Friday 16th April, 2010 – Project Hope takes a fun day in Sebastya!

Kites, footballs, games, prizes and about 2000 years of culture and heritage were all part of Project Hope’s fun day in the nearby historic village of Sebastya!  Forty Palestinian kids, 40 local volunteers, a dozen international volunteers, local staff and about 40 members of special delegations from Dundee, Scotland and Lille, France, all clambered into two busses that ferried them across the windy road to old Sebastya.  The group was greeted by members of the local Sebastya community center where Project Hope teaches, and was offered a tour of the historic old city of Nablus, which features a Byzantine era tomb of John the Baptist (itself an old Greek site), remnants of a crusader church dating to the 11th century, Ottoman era architecture from the 14th century, and relatively new (100 year old!) Friday mosque.  After the tour, the kids went to the local center to play games, including “pass the parcel”, musical chairs and musical statues.  From here, the students toured and photographed the old archeological grounds, the site of Roman colonnades and amphitheater, as well as Byzantine era churches.  After an unexpected visit from the Israeli army to the scene, the kids resumed their activities in making and flying kites, having a tug of war, and playing football.  All and all, it was a great day out!