Huda's kindergarten in the village of Hashem al-Daraj
A visit to the Huda kindergarten at Hashem al Daraj always excites and even makes us happy, even if it is a tiny beautiful island surrounded by evil and violence, by occupation. The children, hearing our jeep enter the kindergarten gates, ran to us happily, hugging and smiling. It’s a pleasure to see, so heart-warming.
As we arrived, the older children in class were listening to pedagogical songs and took part singing. The younger ones were in the yard and although one could see hardly any playground devices, they were happy.
When the singing was over, everyone received bananas, sweet drinks and cake, again – very happy. Both classes are well groomed, invested, and with the meager donations Huda receives, she and her helpers – Khaula and Amna – are doing just that.
One cannot help appreciating it.
The visit was planned and coordinated with Huda, who requests the most urgent necessities for both classes which she runs: one for the older children up to age five, and one of the younger ones.
Towards the end of the year, she asked us to take care of certificates who graduate the kindergarten this year. This is visible in the photo…
Muhammad appealed to our friend Rania of Fuqiqis who has been living in Dura for some years now because of the difficulty of living with her parents surrounded with the Negohot and Havat (farm) Hagai Nisim colonies, and we have not been visiting there since October 7th, 2023.
Last time we visited the kindergarten, Huda asked me to try to bring them plastic plates and cups with children’s drawings. Gladly I managed this, as donations.
The kindergarten has a gas cooking stove, and Huda asked us for an electrical one, so this time I bought one supposing it would function for a long time.
While we were there, Muhammad noticed the bulldozer and vehicles driving to some destination, apparently to demolish it or preparing a new road for colonists. It couldn’t be anything positive…
The children are charming, looking out for warmth and love, and it’s fun to hug them.
We left many games and clothes as always.
The teaching staff asked us to visit more often, and we shall do our utmost.
This is the only shift that makes me happy, but I know that at noon every child goes home to the Israeli occupation.
Location Description
South Hebron Hills
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South Hebron Hills
South Hebron Hills is a large area in the West Bank's southern part.
Yatta is a major city in this area: right in the border zone between the fertile region of Hebron and its surroundings and the desert of the Hebron Hills. Yatta has about 64,000 inhabitants.
The surrounding villages are called Masafer Yatta (Yatta's daughter villages). Their inhabitants subsist on livestock and agriculture. Agriculture is possible only in small plots, especially near streams. Most of the area consists of rocky terraces.Since the beginning of the 1980s, many settlements have been established on the agricultural land cultivated by the Palestinians in the South Hebron Hills region: Carmel, Maon, Susia, Masadot Yehuda, Othniel, and more. Since the settlements were established and Palestinians cultivation areas have been reduced; the residents of the South Hebron Hills have been suffering from harassment by the settlers. Attempts to evict and demolish houses have continued, along with withholding water and electricity. The military and police usually refrain from intervening in violent incidents between settlers and Palestinians do not enforce the law when it comes to the investigation of extensive violent Jewish settlers. The harassment in the South Hebron Hills includes attacking and attempting to burn residential tents, harassing dogs, harming herds, and preventing access to pastures.
There are several checkpoints in the South Hebron Hills, on Routes 317 and 60. In most of them, no military presence is apparent, but rather an array of pillboxes monitor the villages. Roadblocks are frequently set up according to the settlers and the army's needs. These are located at the Zif Junction, the Dura-al Fawwar crossing, and the Sheep Junction at the southern entrance to Hebron.
Updated April 2022
Smadar BeckerMay-10-2026A personal certificate for every child who finishes the year at Huda's kindergarten, Hashem Al-Daraj
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