them take responsibilities and become active members in their society. This is why during the festival, the children will be the main leaders. They will present themselves and the games, and make sure that everybody knows the rules and abides by them while still having fun in a cooperative atmosphere. Currently, EJE experts are training a team of 60 children aged from 10 to 12 and 15 volunteers from different locations in the Hebron district, such as Beit Oula, Takoumia Al Hul, Hebron City and Al Aroub refugee Camp. The training not only consist of explaining to the children how to play the games but also of empowering them and boosting their self-esteem, so that they can be good leaders. For this festival EJE also ensures the participation of girls in a district known to be conservative. In fact, girls will actually make up the majority of the volunteers.

This festival will be also an opportunity to develop a network of associations, institutions and experts working with children in Hebron and the South West Bank; an area particularly in need of further support.

One of the stand-out successes from previous play festivals was the large number of participants of all ages and backgrounds, and a large turn out is once again expected.

The festival is not only supported by Childreach International, but also the Palestinian Ministry for Youth and Sports, the governorate and the municipality of Hebron, the Children's Happiness Centre, the Secours Catholique- Caritas France, Region Aquitaine (France) and the Play and Activity Child Center in Al Aroub Refugee camp.

For more information, please contact Bashir, EJE coordinator at: 0598151959 or 02 274 8466 or email info@ejepal.org