24th Annual International Summer Camp
From 1–14 August, Lajee Center hosted its 24th annual International Summer Camp, bringing together eight participants from different countries for two weeks of cultural exchange, volunteering and community engagement.
Participants visited Hebron, Jenin, Tulkarem and Jerusalem, and took part in volunteering activities at Lajee Center and in the camp, including supporting children at the kindergarten, community work, and creative projects such as painting and drawing, including on the Separation Wall.
The camp gave participants the opportunity to experience everyday life in Palestine, build friendships with Palestinian families and children, and gain a deeper understanding of Palestinian communities and the realities of life under occupation.
Lajee Celtic Sports Club
Football
A 22-player first-team squad took part in a training camp in Türkiye, which began on 26 August and continued until 4 September. During the camp, the team played matches against local teams as well as a team from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lajee Celtic secured a victory against the Congolese team and drew against a team from Istanbul.
During the month, the club also strengthened its squad by signing two professional players, Musab Abu Salem, who previously played for the Palestinian national team, and Zain Sayel.
The team played three matches during August, winning two and losing one. The final squad list was also officially registered with the Palestinian Football Association in preparation for the Palestinian league.
Training for the club’s other football teams continued according to the established programmes and schedules.
Boxing
Lajee Celtic made an important step in developing its boxing programme by receiving approval to join the Palestinian Boxing Federation and becoming a member of its General Assembly.
A boxing championship originally scheduled to take place in Ramallah on 28 August was postponed to 4 September. Meanwhile, training continued across the different groups, alongside work to further develop the programme and establish an internal boxing committee.
Lajee Library
The Library resumed its open Friday activities during August, offering children and young people opportunities to take part in drawing and colouring, story reading, and other creative activities.
The programme also welcomed new participants to the Center for the first time, with the team continuing to follow up with and engage these new members.
Lajee Music Unit
Music training continued throughout August for students across all instruments, including individual lessons, group rehearsals, and music theory.
The unit also resumed its choir programme, with continued vocal training and efforts to attract new students to the choir.
The team continues to work on strengthening group rehearsals and developing students’ ensemble skills as part of the Center’s ongoing music education programme.
Rebel Circus School
The Circus School continued training across four groups with Alba, a trainer from Spain, building on the training the students had previously undertaken in Spain.
Both indoor and outdoor training sessions continued throughout the month, with the students showing significant progress in their circus skills and performance abilities.
ACLAI Palestine Gym
The ACLAI Palestine Gym continued to provide regular training opportunities for women, men, and young people throughout August.
The gym recorded 2,370 visits and 342 training sessions during the month. A total of 182 women participated across 14 groups, while around 47 men participated across three groups. The programme also continued to encourage the participation of male youth, with 16 young people taking part across two groups, in addition to open training time available for independent practice.
Health Unit
The health teams carried out 170 recorded field visits, following up with 176 registered patients across the three teams. Home visits included monitoring blood pressure and blood sugar levels, checking medication adherence, providing health and dietary guidance, and identifying changes requiring further medical attention.
During the month, Lajee Center hosted several specialist medical clinics, including consultations in orthopaedics and joints, wart and corn removal, and kidney and urinary tract care. The team also continued coordinating with doctors to expand access to specialist services for community members.
The Pediatric Care Programme carried out 25 home visits for 25 mothers and children during August. Follow-up included monitoring children’s growth and development, nutrition, general health, and home environments.
Environmental Unit
A major highlight was the implementation of the Environmental Summer Camp, which brought together approximately 42 children and young people from Aida and Al-Azza camps and surrounding areas. The camp included recycling activities, environmental awareness workshops, competitions, an environmental trail, and educational sessions with invited guests. It concluded with a recreational trip to Jericho.
The weekly Environmental Club meetings continued throughout the month, including recycling sessions, agricultural activities, care of plants, and practical work in the Center’s greenhouse and rooftop garden. Participants took part in planting, watering, pruning, and maintaining the crops while learning practical agricultural skills.
The team continued the daily maintenance of the Center’s greenhouses and agricultural systems, including planting and caring for tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, mint, and other crops. Part of the harvested cucumber and mint was distributed to patients, connecting the Center’s environmental and health programmes.
