With your support, Al Aqaba kindergarten, founded in 2004, has provided quality education to hundreds of children of the village and also nearby places. A total of $51,137 have been raised with your donations.  

 Sometimes destiny hands down our mission in life. Donna Baranski-Walker’s narration of how the kindergarten in Al Aqaba began is no different. 

Al Haq Kindergarten started as something small, a one-time donation of $10000 made by a family in Pennsylvania wanting to build a school in the West Bank that would not be demolished. Not sure where to build, Donna was pointed in the direction of Al Aqaba by the Governor of Jenin. 

 Things on the ground work differently as they take time. One and a half years later, Donna, now left with $8500, found herself standing in the village of Al Aqaba in front of big holes dug up as foundations for the kindergarten. Donna told Mayor Haj Sami Sadeq of Al Aqaba that she could only provide for the roof. The Mayor told Donna, “don’t worry, I will keep building, and you keep raising the money, it will be fine.” This was the approach they took, and it worked. One thing led to another. The first floor was built by the Rebuilding Alliance (RA) with a total of $34,000, the Norwegians, Belgians, and Japanese came on board to build the second floor, and then a third floor was made possible by a speaking tour of Mayor Haj Sami to the Congress arranged by the RA. 

Building the kindergarten was one thing, and keeping it standing has been another challenge. The village of Al Aqaba, West Bank Area C, is located near two Israeli military training centers instilling a constant fear of Israeli forces ramming into their houses, and at risk of the demolition by the Israeli authorities. During the first phase of the building, the Israeli court ordered the demolition of 97% of the village, including the kindergarten. Donna worked hard to mobilize the Congress, while the kindergartners made Pinwheels for Peace. After rigorous efforts by the RA, the Israeli high court temporarily withheld its order of demolition in 2008, saying that the center of the village can keep standing, primarily because of the kindergarten. The kindergarten has become the guardian angel of Al Aqaba village. It is also a place where villagers gather every day. 

It is a source of comfort for the children who see Israeli soldiers training all the time. Mayor Haj Sami makes a plea for help with the kindergarten. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, “it has been very difficult for us.” Due to the restrictions imposed by the authorities, the number of children has been reduced to 55 from 150. The villagers are facing a financial crunch.

Al Haq is a signature project for the RA. It is a starting point for Al Aqaba and has led to the Rebuilding to Remain program for the village. The RA needs your support to keep the kindergarten going. 

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