Heritage, Awareness, Identity, Love, and Joy Across Generations
The Nasijona Summer Camp 2025, organized by Nasijona–Nazareth with the generous sponsorship of Pro Terra Sancta, was a celebration of Palestinian heritage, creativity, and community spirit. Through two consecutive summer programs held at the Nasijona Center, the camps succeeded in bridging generations while fostering awareness, identity, and love for cultural traditions.
First Summer Camp: July 7–18, 2025
Held just days after the ceasefire and the return to normal life, the first camp was a testament to resilience and hope. Despite limited preparation time, Nasijona successfully gathered over 20 young boys and girls, alongside five trainers and several volunteers, in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Each day featured three-hour workshops in various traditional crafts such as Palestinian embroidery, knitting, crochet, pearl work, straw art, and more. These hands-on sessions allowed participants to explore their creativity while connecting with their cultural roots.
Lunch was shared daily, creating a cherished space for communication and bonding among participants of all ages. The young attendees also enjoyed exchanging ideas and showcasing personal talents in music, dance, painting, poetry, singing, and storytelling.
The camp concluded with an exhibition of the handcrafted works produced during the program, highlighting the participants’ pride, skill, and sense of accomplishment. It was a celebration of creativity, identity, and the spirit of community.
Lunch was served everyday ,that was a lovely time of
communicating and sharing together between different ages
Second Summer Camp: August 11–22, 2025
The second camp welcomed 35 young girls and teenagers from diverse backgrounds for two weeks of learning, collaboration, and discovery. With eight trainers and numerous volunteers, the participants engaged in four-hour daily workshops featuring a wide range of crafts—Palestinian embroidery, artistic embroidery, crochet, knitting, pearl work, straw work, fiber toy crafting (“Amigurumi”), and more.
Nasijona was honored to host a group of women from Turaan, who volunteered to teach finger knitting and share their expertise with the participants.
Cultural and Educational Sessions
Each morning began with a cultural gathering led by experts, featuring lectures followed by open discussions.
Key topics included:
Palestinian Embroidery – Origins, regional variations, and meanings, presented by coordinator Faten Khoury, ending with a live thawb showcase and dabkeh performance.
The Old City of Nazareth – A nostalgic visual presentation by photographer Mrs. Yolanda Jubran.
Tawfik Zayyad: Poetry and Legacy – Presented by his daughter, Mrs. Waheeba Zayyad.
The Effects of Screens on Vision – Awareness lecture by ophthalmologist Dr. Haneen Jabaly.
Healthy Nutrition – Insights into avoiding junk food, presented by nutritionist Rosin Far.
Genealogy and Family Trees – Exploring heritage and personal history, coordinated by Faten Khoury.
The 1948 Palestinian Refugees – Memory and history session by Mrs. Fathieh Tabari.
Traditional and Contemporary Palestinian Cuisine – Based on Nasijona’s own research, led by Faten Khoury.
Puppet Theatre Performance: “Zarif Eltoul” – A lively and inspiring show by Sira Theatre.
Celebration and Closing
Each day concluded with a traditional local lunch, a moment of joy, exchange, and togetherness. Participants also took the initiative to organize spontaneous artistic performances—music, song, dance, dabkeh, and poetry—showcasing their growing confidence and sense of unity.
The camp culminated in a grand exhibition displaying the diverse handmade crafts created during the sessions, a symbol of dedication and talent nurtured throughout the program.
Gratitude and Vision
Nasijona extends heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to the success of these camps: the lecturers, trainers, volunteers, participants, guests, donors, and coordinators. Together, they formed a beautiful mosaic of love, cooperation, and solidarity—a reflection of hope and commitment to a brighter future.
Our new generation is our hope for a better tomorrow.