Activities Fulfilled



Scholarships
In July 2002, the Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian Foundation- Chile granted additional scholarships to young Chilean people of Palestine origin for their further development abroad.



Palestine Craft Importation
In November 2003, our Foundation issued the first import of Palestine craft to help more than 500 families of Palestine’s artisans who were facing severe restrictions to commercialize them, due to the lack of tourists in Holy Land.



Delivering toys to Palestinian children at Christmas
As of December 2003, the Bethlehem Palestinian Foundation – Chile raised the first campaign to collect Christmas gifts. This event was repeated during the last three consecutive years, giving Christmas gifts to the children of the Gaza and Cisjordania territories. These were distributed through schools, local councils and hospitals, benefitting 74,000 primary school children.
The gifts were purchased locally from Palestinian traders in order to help the precarious economic situation of the Holy Land.
The financing of the gifts was obtained through a campaign to raise awareness of the Palestinian situation, throughout the community.



College Scholarships
In March of 2004, the Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian Foundation- Chile, in its continuing efforts to promote the education of the new generations, sent 1000 University Scholarships to Palestine students of the Universities of Bethlehem, Beit Sahour and Gaza thanks to the community donations.



Fraternal Maklube
Each year the Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian Foundation- Chile hosts a charity dinner to strengthen bonds between members of the Chilean Arab Community and at the same time raise funds allocated to humanitarian aid for the children of Palestine and also for the elderly living in the Arab Union Charity Home. The first dinner was celebrated in the year 2005, which was an excellent opportunity for community sharing and for showing their solidarity.



Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian Foundation - Chile Seminar
In May 2006, the Foundation publicly acclaimed four successful professionals whose efforts, perseverance, optimism and good luck have contributed to the development of this country through the creation of successful businesses, employing a large number of staff, and who are examples worthy of special mention within the community.



High Mass for Peace in the Holy Land

At November 2006, in Santiago’s Cathedral, a High Mass was celebrated for Peace in the Holy Land. The Eucharist was conducted by his eminence Cardinal archbishop of Santiago, Monsignor Fernando Chomalí, and Father Raul Feres
and Her Excellence Michelle Bachelet, President of the Chilean Republic was present, highlighting our government’s appreciation and also that of the Chilean Catholic Church, of the Arab Community in Chile.



Delivery of Medicines to Palestine
During 2007, the Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian Foundation- Chile, organized a campaign to collect medicine for the Palestinian people and was able to send two full containers,valued at US $500,000. The donation was received by the Beit Jala Hospital which cares for over 100,000 patients who live in the Bethlehem region.



Breakfasts for Palestinian children
In 2006, seven hundred children of primary and secondary level education at the “Shepherd’s High School” in Beit Sahour were sponsored, receiving meals, school writing materials and registration fee payments, to help relieve their families’ difficult financials situations.



The Foundation’s Anniversary is commemorated with a Seminar “Seeds for the Future”
Towards the end of 2007 a Seminar was organized with the purpose of creating bonds between Arab and Latin American countries. Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet was
present as well as the well known Mexican businessman of Lebanese origin Carlos Slim, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Alejandro Foxley, The Vice President of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce Paulo Atallah and a delegation of Young Arab Leaders among others, whose presence made the event a successful International forum.



Schooling agreement Caritas Jerusalem
During 2008, the Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian Foundation- Chile accomplished an
agreement with Caritas Jerusalem to optimize financial aid sent to Palestine for school
registration fees, school materials and other forms of aid for the benefit of 300 children that lack resources for their education, in 10 schools throughout Beit Jala, Beit Sahour and Bethlehem. The financing came from generous donations made by the Chilean Arab Community to the Foundation for this purpose.