The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union and First-Vice-President of the European Commission Baroness Ashton visits Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children and holds a meeting with representatives of the civil society and private sector in the main hall of the organization.
Gaza – Sunday 18 July 2010 – Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children – Gaza – Today a high level European Union delegation headed by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union and First-Vice-President of the European Commission Baroness Catherine Ashton visited Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children. The delegation took a tour of the Society departments getting to know more about the services offered by Atfaluna expressing their admiration at the achievements made and offered to the deaf sector in the Gaza Strip.
In conclusion of the tour Mr. Sharhabeel Al Za’eem, ASDC Chairman presented Baroness Ashton with a hand-embroidered photo album enclosed in it a number of photos of the school activities and photos of Baroness Ashton’s previous visit to the Society.
Mr. Sharhabeel Al Za’eem commented on the visit and said: “This is the second visit made by Baroness Ashton the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union and First-Vice-President of the European Commission in less than four months. This shows her deep interest in Atfaluna Society and its achievements, which she considers to be a true representation of the hard work and success.”
The Director of Atfaluna Mr. Naim Kabaja said: “The visit of such a highly esteemed personality of Atfaluna and her choice to hold a meeting with the representatives of the private sector in our Society is a great honor to Atfaluna Society and to the employees in it.” Naim added that the Society receives funding from the European Union through CBM the main partner of Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children.
Upon completing their tour of Atfaluna the delegation held a business lunch in the main meeting hall of the Society a number of key Palestinian personalities were invited. The guests included Mr. Sharhabeel Al Za’eem, Mr. Raji Al-Sorani, Ms. Rawiya AlShawa, Mr. Sami Abdel-Shafi, Mr. Amjad Al-Shawa and, Mr. Amer Hamad.
Baroness Ashton and the visiting delegation discussed with their guests the social, economic, political, and human rights situation in the Gaza Strip. At the end of the visit Baroness Catherine Ashton commented on how pleased she is with this visit and expressed her appreciation for the work and time spent on providing different services to the deaf.
Mr. Sharhabeel Al Za’eem stated that “The meeting was very informative and useful; Ms. Ashton was updated on the problems which the Gaza Strip still suffers from and the members of the meeting emphasized their refusal of the Israeli blockade, requesting from Ms. Ashton to help lift the siege from all the Palestinian borders and ports; and the immediate reopening of the Safe Passage between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
