Iowa Peace Network: A Message from MEPEC, WILPF, and TON of Hope Children's Book Project

April 2022

Dear Friend,

We thank you for supporting and/or participating in the work of MEPEC (Middle East Peace Education Coalition) and/or WILPF (Women’s Int’l League for Peace and Freedom) over these many years. Today we are combining our efforts to support the TON of Hope Children’s Book Project, a special endeavor of the Tent of Nations (TON), an organic/educational family farm and peace center on a hill near Bethlehem, Palestine. We invite you to join us now in supporting this exciting project.

You may have heard Daoud Nassar, Director, when he spoke in Iowa in November 2019. At that time, the book project of/by/for Palestinian children at TON—From the Ground and UP—was initiated. MEPEC and WILPF members and others formed the TON of Hope Book Team that has been working with Daoud since then to create the book. More than a book, the project is designed to empower traumatized children through the creative process and sharing their work with others—from their families and friends to the international community encompassed by TON. Through their voices the story and principles of TON will be heard—faith, love, hope, Sumud (steadfast persistence), non-violent resistance, positive action for justice. The book will also connect Palestinian children with child and adult readers through interactive features.

The children’s voices will take shape as art, poetry, and other writings that grow out of this summer’s activities at TON to form the book’s content. Safe and fun, with music, dancing, and drama, the activities will enable the children to confront the daily obstacles and challenges of living in occupied territory, to dream of visions for the future, to discover ways to work together to change reality and accomplish their dreams. All will be rooted in the land and the potential growth that comes from it. What lies in your seed? How do we care for our gardens and each other? Can a rock be your friend? What kind of mosaic of soup can you make together with what comes from the land?

Several Team member volunteers will collect writings and art for the book as they work with the children in Palestine. The book will first be published in English in the U.S., and then translated into Arabic and other languages with possible production in other countries. It will be given to the children authors and local associates, volunteers and visitors to Tent of Nations, and made available to educational, religious, and social justice organizations around the world. Target date for publication is the end of 2022.

Start up funds to support the Team volunteers and for production of the book have been committed by MEPEC, WILPF-USA, Friends of Tent of Nations North America (FOTONNA, and others. Additional fundraising activities are now in process to reach our anticipated budget of $30,000. Can you join this community of support?...

(If you’d like a payment form, email iowapeacenetwork@gmail.com) Be sure to indicate if you would like to receive occasional reports on our progress!

Thank you for helping spread the word about this unique project and the inspiring work of Tent of Nations! The seed planted by Daoud in 2019 is certainly growing From the Ground and UP!

Christine Anders

Kathleen McQuillen

Co-Chairs, MEPEC

Madith Burnett

Mary Caponi

Jan Corderman

Mary Hanson Harrison

Janice Hawkins

Leadership Team, WILPF-DSM

Virginia Wadsley

TON of Hope Book Team

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