Here’s to the people of Baqa’a...Here’s Tomorrow!

Filmed during a two-week delegation in between the months of May and June 2005, Here’s Tomorrow is part one of a continuing documentary project, which focuses on the issues faced by Palestinian Refugees in Jordans largest refugee camp and is being run by the Manchester based Middle East Cultural Association UK.

The documentary follows the people of the Baqa’a Refugee Camp in Jordan,which was established in 1968, to house the displaced Palestinian people from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, who were forced to flee from their homeland as a result of the Arab/Israeli six-day war.

Filmed over a period of two weeks in the camp, the documentary paints a vivid picture of life inside of Baqa’a and audiences are introduced to the people of the camp, through direct interviews, where residents of Baqa’a talk about their experiences from their arrival into the Camp, raising children and their struggle for education.

Issues that are raised in Here’s Tomorrow, include the Palestinian people’s resilience to maintain and cultivate their own national and cultural heritage within their young people along with the dreams, hopes and aspirations that young Palestinian people have and their views on returning to Palestine.

Other interviews within the film also include a local doctor who talks about the general medical situation faced by people in Baqa’a and the impact that poverty has had on people’s health. This is along side an exclusive interview with the vice president of the premier league, Baqa’a Football Club.

Here’s Tomorrow, was made out of a response to the first visit to the Baqa’a Refugee Camp in 2004, by the Iraq Solidarity Campaign and Middle East Cultural Association with the title being named after the common phrase;Bukhra Phalestine - Tomorrow Palestine! The aim of the film is to bring to the people of Britain, a direct message of solidarity along with the story of another people’s real life experience.

Here’s Tomorrow is being shown at two premiere viewings in Manchester, the first being on Monday 23/1/2006 at the Falafel Restaurant on Wilmslow Road in the Rusholme district and will be followed by another screening on Thursday 26/1/2006 at the Zion Centre, Stretford Road, Hulme in Manchester. Both screenings will begin at 7-30pm with a question and answer session following the screening on the 26/1/2006.

It is being asked that all people who wish to come and see the film, to please give a small donation of £3.50, with the proceeds raised from both events going back into the Baqa’a Refugee Camp, to help maintain and develop already existing educational and sporting projects.

The Middle East Cultural Association was established in 2003 and since its formation has been involved in hosting and organising two-student exchange visits with Palestinian universities, two successful delegations to the Baqa’a Refugee Camp in Jordan, along with a photographic and cultural exhibition on the Palestinian refugee situation.

For more information or to give a donation to help us continue our work, please make cheques payable to the Middle East Cultural Association, or just write to us at MECA, PO Box 202, Manchester, M21 7WD.

You can also check us out online at www.baqaacamp.blogspot.com for further information.