In July this year a delegation from the European Commission (EC) visited Islamic Relief’s Palestine office in Gaza City. The group included Mr Aristotelis Bouratsis, Head of Co-financing with NGOs, from Brussels, Ms Rafaela Iodice Head of the Social, Health & Educational Sector, and Mr Jan Meelker, Social Sector Manager at ECTAO in Jerusalem.

The guests were welcomed by Mr Adel Kadoum, Islamic Relief’s Country Director in Palestine, who said “We are very lucky to have you here, considering that your department has more than 1000 projects in over 120 countries”.

Mr Bouratsis replied, “It is not a question of luck but a question of priorities. Palestine is a priority for us and we consider Islamic Relief to be a very serious organisation.”

As part of their itinerary the delegation visited the Educational Enhancement Centre established by Islamic Relief in the Jabalia Refugee Camp - the most overcrowded camp in the highly populated Gaza Strip. The Centre is part of a project jointly financed by the EC and Islamic Relief.

The EC delegation had the opportunity to learn about the non-formal educational activities the Centre offers to children from the refugee camp. These include computer training courses, supplementary classes in English, Arabic and mathematics, audiovisual and cultural activities, and integration and psychological support for disabled and traumatised children. Facilities at the Centre include a library, a sports centre, and a toy library.

Guided by IR staff, the delegates went on to visit the home of a traumatised child who has benefited from the Jabalia Educational Enhancement Centre. They heard about the social, psychological and educational progress he has made with the support of staff at the Centre.

The joint EC and Islamic Relief project has also created an Educational Enhancement Centre in Maghazi Refugee Camp, which the delegation was unable to visit this time.

The visit concluded with lunch, and the group was joined by Mr Jean Breteche, Head Representative of the European Commission (EC) in Jerusalem. “We want to continue the successful partnership between the European Commission (EC) and Islamic Relief Palestine," said Mr Breteche.

The European Commission Technical Assistance Office is responsible for administering EC assistance to the Palestinians worth more than 70 million Euro each year. Twenty percent of project funding is channelled through NGOs like Islamic Relief.