School supplies for Gaza, escalation in the Middle East, divestment training

Resources to inform and support your activism [afsc logo](   SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 Weekend Reading [AFSC staff distribute school supplies at a displacement camp in Gaza.]( Photo: AFSC/Gaza Hi Friend, Education is a fundamental right, but this is the second year in a row that Palestinian children in Gaza have been deprived of that right. Amid Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza, children and families are doing everything they can to keep up their schooling. Even if that means attending classes in crowded tents in displacement camps. Thanks to support from the AFSC community, our team in Gaza is supporting their efforts. Over the past months, we have distributed backpacks and other school supplies to more than 1,500 children. [Read more from AFSC’s Serena Awad.]( IN THE MEDIA [How do we observe the International Day of Peace in a time of genocide?]( By Joyce Ajlouny Last week, people around the world marked the International Day of Peace. But this year, as we mourn the deaths of more than 41,000 Palestinians killed by the Israeli military, I am struggling to find the words to express my grief. How do we honor these lives and continue our struggle for a world where peace and justice prevail? [Continue reading in Truthout.]( JOIN THE WEBINAR [Training for divestment campaigns (Sept. 30, 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET)]( Over the last few months, activists have made unprecedented progress in pushing their cities to divest from companies profiting from the Gaza genocide. In this webinar hosted by the BDS National Committee, you’ll hear from AFSC staff on how divestment works, what to consider before launching a campaign in your own city, and how to win. We’ll also hear from activists who have recently won divestment in their cities, including Portland, Maine, and Hayward, California. TAKE ACTION [Stop the expansion of war in the Middle East]( Thank you to everyone who has spoken out against escalating violence in the Middle East. It's not too late to step back from the edge of war. The U.S. must enforce an arms embargo and do everything in its power to peacefully prevent regional war. If you haven’t already, contact Congress today. NEW PODCAST EPISODE [What does Quakerism have to offer society?]( AFSC is sponsoring season three of the “Quakers Today” podcast, a project of Friends Publishing Corporation. The most recent episode explores the concept of “prefigurative practice” in the Quaker classroom. What happens when students don’t just learn about creating a more just, equitable future, but begin to live it? SUPPORT OUR WORK [Become a Partner for Peace]( We need at least 107 people to start new monthly gifts by Sept. 30 to help us meet our financial goals. Monthly giving is easy to set up and helps provide a steady stream of funding for peace and justice work worldwide. If you are not already partnering with us, please consider starting a monthly donation today!   Special thanks to our monthly donors, our Partners for Peace, for their ongoing support to make all our work possible. [DONATE](   American Friends Service Committee 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 United States | [Donate]( [Facebook]( [X (Twitter)]( [Instagram |]( [News]( If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please [unsubscribe](. [Update your AFSC email preferences](