Community Outreach Unit

Realizing that the key element to the protection of cultural heritage lies in the awareness and hence the interest of local communities, Riwaq since its inception in 1991, organized a number of activities with or aimed for the different sectors of the society.

After fifteen years of hard work, Riwaq like other Palestinian cultural heritage agencies realized that the tremendous challenges and threats facing the cultural heritage as well as the alarming destruction of cultural heritage in Palestine requires a serious involvement of all sectors of the society and not only the specialists.

As a result of this realization Riwaq has taken the decision that this year 2006 is dedicated for working closely with the community .

This entails working very closely with other cultural heritage agencies, relevant PNA Ministries as well as cultural and educational institutions,.

Working with the community specifically entails serious lobbying with the PNA and the Legislative Council to ratify the new law for the protection of cultural heritage

 

Finally it also entails a serious dialogue with the private sector (the backbone of the economy) in order to identifying together ways of viable investments in cultural heritage and conservation

The Community Out-Reach Unit activities varied from Student activities, media outreach, Friends of Riwaq, local Councils and photo and drawing competitions and exhibitions.

In cooperation with other cultural institutions, the Unit participated in many summer camps targeted for children ranging in age from 8-13. The summer camps included field trips to natural sites, historic centers and archaeological sites. It also included teaching the youngsters how to built traditional architectural elements such as archers and walls as well as making traditional hand made floor tiles.

Friends of Riwaq is a group of school students were trained by Riwaq so as carry out a number of activities which included a 12 segment radio Amwaj program called “Our Old Hoses”.

In 2004-2005, and in cooperation with the ministry of Education, the Units carried out one of its major success stories: a drawing content “Our Beautiful Traditional Houses can be renovated” in which ninety four thousand fifth grade students participated. The finalist fifty students received prizes ranging from computers, digital cameras, books and school bags and stationary.

In addition to its community involvement the Community Out-Reach unit plays an important role in Riwaq's public relations, facilitating other units work specifically the