The Hope Is The Why
Children playing on the streets of Gaza Palestinian Refugee Camp on a hot day in August.
This spring I was on a speaking tour with two other speakers, all of us working with Palestinians. One question posed to us was, “What gives you hope?”
It’s a good question. Because right now, the situation for Palestinians continues to deteriorate. Even as I write this, Israel has launched another operation in Gaza and over 30 Palestinians are dead.[1] Let’s not mention the situation on the ground for Palestinian refugees, which I have seen first-hand worsening.
The “hope” question is really a “why” question. Why would you continue to put your efforts into a situation that seems hopeless? Why are you committed?
And trust me, I ask myself “why” a lot. Why, seriously, why Suzann do you continue to do something? Why don’t you just cut and run?
All good questions, even the ones to myself. I know that I can’t really answer the “why” question in a way that makes sense. But, I can talk about hope. Hope is the why.
I find so much hope in the Palestinians themselves. Over the years, that hope has increased with the depth of relationship. I am going on 16 years of working with Palestinian refugees, I should be completely discouraged by now. Some days I am. Because I have been a witness over the years of the increasingly worsening conditions for Palestinian refugees—rights continuing to be denied and marginalized people continuing to be demonized. The injustice of it all is maddening. Currently, I am watching them being squeezed on all sides – politically, economically, and socially. Not many are in their corner, not many stand up for them and with them. If you do, you open yourself up to being demonized with them.
And yet, what I also see on the ground is what is so unknown to the rest of the world. It’s the life and beauty of this culture. It’s a real sacrifice and a fight to survive, nope, not survive, live in a world that continues to define you negatively. I respect the hell out of them and have learned a great deal about commitment, fortitude, and living in the moment.
What’s important to me is to leverage whatever I have – rights, talents, platforms, privileges – to level the playing field. I really want that kind of equality and partnership and believe it’s the only way dignity is reflected in each of us—an equal playing field. This is how I want to work and why I focus on projects run not by me but by refugees. Did you know that all of the projects we are supporting are refugee led?
That’s where I find hope.
Currently, the truth is the situation is dire. Many will hear this and just feel sorry for them or think of them as poor and underprivileged. I want to give you a different view. The situation is dire, it is unjust and awful and you know what? I have been a witness to not just one, but many young refugees deciding not to get themselves out of the hopeless situation. They stay in it, they stay in the muck, the hard places, to fight for their communities.
It is awe-inspiring. I feel like the best way of supporting them is exposing all of you to their work. It feels like it levels the playing field. Not only are you aware of how Palestinian refugees are empowered and fighting for their communities, but you can join them. You can support them. Can you imagine what a difference that would make to them? To know people halfway around the world not only know about their work but believe in them enough to support them, their work, and their communities.
That’s my hope anyways.
Take a look at the projects we are elevating. They are all managed by Palestinian refugees. They all focus on opportunity – employment, education, or empowerment.
Employment for a Palestinian refugee who is serving her community through a library in a woman’s center. Empowerment embodied in a soccer club for young women in southern Lebanon. Education through a tutoring program for the children of Shatila Camp.
This is just a taste of the work and the hope. They all focus on community.
And really my dream is to connect my American community to my Palestinian community. Nothing is more powerful and a force to be reckoned with than togetherness.
So, I challenge you to join us. Do what you can. Share. Fundraise for them. Give until it hurts. Do all of it.
Below is a quote from one of my friends; a friend that I have had the pleasure of seeing grow in their talents, skill, and confidence over the years.
“Even in bad situation, there is hope and there is another way to think. Being Palestinian refugee doesn’t mean I wait for others to help me. I am not in jail. I don’t like others who say we are in jail, we have to think outside of the box people put you in. I don’t have to believe in their thoughts. We can find a way, we can find a solution. You are still breathing, you can do it.”
I want a big red arrow pointing at that quote and in BIG, BOLD letters, “THIS IS THE WHY!”
This is hope.
[1] https://time.com/5727974/cease-fire-gaza/