What is CEPAL’s mission statement?

CEPAL is focused on its mandate, which dictates the nature and tone of its projects and activities throughout the year:

To assist Palestinian refugees in the pursuit of their basic human rights by increasing their access to education and by raising public awareness in Canada about their struggle.

What is CEPAL’s vision?

CEPAL seeks to be an active participant in enhancing the lives of Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon, and bringing their voices to Canada, in order to develop a deeper understanding in Canadians of their history, present and future.

Why is CEPAL important?

By offering language classes to Palestinian children and youth in Lebanon, CEPAL is responding to a need articulated by our partner organizations. English and French are part of the Lebanese curriculum, which Palestinian students must follow, and language skills can enhance Palestinians’ opportunities for accessing education and employment. Moreover, through language skills training CEPAL is furthering the belief that education is a tool for empowerment.

In addition, Palestinian non-governmental organizations, who shoulder increasing responsibility for the welfare of the Palestinian refugee community, consider English to be essential to their work as it is the language of communication with international donors and supporters.

CEPAL’s presence in the camps is a visible form of solidarity. The awareness-raising component of CEPAL’s summer program is more crucial now than ever. By sharing their experiences upon returning to Canada, CEPAL volunteers lend a voice to a community that has been rendered voiceless by 60 years of exile

Who runs CEPAL?

CEPAL is run by a Board of Directors. CEPAL also has an Alumni group consisting of past volunteers, and an Advisory Board who lend their support or advice to the Board of Directors based on their expertise. CEPAL is also supported by volunteers who give of their time and energy to keep the organization active.

How can I get involved, and where do I fit in the overall picture?

There are two main ways in which people can show their support to Palestinian refugees through CEPAL, by undefinedvolunteering and undefineddonations. There are many larger and more long-term projects that CEPAL’s local volunteers already have brewing, but they need a great deal of support, both in terms of human resources, time and funding.

Where do CEPAL’s volunteers work in Canada?

CEPAL’s head office is in Ottawa, however CEPAL volunteers are located in various cities including Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa. For the most part, CEPAL volunteers work from their homes and communicate by email and telephone.

What are the benefits of joining the CEPAL team?

CEPAL is a purely volunteer-run organization. CEPAL team members have gained a great deal of satisfaction out of their experience with CEPAL. Depending on your level of involvement, you can develop a wide variety of skills, enjoy learning new things, meet new people, and most of all, gain satisfaction from working towards enhancing the lives of others.

What is CEPAL’s charitable registration number?

CEPAL is a registered charity that issues tax receipts once a year in February. The charitable registration number is 86276 1418 RROO01.

Where does CEPAL get its funding from?

CEPAL is a non-governmental and entirely volunteer driven charity. CEPAL relies on donations from generous individuals who make up CEPAL’s membership, especially Sustaining Members, and fundraising through CEPAL-organized events (e.g., CEPAL’s annual commemoration of the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People). With only minimal overhead costs (CEPAL has no paid staff) the majority of contributions raised go directly into funding CEPAL’s Summer Program in Lebanon.

What does CEPAL do in Canada?

CEPAL raises awareness about the plight of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon through a series of lectures and film screenings, carried out by our Summer Program volunteers, or by inviting experts (academics, activists, development workers) from around the world to speak at CEPAL events in Canada. Our highest profile event is on Parliament Hill on November 29th each year: the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. In addition, we put our Summer Program volunteers in touch with the media for interviews, and publish their articles on our website and our bi-annual newsletter, the Arch. We also raise awareness through the CEPAL Digest, our weekly listserve email that includes refugee diaries as well as links to relevant news articles and links.

Who are CEPAL’s partners in Lebanon?

Infomation about CEPAL’s partners in Lebanon can be found on Our Partners page.

Why mainly English and French?

CEPAL’s partners continue to express the need for English and French language skills training. English and French are languages that help enhance the employability of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. In addition, the educational system in Lebanon has introduced the teaching of subjects in English and French, and as such, much work is needed to reinforce these languages for students in the refugee camps. Volunteers from Canada are well equipped to provide informal educational activities in these languages, also providing a sympathetic, attentive ear and an invaluable connection to the outside world for their students.

What does CEPAL do in Lebanon?

CEPAL recruits both Canadian volunteers to go to Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon to teach English and French as a second language, as well as basic computer skills. CEPAL volunteers share the costs of fundraising and spend two months overseas. From 1999 to 2001, CEPAL also secured funding for two interns for a project undertaken within the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy, with the contribution of CIDA, through the International Youth Internship Program. CEPAL places a great deal of emphasis on working closely with the Local NGOs that function in the camps, Najdeh and Women’s Humanitarian Organisation, to name just a couple. CEPAL’s program is a direct response to their needs-analysis reports, providing modest but effective support to those needs. CEPAL volunteers have also helped train the local NGO staff themselves, since language skills are crucial in writing proposals and communicating with the outside world.

What is CEPAL’s position on the Palestinian Right of Return?

CEPAL affirms its position of supporting Palestinian refugees’ right to choose to return to their homeland or to resettle in another country, and to compensation for their losses and suffering. Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are urging CEPAL and the international non-governmental community to assist in raising awareness of their rights, especially the right of return.

Canadians have an important role in supporting the Palestinian right of return. CEPAL urges every Canadian to contribute to this process. You can support Palestinians’ rights and the right of return by:

1. Writing a letter to your Members of Parliament calling on our government to uphold international law and human rights including the Palestinian refugees’ Right or Return;
2. Provide financial contributions to support CEPAL’s efforts in providing education to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and in raising awareness in Canada;
3. Donate valuable time to assist organizations such as CEPAL both in Canada and overseas.