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Mohammad’s
Dream and the Peace Cycle
by Laura Abraham
Who is Mohammad?
Mohammad Fa’eq is 23
years old and lives with his parents and eight brothers and
sisters in the village of Al-tira, just outside Ramallah. Being
the eldest son, he feels a huge responsibility towards his
family, especially as his father struggles to find reliable
employment.
Great achievements
Mohammad recently
completed his studies at Bir Zeit University, majoring in
finance and business administration. Despite the ongoing
hardships and restrictions caused by the Israeli army in the
West Bank, he has studied diligently to pass his exams and
achieve good grades, but he has also worked hard for his fellow
students. Whilst a student at Bir Zeit, Mohammad worked in the
public relations office, and joined the Right2Education group,
helping to shed light on the difficulties facing students under
occupation. He also helped set up the Arab Youth Community, a
new organisation which aims to stand up for the education and
employment rights of young Palestinian refugees. And now, like
so many young people in Palestine, he is trying desperately to
find work so he can help support his family.
Dreams of cycling
But Mohammad also has a
dream. Last year, he sat at the top of a hill and watched the
international group of cyclists taking part in the first ever
Peace Cycle as they rode up towards the Bir Zeit campus. He was
so inspired that he asked to join them, and Mohammad became a
Peace Cyclist for the next few days, cycling with the
international riders almost all the way to Jerusalem. I say
almost all the way, because Mohammad only has West Bank ID and
so the Peace Cyclists were forced to leave him at the Bethlehem
checkpoint and continue without him. It was heartbreaking for
all of us, but especially for Mohammad – to have to stay behind
and watch as everyone else rode on to Jerusalem, his capital
city – a place to which he is forbidden to go. 
Suffering in
Palestine
Since then, Mohammad has
dreamt of joining the Peace Cycle again, but this time, he wants
to go all the way! On the next Peace Cycle to Palestine in 2006,
Mohammad is determined to cycle all the way from London to
Jerusalem, and he can achieve his dream - but only with your
help. In the UK, thousands of Palestinians are living separated
from their homeland, but in relative comfort. They have to
suffer the pain of being away from loved ones and of knowing
what is happening in their country, but they do not have to
suffer the daily misery of those still living under occupation
in Palestine.
How you can help
You are in a unique
position of being able to help those back home, and Mohammad is
now asking you to help him. The Peace Cycle raises awareness of
the suffering caused by Israel’s occupation, and what better way
than by a Palestinian who lives under that occupation to come to
London and cycle all the way home, just to tell the world his
story? If Mohammad takes part in the next Peace Cycle, it will
not only help him to feel he is doing something positive for the
situation, but it will help publicise the occupation and it’s
effects on Palestinian people everywhere.
Community Campaign
We are today launching a
campaign to help Mohammad achieve his dream of cycling home to
Palestine. A total of £3,500 is needed to cover all the costs of
his participation in the Peace Cycle 2006. We are appealing to
the members of the Palestinian community in the UK to adopt this
campaign and sponsor Mohammad. You will be able to follow his
story all the way from London to Jerusalem!
Please help by
sending as much as you can donate to:
The Peace Cycle -
“Mohammad’s Dream”, c/o APC, Eden House, 62-68 Eden Street,
Kingston-Upon-thames, Surrey, KT1 1EL or go to
www.thepeacecycle.com |
