Palestinian children on an exchange trip to the UK spoke of their gratitude for the support they received during their visit. 

Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association (Cadfa) has been bringing Palestinian teenagers to the UK for 20 years in an exchange programme to promote awareness of the human rights situation in Palestine.

It was set up in 2003 when people from Camden linked up with people in Abu Dis, a town in the Jerusalem suburbs.

Ten teenagers - six girls and four boys - made the journey from the West Bank where, they say, their overriding emotion every day is fear.

The visit was due to happen in October but Hamas's terror attack from Gaza on October 7 and Israel's subsequent reprisals made it impossible.

The Ham&High met some of the children as they returned from visiting parts of the UK including Worcester, Malvern and the Welsh Borders last week.

They described the welcome they received and the beauty of their surroundings. They also admitted that they often feel scared at home in the West Bank and what they will miss most about their visit to the UK is "walking around freely at night".

This Is Local London: Palestinian children and leaders, part of the CADFA exchange programme, at their Beyond the Checkpoint event in Kings CrossPalestinian children and leaders, part of the CADFA exchange programme, at their Beyond the Checkpoint event in Kings Cross (Image: Khalid Eljamal)

The West Bank, to the west of the River Jordan and the Dead Sea and including East Jerusalem and Bethlehem, is the larger of two Palestinian areas - the other being Gaza - and has been occupied by Israel since 1967.

The children come from around Jerusalem and Bethlehem. CADFA staff say they live near Israeli settlements and military camps, where there are hundreds of checkpoints including armed soldiers stationed outside schools.

They are also subject to curfews, which they dare not breach.

Their visit culminated on Thursday (March 7) at a Beyond the Checkpoints event at the Holy Cross Church, in Cromer Street, Kings Cross.

The teenagers had created a video that morning at La Sainte Union School, in Highgate Road, which they showed at the event.

This Is Local London: Sagrada Familia, from Peru and Bolivia, performed at the Beyond the Checkpoint event in support of Palestine and the youth CADFA programmeSagrada Familia, from Peru and Bolivia, performed at the Beyond the Checkpoint event in support of Palestine and the youth CADFA programme (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

They were also supported by musician Julia Aaisha, South American trio Sagrada Familia and Islington-based choir Union Chapel Voices.

Speaking through Cadfa co-ordinator Abdul Wahab Sabbah, one young man said the trip was an opportunity to highlight the suffering that his people had experienced for generations.

"When we came here I felt like freedom," he said. "Children don't have checkpoints, they don't have soldiers come to them and tell them to take off their shirts and things like that, lots of things."

Abdul spoke of one boy, nicknamed 'future Messi' after the footballer, who asked him: "How come people can wander around this country not carrying their passports?"

This Is Local London: Union Chapel Voices choir director Anthony Fort told Palestinian children: 'We are moved by your stories and inspired by your strength - safe travels'Union Chapel Voices choir director Anthony Fort told Palestinian children: 'We are moved by your stories and inspired by your strength - safe travels' (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

He said the boy always had the same question as they toured the country - "when will we go past a checkpoint?" - and panicked when he did not have his passport at the Welsh border.

Another boy said pupils in the West Bank do not enjoy break time or PE at school. "Most of the time soldiers are harassing us," he said. "Sometimes throw tear gas bullets and sometimes they shoot live bullets. We have experienced all these things."

One of the girls, 15, was described  as a 'real star' by Abdul as she was the only participant in the Cadfa programme who did not know anybody else. 

She said: "I'm really happy to be here and imagine one day I can come here to Britain with my friends and I have. I'm really happy to meet you all, thank you for coming."

Another girl, who lives in a refugee camp, thanked the room for listening to the children. "We can't always be here but you certainly can," she added.

This Is Local London: CADFA co-ordinator Abdul Wahab Sabbah outside Cafe Palestina in Fortess Road, Kentish Town CADFA co-ordinator Abdul Wahab Sabbah outside Cafe Palestina in Fortess Road, Kentish Town (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Abdul praised the children for sharing their stories, adding: "We will keep on going until we all feel we are free and we all have our dignity and we achieve human rights for all."

Cadfa director Nandita Dowson said: "Thank goodness especially at this really horrible time there are lots of people fighting really hard for Palestine and for human rights and for international humanitarian law and basically for people to be treated decently.

"Over the last 20 years we've had a lot of visits to Palestine and from Palestine because we want people to know how ordinary people are having to live and we've discovered that's a good way of making people want to be really active to change the situation. 

"The visit was going to happen in October, couldn't happen then, we are very happy it's happened now."

Holy Cross parish priest Fr Christopher Cawrse said he visited Abu Dis 17 years ago and said the memory was "very precious" to him.

He said the church was committed to interfaith dialogue and that it was a "huge privilege" to welcome Palestinian young people and their leaders after their great journey around our country.

Anthony Fort, director of music at the Union Chapel Voices, who also performed, said: "We feel moved by your stories and inspired by your strength. Safe travels."