Hakawati was the traditional method of story-telling in Palestine, before the age of radio, television and the Internet. It played an important, central role in the villages and the even in the national culture, through its sharing of oral histories.
“The use of the hakawati, the storytellers from the Palestinian villages, was that the story of one is the story of all. Americans don’t necessarily understand how important farming is to the Palestinian people. This was a way to convey that message to them,” said Laurie Kassman, head of media relations at ANERA.
Two of ANERA’s long-time employees were honored at the gala, and for both it was the first visit to the United States.
Sabah Almograbi has managed the ANERA’s Gaza office since it opened in 1985.
Naser Qadous, ANERA’s chief agronomist in the West Bank, was interviewed on stage by Deborah Amos, a well-known National Public Radio journalist, about the challenges facing West Bank and Gaza farmers. He talked of the challenges they face because of water scarcity, limitations on export of produce and other issues.
Qadous has worked at ANERA’s West Bank offices for 13 years and has managed agricultural projects throughout the West Bank and Gaza, which has resulted in enhancing the lives of thousands of Palestinian families.
ANERA also honored the US -based Firedoll Foundation, which has been supporting ANERA's agricultural development program in Gaza since 2006. Firedoll's contributions enabled ANERA to implement an innovative plastic mulch recycling program that has helped farmers clean their land, improve the environment and provide jobs.
The event broke all previous records in table sponsorships, attendance and dollars raised. Some 460 guests enjoyed the evening; 42 of 44 tables were officially sponsored at $15,000, $10,000, $5,000 and $2,000 levels. Donations reached $300,000. These funds will be used in the next 12 months to plant trees in Lebanon, create household gardens in Gaza, and establish farming cooperatives in the West Bank, to help farming families become self-sufficient.
ANERA's battle against anemia and malnutrition in Palestinian children has been formulated into its Milk for Preschoolers program that provides fortified milk and biscuits to some 20,000 preschoolers every day of the school term. Qatar contributed $1 million to this program for two years in a row. Kuwait added $1 million this year to help sustain the imperative program that successively staves off malnourishment.
ANERA’s president, Bill Corcoran, reminded the audience that ANERA touches the lives of many in need in the region. In Lebanon, many people may have already forgotten that in the Upper Baalbeck and Hasbaya areas, the war launched by Israel in 2006 destroyed much of the agricultural land. ANERA planted more than 6,000 trees there this year.
In Gaza, where the average farmer works on less than an acre of land, ANERA has been helping families by building green houses that will extend the growing seasons and produce more food.
In the West Bank, ANERA is helping farming families connect to irrigation systems and creating agriculture cooperatives that give employment opportunities and markets for farmers to sell produce, so that whole communities can have access to locally grown food.
“People come to this event because they want to attend something in support of Palestinians. They tell us that during our gala dinner they get a great deal of information of what is happening in the Middle East but also leave with a sense of optimism,” said Nancy Nye, director of donar stewardship and co-chair of the event.
