Our Activities in Dundee
Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association helps people in Dundee to learn about Nablus, to visit it, and to understand it
Our Activities
Over the years, DNTA has organised and participated in a wide range of activities across Dundee to highlight our solidarity with Nablus and to raise the profile of the twinning.
It has not been easy to maintain links. Visiting can be difficult, but the internet and the use of video conferencing are helping us to maintain contact.
We host monthly meetings with a wide range of guest speakers from across the UK and Nablus. Video conferencing has meant that we have been able to hear directly from Nablus on a more regular basis.
In a recent meeting, the Deputy Mayor of Nablus – Dr Husam Shakhshir – spoke to us about the desperate situation currently in our twin city.
We continue to have colourful information stalls at various community events including WestFest and Dundee’s Food & Flower Show. Most recently, we attended the Maxwell Centre’s Plants and Peace event.
We are keen to promote our work in Dundee’s schools. In the past, we had good links with Craigie High School.
We currently have links with Morgan Academy and St Paul’s Academy. In recent months, both schools have invited us to speak to senior pupils.
DNTA commissioned a film about Nablus and the twinning, entitled Nablus – Our Twin City. It is well worth watching.
DNTA has helped groups in Nablus working with children and young people, such as the Witness Centre and Project Hope. Children’s trauma counselling. Re-planting olive trees torn up by Israeli bulldozers.
Our current fundraising campaign is to contribute to the university fees for student nurses and midwives.
We initiated these fundraising campaigns in conjunction with our sister charity, FONSA, to help with specific projects in Nablus.
Fire Fighters
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has been a supporter and advocate of the Palestinian people’s fight for self-determination for over 25 years.
In 2011, the local FBU purchased two redundant fire engines from Tayside Fire & Rescue. After servicing and refurbishment, they took these to their colleagues in Nablus.
In addition, some very important rescue and safety equipment was purchased and transported with them.
After much preparation and, despite some difficult political obstacles, the appliances set off from Dundee.
Unfortunately, only one made it to Nablus. It is still in service with the Nablus Fire Brigade 12 years later.
A further appliance is being kitted out currently.
The FBU also arranged training in Scotland for firefighters from Nablus. This gave them the vital skills to use equipment provided by the FBU.
Firefighters the world over feel part of a shared community. They face the same problems everywhere.
However, those in Nablus have additional burdens and obstacles because they live and work under military occupation.
It is precisely this cooperation between people in two different but similar cities which shows one of the best examples of twinning; people may live far apart and under different circumstances but we share the same aspirations, need for security and care for our families.
