HAFSA Bulletin – August 2015

News from Sabastiya

An unusual heatwave has hit Palestine since the beginning of August with temperatures reaching 40C. People are struggling to keep cool. There are few tourists visiting at the moment.

A group of us visited Sabastiya in the spring. We found the Al Kayed Guest House (which HAFSA has supported) busy and increasingly popular with tourists. We found the usual wonderful hospitality, nothing was too much trouble for Abu Yasser, his wife Samah and the team. It continues to receive great feedback and has maintained a 5-star rating on Trip Advisor.

The Women’s Union have tentatively started soap-making using the material we bought for them and everything they have produced so far has been sold.

We are still waiting to hear more details regarding the feasibility of setting up a bee project in Sabastiya and considering other ventures.

Back in Hanwell…

Here in Hanwell, we have had a few successful fund-raising events, a big thank you to all who helped in baking cakes, cooking food, donating stuff, helping on stalls and attending events

The Bubbles and Bees social at Jean and Colin’s in June was great fun raising £675.50

In addition, we raised a total of £115 at the film evening in May.

Hanwell carnival was a busy and successful event that raised our profile, and brought in £309.50, from sale of cakes, lemonade, books and CDs

Colin Lomas’s excellent talk on, The Golden Age of Islam, in July raised £110

Upcoming Events

Brentford Festival

Our next event is the Brentford Festival on Sunday September 6, 2015 in Blondin Park, W5 – entrance via Boston Manor Road, not far from Boston Manor Tube station. This event is usually very well-attended. We will be having our usual stall, do come and support HAFSA.

We are looking to sell books, jewellery, crafts, CDs and DVDs, so any of those are welcome. Please bring to the stall on the day, or drop off at  Marjorie’s, 5 Cardiff Road, W7 – her contact details are: email: [email protected] or phone her on: 0208 567 8655.

Ealing Palestine Festival 2015 27-29th Nov.​

A group of us is organising this Festival to mark the UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on November, 29, 2015.

We are plan a musical evening in Ealing Town Hall on Friday November, 27; readings from Palestinian books and poetry recitals at the Drayton Bridge Hotel, W13, on Saturday November, 28 (afternoon and evening); other events are being planned for Sunday 29th November: a Palestinian breakfast and more… details to follow.  Please put these dates in your diaries!

Lavender and Beads

Member Gillian Brown is organising making lavender bags and jewellery, always top sellers. If you have a lavender bush, we would be grateful if you could harvest it (now is the time, on a dry day) cut the seed heads off the stalks as soon as you pick it  and  lay  on a sheet  to dry out. They have to remain aired while drying or else they rot.

Also, if you have any beads or old jewellery you do not want anymore, please keep for Gillian.

Use the Contact Us page to be put in touch with Gillian to arrange collection.

Visit Palestine:

We will be organising our usual spring visit to Sabastiya and the West Bank for 2016. More details to come at a later date.

Should you wish to go earlier, Zaytoun are running their usual harvest tour in October 2015 (11th to 17th) The tour spends 3 nights in Sabastiya.