Maysoon & Fiona

Maysoon Says:

I'm Maysoon Juma. I have been teaching English language for 25 years. I love my job a lot and I have been trying to work hard to improve myself during my experience because I hope to do something special to my students. I believe that teaching is a holy job, and we must try to do our best to make a change. I think this project (Hands Up Project) is an excellent project which helps students to improve their language, so I want to thank all the people who work in it. Working with you is an excellent experience, and my students enjoy the sessions a lot. We prepare for each session, and my students look forward to meeting Fiona every Tuesday. They enjoy the sessions with her. It's a good chance for my students to practise the language, so they try to give ideas for each session, and I try to facilitate every difficult aspect whether before or during the sessions. I noticed that this project has changed the attitudes of my students and helped them to use the language well, and this is a very important thing in my opinion.

Thanks all.

Fiona Says,

My name is Fiona and I live in the south of England.  I have been teaching English and primary classes for nearly 30 years .   I have taught in Vietnam, Laos, New Zealand, Jordan and Sri Lanka.   Whilst living in Jordan the situation in Palestine became very close to my heart.  Many of my students and  colleagues were Palestinian, and although I had always known about the Nakba, land seizures and displacement these things became much more real when I heard first hand the stories they had to tell.  I am  horrified and appalled at the ongoing Israeli response, since October 2023,  in Gaza and the West Bank.  I joined local Palestine advocacy groups and am active in making sure people know what is happening and calling for it to stop.   I was introduced to the Hands Up Project at a meeting and realised that joining a class in the West Bank was something practical that I could get involved in.  I am partnered with Maysoon and a Grade 8 class in Balata Camp.  Maysoon is preparing the girls for exams and I can see how she motivates them.   We meet weekly on Zoom and I have been so impressed by their enthusiasm and ability to engage using English.  Over the weeks the girls have grown in confidence with more students wanting to join in.    One of my favourite lessons was a  performance of Palestinian wedding - I learn so much.  It is a joy to be involved with Hands Up and I look forward to the day when I will be able to go to Palestine and work in schools.