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Diyar Board of Directors Content Diyar Board of Directors Foreword 2 Bishop Dr. Munib Younan (Chair) Dar Al-Kalima University College of Arts and Culture 5 Dr. Ghada Asfour-Najjar (Vice Chair) Construction Projects 17 Mr. Jalal Odeh (Treasurer) Diyar – Community Development and Outreach 18 Dr. Versen Aghabekian (Secretary) Religion & State Program 24 Mr. Albert Aghazarian Diyar Academy for Children and Youth 26 Ajyal Program 30 Mr. Ghassan Kasabreh Culture Program 32 Mr. Zahi Khouri The Cave Gift Shop 34 Mr. Issa Kassis Diyar Publisher 36 Dr. Bernard Sabella Media Coverage 38 Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb (Founder & Authentic Tourism Program 40 President, ex officio) Art & Resistance Conference 41 friendship association in Germany around $150,000 the CAFCAW award for young social entrepreneurs. It USD, and our university college the rest. was amazing to be with a group of 62 young people FOREWORD from the Middle East who are committed to improve In these last months, I made it a point to meet the quality of life in their context by developing with all students face to face and to give them the initiatives for the common good. Dear Friends, thus doubling the number of BA programs starting opportunity to ask their university college’s president The Art and Resistance Conference in May 2017 was in September 2017. The three new programs are: BA “anything they always wanted to know about the another highlight that brought together leading Salaam from Bethlehem. The in Interior Design, BA in Performing Art with a focus university college and never dared to”, and the Palestinian and international artists to debate the role last two years were full of on Music or Theater, and BA in Sustainable Cultural results were stunning. I was amazed at the maturity, of art as resistance in contexts of conflict, oppression, joyful occasions. In 2015 we Tourism. The last two programs are the first of their creativity, and love of the students to their university and the role of artists in social transformation. The celebrated the 20th anniversary kind in Palestine. With these new programs we expect college. Many of them spoke about the mentoring participation of several First of Diyar while 2016 marked to double the number of students within three years. the university college is providing, the positive impact Nations artists from Canada the 10th anniversary of Dar al- that Dar al-Kalima is having on their lives, and the was an important highlight of Kalima University College. It A major step in the history of the DAK University unique opportunities they get as students. Several this conference since it forged a was in 2006 that Dar al-Kalima received its general College was the ground breaking for the new Library of the films, art pieces, songs, and culinary art that bond between their experience accreditation as a community college, offering and Multimedia Resource Center in June 2016. This the students produced received local, regional, and and ours in Palestine. associate degrees. We started the first year with 14 became possible after receiving a $600,000 USD gift international awards and attention. Board members, students in the basement of Christmas Lutheran from ASHA/USAID (American Schools and Hospitals famous politicians, and international evaluators who Last but not least, I was Church and no one would have believed that ten years Abroad) through Bright Stars of Bethlehem. This gift met with the students were able to attest to this privileged to be awarded in later we would have a state-of-the-art campus with from ASHA is a game changer since it represents a quality and excellence. early 2016 the Olof Palme 4 main buildings, 6 bachelor’s degrees, 8 associate validation of our work and opens the door for similar Award in Sweden; “As preacher degrees, 2 special diplomas, extensive continuous future gifts as well. The rest of the amount needed To encourage social innovation among the young and pastor in the Lutheran education programs, a committed team of teachers, to complete the first phase of the building is around adults in the Arab World, Diyar, the community church, Mitri Raheb sends a and 552 students. One of the best good news was $1 million USD. Bright Stars of Bethlehem pledged development and outreach arm of DAK University clear message to the young receiving the accreditation of three new BA programs, to raise $750,000 USD of the remaining amount, our College, launched within the Religion & State program generation of Palestinians: 2 Annual Report 2016 Annual Report 2016 3 ‘We want you to live, not die, for Palestine.’ In a life. Some major changes are thus underway to fill Bethlehem confined on three sides by the walls of positions, re-distribute loads, and implement some the occupying Israeli power, and with Dar al-Kalima organizational changes to put the organization on Dar Al-Kalima University College University College of Arts and Culture that he founded solid ground. and his innovative artistic education in film, art, and drama, Raheb has made it possible for young people Another challenge was the financial one. We started of Arts and Culture to investigate their Palestinian identity, to nurture 2016 with a huge deficit in our budget that threatened beauty, and to invest in a culture of life as tools for the existence of the organization. The interest on a creative resistance against suffocating confinement the overdraft alone came to almost 100,000 USD. Projects: International and supported by GIZ. The main goal and towards nation building.” This became an urgent matter that needed a quick of the project is to effectively involve the youth in solution. We had to intensify our fundraising efforts Visual Arts Department the labor market and support them in achieving However, 2016 was not an easy year at all. and by the grace of God we were able to finish the increased income. The participants are 25 young Administratively, our Vice President for Finance left year with a very small deficit, thus securing a healthier • Products of Palestine men and women, who graduated from culinary us in October as we were finalizing the 2017 budget start into 2017. DAK launched in 2016 a new project called art, jewelry, glass and ceramics. and the 2016 audit after losing his wife to cancer to “Products of Palestine” in partnership with DVV immigrate to Australia where he came from 10 years Dar al-Kalima University College continues to be • Education for Employment earlier. This has put extra load and immense pressure a success story because of its unique vision, clear In 2016, the Church of Sweden continued its on me as president and on the financial managers. The mission, committed members, dedicated staff, support for the “Education for Employment” in fact that we managed despite him leaving us at such visionary board, faithful friends, and generous the field of film. This project, which the University a critical time of the year is attributed to a dedicated supporters. Their commitment made and makes all College started working on between 2010 and staff who took on more responsibilities, and spent the difference. We thank the Lord for this success. 2012, continues to be a strategic investment in a more time and energy to be on top of things. Many field that is expanding and needs highly qualified of our staff in 2016, and due to several factors, had Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb people in the film industry. The project shall come to take on extra load to ensure a smooth operation, President to its end in December 2017. sometimes at the cost of their family or personal April 2017 4 Annual Report 2016 Annual Report 2016 5 • Portrait of Palestine accomplishments of the 2016 “I Love Bethlehem” ing eight partners from lehem, which will act as a tourist information This project is funded by the World Bank through QIF. Development Project included producing six the Mediterranean re- center and will provide booking and front office In 2016, the most important achievements included scripts that are ready for pre-production. gion. The main outputs services. finalizing the amendments on the Diploma program, of this initiative includ- v Two training packages for the staff of the Uni- receiving approval from the Ministry of Higher • Traditional Handicrafts of Palestine ed: versity College, which focused on Customer Education and introducing the practical training Photography Project v The first community Service and Hospitality. for the first time for the Diploma students where In cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, 8 hotel in the historic 12 students were trained in 4 different institutions students were commissioned to take photographs center of Bethlehem • DAAD Exchange Program with Partner for 70 hours each on different professions including of 8 traditional handicrafts of Palestine. The with an initial overall University in Eberswalde-HNEE camera, lighting, sound and editing. photographs will be published in a book that accommodations ca- As part of the DAAD exchange project, the documents these handicrafts, with credits to our pacity of 60 beds. In DAK Cultural Heritage department conducted a • “I Love Bethlehem” Development Project students. this regard, 5 houses research visit to Berlin in July 2016. The topic of This project was awarded by the Ministry of were renovated and refurbished up to interna- the visit was Culinary Tourism. The visit focused Culture and it shall continue in 2017 with a new • Nissa FM Radio Project tional standards. on the guiding aspects within culinary and food follow-up project from Otto per Mille , which is the In cooperation with Nissa FM Radio in Ramallah v An accommodation center in the heart of Beth- tourism for the Palestinian Tour Guides program production phase of “I love Bethlehem”.
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