Leichhardt is the suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, Australia where it all began. In 2007 a group of concerned people formed Leichhardt Friends of Hebron to build partnerships with NGOs in the West Bank of Occupied Palestine and assist projects benefiting the most disadvantaged people of Hebron and the south Hebron hills.
In 2016 Leichhardt Friends of Hebron changed its name to Friends of Hebron Sydney to reflect the wider constituency we work in.
Friends of Hebron Sydney focus primarily on education projects to ensure access to quality education for the most marginalised students. Our work has included remunerating teachers in a number of learning centres, building and rehabilitating infrastructure for schools and supporting safe transport to school through the school access project. With our partner organisation we address the issues of access and inclusion for communities to provide resources and staffing, to enable safer access to schooling and build capacity for people to stay on their land.
Friends of Hebron Sydney aim to:
Work to promote human rights as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent United Nations conventions and declarations and respect for international law in the occupied Palestinian lands;
Work to raise awareness of human rights and humanitarian issues relevant to the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands;
Raise money for vital education and community projects in the city of Hebron and surrounding areas; and
To work with municipalities in Australia in building relationships and partnerships with Palestinian communities.
Partner organisation:
Friends of Hebron have partnered with the Hebron International Resource Network (HIRN) since 2011. They are an an organization comprised of local Palestinians and international allies. Using the principles of Sumud (steadfast hope), they seek to support Palestinians living near settlements. By supporting their right to water, safe housing, movement, and education, Palestinians are more likely to stay on their land and in their homes. HIRN have facilitated numerous interventions since starting work in Hebron and its surrounds including
- Scholarships for Palestinians seeking higher education.
- Support for water and electricity access.
- Building schools and communities so children don’t have to cross checkpoints to attend.
- Support for building and renovation projects to keep families on their lands.
- Aiding communities to farm on their land, so they can be self-sufficient and have goods to sell.
Acknowledgement of Country
Friends of Hebron acknowledges that the lands where we live and work are, were and always will be Aboriginal land, where sovereignty was never ceded. We recognise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original and traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia, recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community and respect the rights that they hold as traditional custodians. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. We recognise the ongoing harms of colonisation of this land and support the actions of First Nations people to achieve recognition and justice. We endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the Makarrata Commission and the process of treaty-making.
We reflect on the long-standing solidarity between Aboriginal and Palestinian peoples in the continent now known as Australia and across the globe in the shared struggle against settler colonialism. We recognise the dispossession of the land and its ongoing effects on First Nations Peoples today. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.
friendsofhebronsydney.org.au 