The Samouni Project was founded by Ken O’Keefe in response to the deep connection he developed with the Samouni family during his 6 month stay in Gaza in 2011. During that time Ken became shocked that the Samouni family, of all families, was still going without adequate housing and education two years after Israel’s 22 day massacre known as ‘Operation Cast Lead’. The following video was produced by Ken after his first day in meeting the Samouni family.
Getting to know the family, especially the children, I reached a point where I realised that I could do a lot for this family, especially if we worked together. So the first phase of the Samouni Project became the planting of an Olive Tree Orchard, the building of a playground and the laying of the floor for what is to become the Samouni classroom.
Building the playground and seeing the kids smiling and playing was and will remain a great joy for all of us who were involved, however, this was only a first step. Talking to the parents and the children, they all said what was needed now was proper education. Due to the deep trauma suffered by all of the kids, every one of them was/is suffering emotional and developmental damage. It was time to enter the next phase of the Samouni Project, setting up the classroom and identifying a qualified, loving and nurturing teaching staff.
We have now painted the classroom and organised an internet connection. We have collected all that is needed to begin quality education and we have the teaching staff waiting for our arrival. The cost for maintaining this education program is approximately €2600 a month. For this over 100 kids of the Samouni family will receive full time education, and adult education, which has been requested by the parents, will also be taught.
The Trade Not Aid convoy is the means to which we will deliver the classroom items and begin classes. The Samouni Project also involves a partnership between Ken O’Keefe and the Samouni parents in working together to export produce grown on Samouni family land. The goal is to make aid unnecessary be developing a viable business of and for the family so they can stand on their own two feet.
And this is the ultimate goal of the Samouni Project, not simply to help the Samouni family alone, but to create a model of education and social enterprise so that Palestinians young and old are able to live a dignified life. We are not benefactors, we are partners and we are family and we will do all that we can for our entire Palestinian family.
