About the Palestine in Education Campaign   PALESTINE IN EDUCATION A Project to Foster Debate and Advocacy AEI-Open Windows YMCA East-Jerusalem Advocacy desk Ittijah – The Union of Arab Community Based Associations   Palestinians are living under widely divergent and problematic circumstances as a result of a history that brought upon them colonial occupation, ethnic cleansing, a large-scale refugee problem and a regime of structural racism. This historical legacy has brought about major political and developmental adversities, not least among them in the educational field. For decennia Palestinian youths, wherever they lived, did not have the chance to learn much about the basics of their own identity, context, environment and history. Only recently has there been a significant, even though partial change in this situation because of the introduction of the Palestinian curriculum in the West Bank, Gaza and East-Jerusalem. The present campaign is designed to foster debate and advocacy on the issue of “Palestine in education” - the representation in education of the Palestinian narrative, identity, religions, history, culture, and geography. The available curricula and educational materials in the West Bank, Gaza and East-Jerusalem, as well as in Israel, will be discussed in a joint campaign to be launched and implemented by YMCA-East-Jerusalem, Ittijah – The Union of Arab Community Based Associations (Haifa), and the Arab Educational Institute (AEI-Open Windows, Bethlehem). Working from an overall vision about the desired representation of Palestine in the education followed by Palestinians in different countries, the partners will network with Palestinian NGOs and educators in both Palestine and Israel. The specific objectives of the campaign are: Developing a detailed advocacy agenda taking into account the different realities in which Palestinians live and study. Bringing out the voice of the Palestinian public and NGOs about the representation of Palestine in educational systems in Palestine and Israel. Involving educational and advocacy NGOs as well as Palestinian educators and the Palestinian public in grassroots educational initiatives that reflect a shared vision. Creating a hearing among the relevant PNA authorities for desired changes in the Palestinian curriculum in the West Bank, Gaza, and East-Jerusalem. Developing alternative educational resources and materials that are employed across borders among Palestinian communities. Creating publicity to those resources and materials and making them available and accessible across borders. Raising international support for the cultural and educational rights of Palestinians, especially the right to learn about their own national identity and narrative. At the end of 2007, the project will be carried out in the West Bank and the Galilee through the following means: -   a campaign platform -    workshops on educational subjects -   a hearing among school communities -   website and media publicity -   a documentation of relevant educational materials -  the development, through teacher workshops, of some new materials for history/geography teaching -  advocacy efforts directed at local authorities and the international community. The campaign is supported by a contribution of the Dutch development organization ICCO.