Dreaming In Palestine" Film Workshop 

Children in Aida Camp have just completed four short films about their lives 

and dreams.   They will be screened locally and will also be entered into 

international film festivals.

The films range in style and content from music video to documentary

and drama. One film called "The Necklace," recounts the true story of

one of the filmmakers, whose friend was imprisoned shortly after

giving him a necklace to symbolize the friendship. The friend was

imprisoned in the spring of 2007 and remains in prison today.  The

actual necklace appears in the film.

Another film, "Hope of Freedom," combines an interview with the

grandmother of one of the children about the 1948 Nakba with a montage

 of historical and dramatic footage created by the children themselves.

In a final evaluation session, children discussed how they learned

storytelling, video-making, and editing skills.  "Our group was the

best," said one child, 14, "our camera person was really good and got

great footage." Another girl said "We liked being able to tell other

people around the world what is going on here in Palestine with these

films, and we liked meeting with the international volunteers."

A group of five volunteer media activists from the United States and

Qalandia Refugee Camp brought the "Voices Beyond Walls / Dreaming In

Palestine" film workshops to Lajee center in the last two weeks of

July.  They supported a group of five local volunteers from Lajee

Center who carried out much of the organizing and led the children

through the creative process.

"The volunteers from Lajee were incredible with the youth and we

couldn't have done any of this without them," said Rosanna, a

volunteer from New York City. "We hope they will continue the project

after we are gone.  We also received great support from the directors

and coordinators at Lajee center who took care of anything we needed

logistically."

"Alongside the reality of life under Occupation which is at the heart

of nearly every child's story, the youth bring in their hopes and

dreams to these films.  This is what is so amazing about working with

Palestinian children." said volunteer Ben Scribner, of Boston, USA.

Voices Beyond Walls was supported by "Boston to Palestine," a

volunteer group that helps American activists visit the West Bank for

solidarity projects.  Support was also received from the Hoping

Foundation in the UK, and Tecschange in Boston, which helped provide

computer equipment.

"The children have a rich and imaginative life, despite their

situation." said Katherine, one of the international volunteers who is also from 

Boston.

For all participants the project provided another opportunity for them to 

creatively respond to their situation and to speak out to the world through their work.

 Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the project and also took great pride in their work producing

technicall

 competent but also deeply touching and moving short films.

Lajee would like to thank everybody at 'Voices Beyond Walls' for their work and