Palestine

Palestinian Section of IBBY

c/o MA'AN Development Centre
Almanar Bldg. 5th. floor Almasyoun
(above Bravo supermarket) 
Ramallah - Palestine

Tel. [int. +972] 2 295 44 51
Fax [int. +972] 2 295 07 55

E-mail: jehanna@gmail.com

www.ibbypalestine.org.uk

Facebook: IBBY Pal

Twitter: @ibbypalestine

 

Mailing address
P.O. Box  51352
Jerusalem

 

President

Ms Jehan Helou

(address of section)

 

Vice-President and Liaison Officer  

Ms Mary Fasheh

E-mail: fashehmary@gmail.com

(address of the section) 


History

Palestine was officially declared the 65th IBBY Section during the Children’s International Bologna Book Fair in April 2003. Nilima Sinha (India), IBBY’s Vice President and Chair of the Membership Subcommittee at that time, said:

“ ... In these difficult and painful times, when children are suffering as a result of a conflict for which they bear no responsibility, which they cannot comprehend, and before which they are helpless, it is important for us to reaffirm the ideals that IBBY stands for. It is children’s culture and their right to books and reading that we normally value. Today it is the very lives of children that need to be defended."
 
PBBY comprises librarians, writers, teachers, illustrators, educators, experts and publishers, whether individuals or institutes. PBBY's different activities address the children's right to books and education. Thus PBBY supports literacy and children's culture, and encourages reading and the promotion of quality of books in Palestine.


Main projects

PBBY has organized many activities including a very successful editing workshop – the first in the Arab world and three workshops on the occasion of Astrid Lindgren Centenary; each workshop discussing one of her most popular books.

PBBY has helped to establish two children libraries in the most dangerous and marginalized areas in Gaza, in cooperation with two community based centres in Beit Hanoun and Rafah. Psycho-social activities and encouraging reading is being implemented there through book discussions, storytelling, creative writing, drama, expression through illustrations, painting, producing a play by children and preparing wall magazines and other similar activities.  Furthermore, bibliotherapy training will be given to the librarians and teachers working in the area. The libraries are IBBY Children in Crisis projects funded through IBBY Children in Crisis Appeals and the Sharjah/IBBY Fund.


Recent news & events

October 2023 — Article on the current situation in Palestine.

August 2023 — The United Nations General Assembly is fast approaching, and IBBY Palestine has sent a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres on behalf of the children of Palestine. Read the poignant testimony.


Other resources

Khitam from IBBY library in Gaza is a laureate in UNESCO ISF "WORLD TALES"
Read the full report here
Read the report on the Award ceremony here (including pictures and a video)

The Human Cost of Drone Warfare
April 2021

IBBY Palestine Report
Read the IBBY Palestine Report for March to July 2022 here.

IBBY Palestine Stories
In May 2020, after several weeks of lockdown, children visiting the libraries in Gaza were invited to express their thoughts and fears about the coronavirus, their pictures and texts can be viewed here.

From our Hearts to Palestine
These beautiful writings and illustrations were inspired by Palestinian children sufferings during Israeli aggressions on Gaza. You can find all the illustrations and writings here.