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What is C4G
Cycling4Gaza is an independent initiative founded by a group of concerned young people in the wake of the 2009 war on Gaza. Their mission is to raise awareness about the ongoing blockade on the Gaza Strip and to raise funds for carefully selected non-profit organisations that provide critical educational and health support to vulnerable Palestinian communities; with a final goal of creating a sustainable project.
What will the money be used for
In an effort to raise awareness and much needed funds, Cycling4Gaza#C4G2015 will support the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund‘s (PCRF) newly launched Pediatric Mental Health Project in Gaza. The goal is to assess children’s needs, provide them the service they require, and train social workers in Gaza on the topic. We are dedicated to raising 286,000 USD to support the launch and running of the project for a year. The project will involve;
- Gaza Mental Health Screening
- Data analysis using SPSS software
- Submitting Publications— academic journals and media outlets to increase international awareness for the current situation
- Short video production to be utilized in presentations
- Providing Clinical Services for Affected Children
- Provide immediate treatment for the 10% most significantly impacted children which have already been identified (120 children which fulfil criteria for PTSD)
- Partner with local organizations to provide the required medical services and treatment
- Increase coordination of care between the PCRF social workers and local mental health providers
- Develop the capacity within PCRF to provide basic therapeutic support through hiring clinical social workers with mental health experience
- Develop group interventions for parents of moderately to severely affected children
- Developing and Providing Education and Training for Personnel in Gaza
- Recruit volunteers to assist in training of staff social workers monthly to bi-monthly on topics pertaining to mental health
- Bring in training teams of clinicians; psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists to train local staff and partnering organizations
- Further Program Development
- Develop and initiate group interventions designed to provide a therapeutic outlet for children
- Develop and initiate group interventions designed to provide psychoeducation and processing outlet for parents
- Build therapeutic playgrounds in collaboration with Playgrounds for Palestine to create safe and happy environments for the children to recover and reintegrate into society
Why is this Important
Unicef estimates 373,000 children in Gaza are in desperate need of psycho-social support. However, given the continuous strain on health resources, mental health issues are often sidelined, leaving thousands of children without appropriate medical attention to heal their traumas and mental scars.
The PCRF is a legally-registered non-political, non-profit, 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization established in 1991 by concerned people to address the medical and humanitarian needs of Palestinian and Arab youths in the Middle East. We have provided thousands of children life-saving care based on their need, not on religion, gender, nationality or sect.
The main objective of the PCRF is to identify and treat every child in the Middle East in need of specialized surgery not available to them locally. We locate, sponsor and run international, volunteer medical missions to the Middle East, in additional to locating free medical care abroad for children who cannot be adequately treated in the Middle East. The PCRF is the main organization regularly sending injured and sick Arab children to North and South America, the Middle East and Europe for free care that is not available to them there. Since 1991 over 1,000 children have been abroad for millions of dollars of donated care, and over 10,000 have had complex surgery by our visiting medical missions to the region. The PCRF has been awarded the top 4-star rating by Charity Navigator for fiscal management, while being able to treat more kids than any other charity in the Middle East.
The PCRF is a non-profit organization that predominantly provides medical relief for children under Israeli military occupation. It is the main organization in the region that sends injured children abroad for free medical care and brings in expert volunteer surgery teams to provide medical care and training for local medical personnel. Over 1,000 children have been sent to the US for free medical care and over 10,000 children have received local medical care from visiting surgery teams.
The 2014 war on Gaza left thousands of children injured not only physically but also psychologically. Today, approximately 373,000 children in Gaza suffer from emotional and psychological trauma and are in dire need of mental care support and reintegration into society.
The objective of the Gaza Mental Health Project is to assess children’s needs, provide them the service they require and to train social workers on administering screening questionnaires. Over 1,300 children have been screened by 5 field workers to date and their subsequent programs are currently being developed.
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Ayat Hermas | 07/25/2015 | $150.00 | Anonymous Friend | 07/22/2015 | $640.00 | Sohaib Uddin Khan | 07/05/2015 | $150.00 | Good Job Rouba!!! Best of luck! | Anonymous Friend | 07/05/2015 | $50.00 | Anonymous Friend | 07/05/2015 | $200.00 | Proud of you Sis! | Ryan & Liesl Reed | 06/15/2015 | $150.00 | Winnie Daguro | 06/10/2015 | $50.00 | Sheryl Varghese | 06/01/2015 | $50.00 | Anonymous Friend | 05/31/2015 | $135.00 | YOU CAN DO IT ROUBA!!!!!!! | Samia Adam Dima Judith M&C | 05/31/2015 | $150.00 | Ahsan Kahlon | 05/31/2015 | $100.00 | Georgina M. | 05/28/2015 | $30.00 | Anonymous Friend | 05/16/2015 | $200.00 | Anonymous Friend | 05/13/2015 | $82.00 | Anonymous Friend | 05/11/2015 | $100.00 | Anonymous Friend | 05/02/2015 | $140.00 | Anonymous Friend | 04/30/2015 | $100.00 | So proud of you Roubz, you'll do great I'm sure of it! | Anonymous Friend | 04/29/2015 | $140.00 | Anonymous Friend | 04/28/2015 | $100.00 | Anonymous Friend | 04/16/2015 | $50.00 | Goodluck! :) | Anonymous Friend | 04/14/2015 | $70.00 | Myriam Mneimne | 04/13/2015 | $100.00 | Good Luck :) | Anonymous Friend | 04/12/2015 | $150.00 | Best of luck Rouba! | Keenan Chadwick | 04/10/2015 | $100.00 | Nikki Sprott | 04/02/2015 | $82.00 | Anonymous Friend | 04/02/2015 | $50.00 | All the best! | Luma Doughan | 03/31/2015 | $100.00 | all the luck hbb<3 | Anonymous Friend | 03/31/2015 | $300.00 | Go get it! | Ahmed Hamadeh | 03/30/2015 | $50.00 | All the best. I'm Sure you can do it | Samia Adam Dima Judith M&C | 03/30/2015 | $50.00 |
| Total | $3,819.00 | ||