One of CNT's most significant achievements has been to create a greater understanding of life in the Holy Land by bringing together Head Teachers of Christian schools from the Holy Land and England. It is hoped that this process of outreach will continue, encouraging the exchange of ideas, aspirations, hopes and experiences among the young people of both countries.
In July, 2002, the Heads of Hashimi and Fuheis Schools, Amman, and Beit Sahour, Bethlehem, travelled to England to meet staff and pupils of Margaret Roper, St Thomas Moore School and the St. John Fisher Senior School, all in Purley; and of St Augustine's School in Kenilworth. These highly successful visits have changed the lives of many of the people involved, and created a basis for new working relationships between parishes, schools and individuals. The visits enabled the head teachers to take the opportunity to help their students learn about each other's cultures, traditions and lifestyles.
Mark Ziadatt , the Principal of Al Fuheis
School
, Amman,
Jordan, who has experience of exchange arrangements with a school in
France, visited a large number of classes as the guest of Robin Gregory
,
Headmaster of John Fisher Catholic School, Purley for 11-18 year old boys.
He met with key members of staff and gave a talk at school assembly. The
pupils and staff were moved by what they heard. Robin Gregory said that he
believes that such visits can play a part in the 'vital work of sustaining
an embattled Christian minority in the very cradle of Christianity'. He
added 'My advice to a fellow head teacher would be to support and welcome
the CNT and so provide moral encouragement to our colleagues in Jordan and
Palestine'.
Suha Haddadin,
the adminstrator of Hashimi, Amman, Jordan was able to express to the
Margaret Roper School in Purley and to St Augustine's School, Kennilworth,
how her school in Jordan had the 'vision to raise children to serve God
and build a parish'. She particularly wanted to thank CNT for all their
hard work in helping the 4 - 12 years olds she teaches in Jordan.
Issam Bannourah's
time
in England, visiting Thomas More School, Purley, was a sharp contrast to
his life as head teacher at Beit Sahour, which is close to the Shepherds
Fields in Bethlehem. Despite the pressure and tension of a four year
military occupation 'the children still have a strong will to learn'. He
believes that 'this cultural exchange is as important for your young
people as it is ours'.
Mary Bond
teaches RE at St Leonard's School, Mayfield, Sussex. In the summer of
2003, a group
of eight teenage girls from her confirmation class organised a sponsored
silence to raise money for CNT. 'They were motivated by the terrible
suffering of those in Palestine and were particularly moved by the young
peoples exposure to physical violence' she said; 'Parents like to see
their young daughters involved in a worthy cause, and this is a worthy
cause'
In June 2005, Sisters Caroline and Lina, who are in charge of Latin Patriarchate Schools in Jordan, visited several UK Catholic Schools. After watching Tony Ockenden's parachute jump, they visited St Thomas Aquinas School, Bletchley, which had raised funds for science equipment for Hashimi School, Jordan. It was also an opportunity to talk about future exchange visits of Holy Land teachers being planned for spring 2006. This follows on from the very successful online distance learning and one week Amman residential course in English and teaching techniques for twenty Latin Patriarchate teachers during the summer of 2005, run by Strawberry Hill teacher training college, in South London. Sister Caroline was Head Teacher of Madaba Girls High School in Jordan in 2005 when they had excellent results in the Tawjihi exams.
