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The
Atfaluna Challenge!
Let Us "Make It So!" Why? Because We
Can!
We
at Ayyad Central
are daring you to accept the following ongoing exciting CHALLENGE for 2006:
 In
support of the
Atfaluna organization for hearing
impaired children in Gaza, we are starting a donation collection of
funds, where for every U.S. Dollar donated (or equivalent), we at Ayyad-Central will
match it, up to US$ 500.00. But before you do so, we encourage you to
learn a little bit more about the organization, so that you will provide
your support with all due confidence. These are a few questions we at
Ayyad-Central asked of Atfaluna's administration, and they are followed
with the answers un-edited: (FYI: "Atfaluna"
is an Arabic word that means "Our Children")
1. How does
Atfaluna handle the support donations provided to it (on what basis
are they distributed)?
It
depends on what kind of a donation we are talking about. Some
donations are for general support whilst others are specific, and yet
others are based upon project proposals submitted for particular needs
or programs. For non-specific donations, our core administration
officers (executive director, financial manager, school principal,
head of social services, and assistant to the director) would decide
upon distribution with the "blessing" of the financial manager.
2. Do any of the donations provided to
Atfaluna go to any other groups or organizations (non-profit or
otherwise), or are they strictly used for supporting the Atfaluna
society?
It
depends on what the donor specifies. One Japanese NGO asks us to
distribute gifts-in-kind on a yearly basis to all organizations in the
Gaza Strip working with the disabled. For other donors we have
purchased and distributed humanitarian aid items (food and blankets)
and distributed them in cooperation with other NGO's in the area the
donor specified. Some donors like to carry out projects with other
NGO's but might and ask us to do the monitoring of the project. In
this instance, funds are paid to Atfaluna and are distributed to the
NGO upon submission of reports and monitoring and evaluation criteria
being successfully fulfilled. Usually if a donor writes a check to
Atfaluna it is intended for Atfaluna, unless the donor specifies that
it should be distributed to other organizations. Since we serve more
than 4,000 persons annually, we have no problem at all in identifying
those in need. We help either through direct support or by initiating
programs to help groups.
3. What other
organizations or entities donate to your cause (national and/or
international), or are the donations strictly from individual sources?
The
donations are not strictly from individual sources, but there are many
individuals who donate to Atfaluna on a regular basis. Atfaluna has
many donors, big and small, and they are all extremely important.
Here are only some of them:
- U.S.AID
(grants for development projects)
- EU
(grants for development projects)
- The
Christoffel Blindenmission (Germany)
-
American Near East Refugee Aid (U.S.A.)
-
Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
-
Methodist Church U.S.A.
- The Al
Nour Fund (Bahrain)
-
Campaign for Children of Palestine (Tokyo)
-
Municipal Trade Unions of Hokkaido Japan
- United
Palestinian Appeal
4. Does Atfaluna
cooperate with any international organizations of the same type and
caliber?
Not so
many unfortunately. Our cooperation is mainly with other institutions
in the region such as the Holyland Institute for the Deaf in Salt,
Jordan and the Iftah School for the Deaf in Jerusalem. We have tried
to establish links of cooperation with Gallaudet University in the
U.S. (university for the deaf), but they're too big and too busy and
basically uninterested.
5. Where would donations
be sent in the case of someone being interested to support the
organization?
Donations
can be sent by bank transfer to Atfaluna's accounts in Gaza. Checks
can also be posted to us and made out to "Atfaluna Society for Deaf
Children." Bank transfer details are attached.
6. Who handles the distribution and
management of the donations provided?
Again, it
depends on what type of donation we are talking about. If it is
specific, let us say a small project or program or purchases of
equipment, a project manager is assigned and both the financial
manager and executive director monitor. Usually a financial and
narrative report would be provided to the donor upon completion of the
project/program/purchase of equipment, etc. For non-specific
donations or donations-in-kind, as previously mentioned, a committee
composed of core management personnel decide.
7. Does Atfaluna work with/through the UN at
any level, and if yes, which division (ex. UNICEF)?
Yes, there is cooperation
with UNRWA in terms of staff training, cost sharing of hearing aids to
needy refugees, case referrals, and general networking. Atfaluna has
in the past conducted projects with Unicef but has not done so for the
past two years.
You can
learn more about Atfaluna from the
Organizations page on this site (www.AyyadCentral.net)
... OK, Now it is time for us to start! On your marks... check books
open... Write!
In order
for us to match your donation funds, you need to
send us an e-mail with your name, and
the amount you plan to donate, where we will follow-up with you to make
sure that the funds will reach the proper sources. It is to be
noted that Ayyad-Central will NOT in anyway or fashion be involved in
the handling or distribution of any of the funds donated;
the donations will be sent directly to Atfaluna from the donors (you),
where once received by the organization and confirmed, we at
Ayyad-Central will transfer the funds to match.
If you have
any questions pertaining to this challenge, or about Atfaluna, please do
not hesitate to
contact us promptly.
Yours
truly,
The Ayyad's
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