GAZA, March 30, 2010(WAFA) - United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said, a new scheme gives donors the chance to make a direct contribution to Palestine refugee children's education by 'adopting' a school in Gaza.

UNRWA declared, donors can finance a Gaza school for a set period, normally one year. The donations will help children and staffs overcome the damage – both physical and mental – caused by years of isolation and deprivation.

The scheme will also address the destruction wrought during Israel's attack on Gaza in December and January 2008-9. Schools can be adopted in any of UNRWA's areas of operations: West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan as well as Gaza.

Any government, institution, non-governmental organization, individual or private sector organization can adopt a school. The costs cover the school's running costs, including textbooks and computers, teachers' salaries and heating costs. In principle it is possible to adopt a school for any period of a month or above.

'Adopt A School in Gaza' is a scheme developed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to give donors the opportunity to make a direct contribution to helping Palestinian refugee schoolchildren with their education. In adopting a school the donor finances the operation of the school for a set period, normally one year. In the case of schools in Gaza the scheme aims at helping these schools to overcome the damage, physical and mental, caused by years of isolation and deprivation followed by the destruction wrought during Israel's attack on Gaza in December to January 2008-9.

UNRWA said, the overall annual cost is approximately between $600,000 and $2 million, depending on the size of school. The average school serves several hundred pupils. The cost includes school furniture, uniforms, stationery, schoolbags, teachers' salaries, textbooks, computers, building maintenance costs, generators, heating costs, safety equipment, cleaning, sport supplies, food parcels, evening and summer learning.

UNRWA will arrange publicity. A visibility plan can be agreed with your organization before the project starts: possibilities include media coverage and issue of press releases, media events such as a field visit to the school, web articles with stories from the beneficiaries, commemorative banner with the name and logo of your organization, video filming.

UNRWA encourages exchanges between Palestine refugee students and supporters abroad. Where computer labs are available, e-linkages between two schools can be made. Pupils will send Eid greetings with photos to benefactors.