Assistance – Summer camps for Palestinian youth- UNDP/PAPP – UNDP press release

A breath of fresh air for Palestinian youth:

UNDP/PAPP signs agreements with Palestinian community organizations for creation of summer camps

New York, 19 July 2002:The United Nations Development Programme, Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP) signed agreements this week with a number of Palestinian community organizations to organize 35 summer youth camps across the West Bank and Gaza.

The camps will provide an opportunity for Palestinian youth to participate in activities that are central to children's development, such as sports, arts, crafts, environmental awareness, and recreational trips. An estimated 5,000 youth will benefit from these camps that will take place during July and August.

"We are delighted to assist the Palestinian community organizations with this very important activity," said Timothy Rothermel, the Special Representative of UNDP/PAPP. "Getting youth off the streets during these difficult times of military closures in the occupied Palestinian territory and offering them productive, educational activities is consistent with UNDP/PAPP's human development agenda."

Among the community organizations that will be working with UNDP/PAPP in setting up the summer camps are the Ramallah Municipality, the Jerusalem Ladies Association, the Palestinian Red Crescent, the Spafford Children's Center in Jerusalem, the Anglican School in Ramallah and the Palestinian Youth Association in Gaza.

For more information, please contact Ehab Shanti in Jerusalem at 972-2-6268229, or Omar Gharzeddine in New York at 212 906-5171.