Since its establishment in June 2007, Prelude has sponsored a wide variety of projects and programs for hundreds of children and youth in the Middle East. The success of our work has motivated us to continue and expand our activities during the coming year.

Thanks to your generous support Prelude is making a difference.

Sincerely,
Fabienne van Eck
Founder and Vice Chairman
www.preludefund.org

Each summer, Palestinian, Israeli and international volunteers band together in order to set up free summer camps for hundreds of underprivileged Palestinian children in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Prelude has been sponsoring the Summer Games since 2007 and has provided training for group leaders and volunteers.

In Summer Games 2008 it was the first time that a magician entered the village of Silwan, dazzling the children with making pigeons disappear and spitting fire. In the town of Azariyeh in the West Bank, children wrote and acted their own theater play about nonviolence.

Next to the various dance, art, music and sports activities, the children also relaxed during yoga classes and performed in front of their families in a final show. In total, more than 400 children participated in the 2008 activities.

Summer Games 2009 is near. We aim to reach more children this year. The number and extent of activities depend on the 2009 budget. If you wish to contribute to the success of this year's Summer Games, please mention “Summer Games 2009” in your donation.

For more information and photos: www.preludefund.org/summergames.html

Madaa Silwan Community Center Expands

“Will you be open tomorrow?” asked Odai, a 12-year-old Palestinian kid, who since October 2007 has been attending music lessons (sponsored by Music in Me) and art lessons in the center. He was referring to the new library and fun room that Prelude created in the community center, where dozens of games and books in Arabic and English populate the shelves. Ma ahla! (How beautiful!) is the common reaction of kids who enter the fun room for the first time.

Prelude is sponsoring the following classes in the community center: languages, dabke (traditional Palestinian dance), theater, and leadership training for teenage girls. Prelude also sponsored the library and fun room renovation, and the rental of a new space where the dabke classes are given.

For more information: www.preludefund.org/silwan.html

Workshops in Jordan Bring Relief and Happiness

Since June 2008 Prelude has expanded its area of work to Jordan, where during the year several workshops are given to disadvantaged Iraqi, Palestinian and Jordanian children. These workshops are organized in collaboration with local organizations in Jordan. The Iraqi children are recent refugees; they carry with them traumatic experiences, and many need psychological assistance which they do not get. We try to bring them two hours of relief and fun, using therapeutic techniques in dance, music and theater.

“The kids are still singing the songs and asking about you...thank you so much.”
Sahar, a teacher in Al-Hussein Society for the Rehabilitation of the Physically Challenged.

For more information: www.preludefund.org/jordan.html

Day Trips Full of Fun

During the last year, Prelude has sponsored several day trips for hundreds of underprivileged children. For some children, it was the first time to leave their village. The trips were also combined with educational and social activities. Some of the destinations included amusement parks, the sea, a science museum, the zoo, a safari, historical monuments, and more.

For more information: www.preludefund.org/news.html

Prelude's New Video

Donations to Keep Them Smiling

To make the success long-lasting, Prelude needs your support. If, like Prelude, you believe that the future of the Middle East lies in its children, please follow this link to make a monetary donation.

DONATE NOW
with a secure on-line transaction