Dundee–Nablus
Twinning Association
رابطة توأمة نابلس دندي
News
Masa Turabi
Challenges of the Media
Masa Turabi lives and works in Nablus. She spoke to us live via Zoom about the issues she faces as a young woman and recent graduate.
She answered questions from our audience.
Lucy Ray
The Risk of Childhood in Hebron
Lucy Ray has been a Human Rights Observer as an Ecumenical Accompanier in Palestine. Her experiences give us an insight into the difficulties faced by Palestinians living under occupation.
She will talk to us by Zoom. You will need to register in advance to join.
Thursday 21st September 2023
6:00pm-7:00pm
by Zoom
Convener's Report 2023
A busy year
Our Convener, Mary McGregor, reports on a busy year for DNTA and a difficult year for the people of Nablus.
Return from Nablus
Two delegations
Nine DNTA members and five trades unionists from Dundee visited Nablus in November. We heard about their experiences and about life and people in Nablus.
Thursday 24th November 19:00-21:00
This meeting was held in person thanks to Unite the Union who lent us their offices. They also provided a zoom option for remote participation.
Successful visit to Nablus
Largest delegations
Nine members of DNTA visited Nablus this November. It was a very successful visit and we were able to meet many helpful and welcoming people in our twin city.
Five Dundee trades unionists also visited and signed a historic co-operation agreement with the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions.
Remembering Ernie Ross MP
DNTA stalwart
Ernie played a significant role in establishing the twinning with Nablus. He was MP for Dundee East from 1979-2005 and a member of the DNTA committee for several years.
With co-operation from the Nablus Municipality, we planted a tree to commemorate Ernie in the Nablus Garden of Unity.
AGM 2022
Life in a Nablus refugee camp
Amjad Al-Rifai lives and works in the new Askar Refugee Camp in Nablus. He will describe life there and explain how he works to develop social and cultural activities.
Followed by the formal AGM business.
Thursday 23rd June 2022 at 6:30pm in Number Ten, 10 Constitution Road, Dundee DD1 1LL or by zoom (by advance registration).
Convener's Report 2022
Returning to normal
Our Convener, Mary McGregor, reports on our recent activities, our return to meetings in person and a forthcoming visit to Nablus.
Heather Masoud
The Zaytoun Story: a message in a bottle
As part of the Dundee Women's Festival 2022, we invited Heather Masoud - a co-founder of Zaytoun to talk about the company and its aim of supporting Palestinian farmers and their families through fair trade sales of olive oil and related products.
She shared stories celebrating the women behind the products which Zaytoun is selling in the UK.
Trees for Palestine 2022
Planting olive trees
In collaboration with FONSA, we are raising £5,000 to plant 1,000 olive trees in and around Nablus. This is in response to continuing destruction of trees and loss of livelihood for Palestinians.
Olive trees are not a relic, they live and provide oil and olives for their owners. Many trees have been cut down by settlers who also take land. Growing olive trees sends a message and provides practical support.
Said the dove to the olive tree
Film and discussion
Everyone enjoyed this short film which expresses love for Palestine in a twelve-minute video that charters the diaspora in Scotland. Amira Al Shanti’s spoken word performance accompanies striking backdrops, original composition with heartrending eloquence and realism.
Hands-Up Project
Nick Bilbrough and others
Nick developed the idea of connecting Palestinians to the world through creative writing and activities. It was so good that they won a prestigious prize just before they spoke to us.
Convener's Report 2021
Virtual links with Nablus
Our Convener, Mary McGregor, reports on our recent activities and praises Ernie Ross MP who died recently. She notes that Covid restrictions have strengthened our virtual links with Nablus.
40th Anniversary
Recognising the state of Palestine
Dundee City Council has passed a motion to recognise the state of Palestine. This marks the 40th anniversary of our twinning with Nablus.
The Saltire flew in Nablus as a gesture of appreciation.
Anan Ateereh
Dundee Women's Festival 2021
Anan Attereh is the Deputy Governor of Nablus Governorate. She will speak to us on "Overcoming Challenges: Women Entrepreneurs in Nablus, Palestine".
Tuesday 9th March 2021 6:00pm-7:30pm
Monthly Meetings
Moving online with zoom
Our usual monthly meetings are cancelled because of Covid-19. Instead, we are inviting speakers to join us by zoom. We can invite people directly from Nablus and this is working very well
To know about forthcoming speakers and registration details please subscribe to our mailing list (using the box on the right hand side of this page).
40th Anniversary Donations
Supporting Nablus
Coronavirus caused cancellation of our Festival of Nablus 2020 so we looked for other ways to mark the important 40th Anniversary of twinning between Dundee and Nablus.
Nablus is badly hit by Coronavirus so we have contributed £2,000 split between five projects.
Celebrating Forty Years of Twinning
between Dundee and Nablus
An historic and trend-setting link between our two cities was forged in 1980 when Dundee and Nablus agreed to form a twinning relationship.
Other cities have followed but Dundee was the first. The Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association (DNTA) continues to strengthen and develop links between the cities.
Six Day War testimonies from Nablus
It is 50 years since the Six Day War of 1967, the invasion of Nablus and the start of an occupation which continues to this day.
The invasion was a terrifying experience for the people of Nablus. We asked six people to recall their memories of that time - they make very moving and compelling testimonies.
Our booklet with these testimonies is now available online
Older news
You can also read about some of our Older news and events
Some of the included items:
- Stitching Palestine
- Education under occupation
- Trekking Palestine
- Naila and the Uprising
About DNTA
Welcome to the Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association
We encourage friendship and understanding between
the people of Nablus and the people of Dundee.
We welcome members who share our objectives.
So for enquiries, to leave comments about the website, or to join the
Association, please email our secretary, Nick Steff:
secretary@dundee-nablus.org.uk
Current projects
Planting trees in 2022
We are planting 1,000 olive trees in and around Nablus to help the villages and farmers to maintain their traditional income and food source. More details here.
Celebrating 40 years
It was in 1980 when Dundee District Council (as it was then) took the historic decision to twin with Nablus. We planned a great programme of activities and visitors from Nablus as a celebration of this link between our two cities.
The main Festival of Nablus was due to take place in Dundee between 30th May and 12th June 2020. Unfortunately (as described elsewhere) Coronavirus called a halt to this and forced us to cancel. Instead, we supported Coronavirus relief measures in Nablus and helped with other projects there.
Schools twinning
As part of the studies of Global Citizenship, pupils in Dundee are making contact with pupils in Nablus. They will be able to discuss their lives in their different cities, their favourite activities and their hopes.
Child Trauma Recovery - Nablus
Our project is training school counsellors in Nablus to deliver effective relief for trauma. They will be using the acclaimed manual on complex grief and trauma developed by the Children and War Foundation of Norway. Training will be delivered by Dr Ian Barron of the University of Dundee through the Palestinian Centre for Applied Research in Education (CARE). We are appealing for funding for this project.
Our films about the people of Nablus shows the city and lets you hear about their lives in their own words. Making this film celebrated 33 years of twinning between Dundee and Nablus.
Nablus our Twin City
A portrait of Nablus with comments from many of its citizens.
Nablus our Twin City Schools Edition
This shorter version was prepared for use in schools.
Dundee our Twin City
Reflections on Dundee & Nablus from two Palestinian young men: Rami Issa and Rafiq Zein Eddin.
Join us
If you share our objectives we would love to have you as a member.
Contact our Membership Secretary
or fill in our Membership Form
Friendship and Understanding
We promote friendship and understanding between the people of Nablus and the people of Dundee.
FONSA
Friends of Nablus and Surrounding Areas
A Scottish charity which supports Palestinians in and around Nablus.
FONSASpeakers
We provide speakers for local community groups. Several topics and formats available.