A CHILDREN'S STORY AND WORKBOOK
CREATED BY THE PALESTINIAN FEMINIST COLLECTIVE
ART BY C. GAZALEH
lo!!
name is andala 1
Iamafamous Palestiniancartoo
My birthday is July 13, 1969.
That is when the Palestinian artist, Naji al-Ali created me!
He drew me and published my image in the newspaper.
We are both proud to be Palestinian.
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Trace Handala's Name
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Trace Handala's name in Arabic
In Arabic we write from right to left
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My name, Handala, comes from the Arabic word "handal."
The handal plant has deep roots. Even if you cut them, they grow back.
Handal is Palestinian plant that produces a very bitter fruit.
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Its deep roots show the strong connection that we have to our land.
But my favorite fruit is the bateekh (watermelon) ...
because it's the colors of the Palestinian flag: red, black, green and white! What's your favorite fruit?
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Color Handala with the Colors of the Palestinian Flag
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Whileit'sasadstoryandsometimesa littlescary,itisalsofullofcourage home,community,andhope.
Mystoryrepresentstheexperience ofmanyPalestinianstoo!
NowIamgoingtotellyou thestoryofmylife.
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When I was only 10 years old, I had to flee my home in Palestine.
AgroupofbulliescalledZionistswanted ourlandsotheystoleitbyforceand hurtmanypeople.
MyMamaandIcriedalot.
PalestinianscallthisexperiencetheNakba.
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Atfirst,welivedintents,liketheonesyou usewhenyougocamping.Wethoughtwe wouldonlybethereforafewdays.
Butdaysbecameyearsandourtents becameconcretebuildings.
WecallthemRefugeeCamps.
IliveinAinal-Helweh RefugeeCampinLebanon.
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ZIONISTS HAVE NEVER
LET US GO BACK TO PALESTINE, EVEN THOUGH WE STILL HAVE THE KEY TO OUR HOME.
Draw a picture of your family's house and key.
Ask your parents for help if needed.
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Najidrewme withoutshoes, thtornclothing ndmessyhair.
Thatis auselifeforme
andotherPalestinianrefugeeshasbeen reallytough.
Istilllovethecamp becauseallthe peopleIlove are there.
ButI really wantto returntomy homeinPalestine.
WILLYOUHELPMERETURN?
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Handala's Return!
Handala has his family's old house key. Now, he needs your help to get back home to Palestine! Trace a way home for Handala.
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NAJI DREW ME SO YOU CAN'T SEE MY FACE.
CANYOUGUESSWHY?
A. He didn't know how to draw a face
B. He ran out of time to draw me
C. He wanted me to be mysterious
D. He wanted me to turn my back against all the world leaders who didn't help me
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Najidrewmewithmy backturnedtothe worldtoshowhow worldleaders ignoredtheNakba
...and turned theirbackson thePalestinians.
Iwillkeepmybackturneduntil
Ireturntoafree Palestine.
ButIwill neverturnmy backonyou!
I HOPEYOUWON'TTURNYOURBACKONME.
TheAnswerisD!
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Terrible things keep happening today in Palestine.
Children like me keep having their homes taken by the Zionist bullies. They are always scaring them and arresting them.
My friends and I call this an Ongoing Nakba. We want this to stop happening, so we always shout out...
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Even though I have a hard and sad life, I am also courageous.
I will always speak up and fight for what's right and fair.
I will never forget that I am Palestinian or give up on my right to return!
I will always try to find a way to help other Palestinians and Free Palestine.
I will never be silent when unfair things happen.
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Help Handala Free Palestine
Think of things you can do to support Handala and his friends free Palestine. Fill in the blanks and feel free to ask your family members for assistance
Iwilldrawapictureandsenditto
Iwilltell___________________________about Handalaandhisstruggle!
Iwillwritealetterto______________________.
_______________________________________
Iwillraisefundsforthe childrenofPalestineby: _______________________________________ _______________________________________
IwillchantthisataPalestineprotest: _______________________________________ _______________________________________
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Thisismelookingatapoppyflower.For Palestinians,poppiesareasymbolofhope.
Iam hopefulforfreedomandreturn.
Ineverletanyonetellmesomethingis impossible!
IalwaysholdontoHOPE!
" H a n d a l a a n d t h e P o p p y " b y L a i l a S h a w a 19
There are many other Palestinian symbols like me . A few of them are in the word puzzle below! Can You find them?
WORD SEARCH
D W Q W P O B E J S O H H M O F A M Y O L D B D Q T A V P X W N Y H I W K L J R N W O S F L A I Q A P L O E U C D L L O S E S R D Y U S E A R N I E I N P L N A Y A V L H O U L A S A I D Q N I Z R C U Y P M N Q F E A D N E A A T P E S L C I E L G O H I V F N D H Y O V E D W X L T Y K D U
POPPY PALESTINE OLDKEY ALQUDS WATERMELON FLYINGDOVE OLIVEBRANCH
SYMBOLSOFPALESTINE
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ICAN'TWAITTOGOHOMETOAFREEPALESTINE.
I'MEXCITEDTO PLAYINTHE OLIVEAND ORANGE ORCHARDS.
IWANTTOHUGMYTETA (GRANDMA)ANDPLANTHERBS WITHMYSIDO(GRANDPA)AGAIN.
ILOOKFORWARDTO SINGINGSONGSAND FLYINGKITESWITH MYNEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS.
ICAN'TWAITFORSUMMER TOSWIMATTHEBEACHES OFYAFAANDPLAY SOCCERINAL-QUDS.
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DRAW A SHORT COMIC OF WHAT
HANDALA WILL DO IN PALESTINE WHEN HE RETURNS AND IT IS FREE
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What kind of future do you dream about for Palestinian children? How do you imagine yourself and your life in a free Palestine after return?
Write a letter to Palestine about your dreams for a future in a Free Palestine.
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Make a collage of Handala by cutting out the pictures of him on the next page and pasting them on page 26!
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PASTE IMAGES OF HANDALA BELOW TO MAKE A COLLAGE
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Thisstoryandworkbookwas createdaspartofthe PalestinianFeminist Collective's2023Feminist FuturesCalendarand Program.
ItisdedicatedtoPalestinian childreneverywhere.
OurfeaturedartistforJuly2023isLailaShawawithapiece titled,"HandalaandthePoppy."
LailapassedawayjustdaysaftergrantingthePFCpermissionto useherillustrationinour2023Calendar.ThePFCextendsour heartfeltcondolencestoherfamilyandfriends.This booklet honorsthelivesandlegaciesofNajial-AliandLailaShawa.
TolearnmoreaboutthePFCandourworkvisitusat palestinianfeministcollective.org
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