The Samra community is located in the north of the Jordan Valley. It is surrounded by two settlements and two military training grounds, one called Mzoqeh located 500 metres from Samra and Samra military training area which is located one kilometer from Samra. Since the Israeli policy of removal of Palestinian people from their land, there are only ten families remaining in Samra. In June this year the army evicted all the people in Samra from 6am to 6pm for training purposes for one day. The last demolition of Samra was in 2011 when three houses were destroyed. The shepherds living in Samra cannot use the land to feed their sheep as it is a military training area and if he does so anyway, he faces arrest and high fines by the military. The Samra community has to buy water from the towns for 18 Shekels per cubic metre and transport it to their community. People in Samra live with no electricity, even though the main electricity cables run about 100 metres away from their houses to supply the military bases and settlements with electricity.

We, as a solidarity grassroots activist group, have supported this community by rebuilding shelters that were destroyed by the military in 2011. However, we saw that this was not enough and decided to build a school providing Samra with a space so that the children can practice their right of education. 100% children from Samra will be able to go to the school as well as children from the surrounding villages, Al Hadidiyye, Makhul and Al Maleh.

Currently, all the children from Samra who attend school, have to live during the week with friends in Tubas as it is impossible to return to their communities daily. Tubas is located 20kms away from their home and the children have to pass through a checkpoint by private transport as there is no public transport available. This is a clear example of how the Israeli state is trying to push people out of their communities into the towns and cities. To support those children staying on their land and to give them the right to education in their own community we appeal for volunteers to come support Jordan Valley Solidarity with finishing the school. We also welcome people to volunteer in the school by teaching English, sending school materials, supporting us through documenting, or sending some funding or by any other idea you might think to be useful.

On Thursday 14th and Friday 15th November we will be working on the school and invite any volunteers to come join us. Bring a hat, a bottle of water and some good shoes. Please contact us for further details and for transportation infor@jordanvalleysolidarity.org for more info on the organisation see www.jordanvalleysolidarity.org