Madison-Rafah Journal

Give Children a Chance to Be Children
Help Rebuild a Playground in Rafah, Palestine

The Madison-Rafah Sister City Project (MRSCP) is partnering with Playgrounds for Palestine (PfP) to rebuild a playground in Rafah, Palestine that was destroyed in January 2004.

MRSCP and PfP aim to raise $10,000 for reconstruction of the park facilities by December 2004. This will include installation of modern playground equipment provided by PfP which survived the January destruction and remains in storage nearby.

Your contribution will provide Playgrounds for Palestine with the resources to create a new recreation area in Rafah where children living under military occupation can meet, play with friends, and simply enjoy being kids. Contributions of any amount, from both individuals and organizations, will be sincerely appreciated. Please take this opportunity to recognize the humanity of Palestinian children and affirm their right to childhood. Help us provide them with a wonderful gift for the 2004 holiday season.

As a tax-exempt, 501(c)3 corporation, all donations to Playgrounds for Palestine are tax deductible.

The Organizations

Playgrounds for Palestine (PfP) purchases playground equipment at a discounted price. All other labor and materials are purchased locally in Gaza to create opportunities for Palestinians as well as reduce costs for playground construction. In addition, a local family will care for the playground and park in return for the right to operate a small food concession on site, providing them with a small income.

Madison-Rafah Sister City Project (MRSCP) was founded in 2003 to foster people-to-people relationships between the citizens of Madison and Rafah. Located on the border with Egypt, Rafahís economy and city infrastructure have been devastated by Israelís ongoing military occupation. All aspects of life there, whether cultural, physical, political, or educational, have been negatively affected. MRSCP has therefore focused its efforts on both humanitarian aid and community education, including lectures and films on the conflict in Israel-Palestine.

In January 2004, MRSCP sent a delegation to Rafah to meet with community leaders, both governmental and non-governmental. Although the delegation returned with a long list of humanitarian projects urgently needed by the people of Rafah, playgrounds for the children was one of the first to be mentioned.

MRSCP therefore joined with Playgrounds for Palestine to help provide a recreation area for the children of Rafah, so that they may have a place to play, live, and socialize in peace.

Reports on the completed playground project can be found in the April 29, 2005 Isthmus article A gift to Rafah and on the Playgrounds for Palestine website. Playground installation photos have been added to our galleries. We are no longer collecting for the playground - check out our other projects!

Estimate for Rebuilding
$USD
Cleanup (removal of rubble from demolished homes)
$2,500
Leveling the ground
$1,500
Reconstructing the wall around the site (material and labor)
$4,100
Painting the wall, replanting trees and installing soft landings for play (material and labor)
$1,900
Total Cost
$10,000

Donations
Individuals
$5,785.00
Katz Family Foundation
$250.00
Mad Drafters Collective
$77.50
Olympia-Rafah Sister City Project
$500.00
Purple Moon Foundation
$2,000.00
Cash
$1,397.49
Total Donations as of 14-Mar-05
$10,009.99

Disbursements
Total Disbursements as of 14-Mar-05
$9,739.50

Completed Playground!