Camera in Hand

Camera in Hand
October 9, 2004 By Yahya Abdul Rahman	Back to Home
Hey I'm a Muslim and have video camera in my hand Gotta keep a watch over my shoulder to look out for the man You know a Muslim with a camera is a WMD
You know if I plan to use it I'm a threat to national security Don't need to go to Wal-Mart to have my photo finish-ing Just head to the CSIS office or the local R*C*M*P But hey, who knows, maybe I will get a free trip to see the Nile Maybe I can stay awhile I hope they let me bring my camera with me As in Egypt there is so much to see

Immediate Need

Immediate Need
Susan Brannon October 3, 2004 Ameen is a studious, warm 16-year-old honor student from  Sebastia, an ancient town near Nablus in the West Bank .  For family  reasons having nothing to do with Ameen himself, his present host household  cannot keep him. We dearly need to find Ameen  a new home and school as promptly and carefully as possible.
We spent last weekend with Ameen at Sanea al-Salam~Oseh  Shalom Family Peacemakers Camp. Ameen is a  total pleasure.  At first quiet, he fit beautifully into camp and  related nicely to both children and adults. After a day doing the high ropes  course, and fully participating in various outdoor and Dialogue   relationship-building activities, he could stay up into the later hours   skillfully taking on the best of the youth and adults in chess.
Ameen isn't "any" kid.  He went through a rigorous  interview and testing process to win the privilege of coming to America to  study for a year. He receives a $125 monthly  check from the State Department toward his expenses, and there is an  additional $300 stipend for incidental expenses like school ID cards,  yearbook, and toiletries.  The program provides medical insurance for  him. Having Ameen in your home would mean  expanding not only his world, but yours as well. He is responsive, ready to help, and thoughtful.  He's a  gifted student from a hard-working family.  His father is a farmer, his  mother a teacher. MORE BACKGROUND ASSE International  Student Exchange Programs is one of the largest and "oldest" student  exchange programs in the U.S.A. Last year, we received a grant from the U.S.   Department of State to help run a pioneering high school  exchange  program that brings students from countries with predominantly  Muslim  populations to spend a year with a volunteer host family and go to  high  school here in the USA . Please see the link below for more  information. U.S.   Dep't  of State -- http://exchanges.stategov/education/P4L/  Youth Exchange and Study  Program (YES)  -- http://www.assecom/new_latest/english/home.html  Needed is a caring  family out there who would love a chance to think globally and act locally,  and move beyond the stereotypes perpetuated by traditional  media. Required is a thoughtful host home that would treat Ameen as a  family member  (a bed to sleep in, room can be shared with a host  sibling of more or less  the same age, family meals and a loving  atmosphere). Ameen is insured for  medical expenses and receives pocket  money every month from the Department  of State. Aside from usual  kindnesses, host families do not have any legal  or financial  responsibility for the students! Please contact: Marilyn Leonard, ASSE  Area Representative 3676 Woodley Drive, San Jose, CA 95148-2829 Tel: 408  528-9170    Toll free: 888-267-5707 E-mail:   beaconridge@msn.com or  marilynleonard@sbcglobal.net