Hussein Ibrahim Issa
September 1947 - March 2000
Founder of The Hope Flowers School
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As a graduate of Bethlehem University (social work and education) and an experienced social worker, the founder and original director, HUSSEIN IBRAHIM ISSA (may he rest in peace) was the ideal person to create, develop and nurture the Hope Flowers School in its role as a peace and democracy catalyst in the region.
After his family was forced from their land in the 1948 war, Hussein Ibrahim Issa grew up in the harsh and restrictive environment of the Deheishe refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. His early formal education was provided by the UNWRA School in Dehesishe camp after which he embarked upon his career in social work, starting at the psychiatric hospital in Bethlehem where he remained for nine years.
In 1976 Hussein became one of the first students to attend Bethlehem University, graduating in 1980 with a Batchelor of Arts in Social Work and a Diploma of Education. His experience in the field of health education and social work developed further when he accepted a position with the U.N.W.R.A in and around the Bethlehem and Hebron areas. During this time he researched the effects the Israeli occupation was having upon the health of Palestinians, especially children, and began to fully realize the intense suffering caused by this occupation. He also began to realize the path to a lasting solution to the suffering of all the people in the region could only be achieved by dialogue and communication based upon mutual respect and non violence. Inspired by the historical successes of Martin Luther King and Gandhi, he worked on creating an institution that could support this philosophy and provide a direct and tangible benefit to Palestinian children.
In recognizing that children were the future and hope of any solid peace process, he established the Al-Amal Child Care Center in Bethlehem in 1984. Over the years the centre gradually grew, increasing its enrolment yearly until the need arose for a larger and more spacious facility. By now, Hussein had developed an international reputation as a peace maker and was firmly entrenched in the Middle East peace process. In 1994, thanks to this reputation and the resulting network of friends and supporters from all religions, cultures and nations, sufficient funds were raised to purchase and build on land outside of Al Khader. This is now the present site of The Hope Flowers School.
Hussein continued to work tirelessly to develop the school into an institution that would play a vital role in turning young Palestinians away from violence, and facilitate meaningful and respectful dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. Before his untimely death in March 2000 he was able to see this goal come to fruition by witnessing teacher and students exchanges and joint peace building projects between The Hope Flowers School and Democratic School of Hadera and Harishonim High School in Herzlia, as well as see the enrolment of students at the school continue to increase.
Upon his death, tributes were sent to the school from all corners of the globe, paying respect to this man of true peace and acknowledging the vital role he had played in the creation of a democratic and just solution to the conflict for the benefit of future generations of this region.
