After two Intifadas, genocide in Gaza, and death of many friends– this is the first time that my home is starting to feel unrecognizable. The missiles prevent us from sleeping, Israeli colonizers murder us daily, our land is being taken at record speed.
Most menacingly, colonies are being developed in the city of Bethlehem, and my neighborhood.
The only thing I can think of is fight back by organizing around hope and resist ethnic cleaning. As our land is confiscated, annexed and destroyed, we lean on our steadfastness—our heritage, identity, and community.
Today in the West Bank there are more than 50,000 historic buildings. The ministry of tourism is working to protect these buildings, but with humanitarian aid stretched to the lifesaving work in Gaza and Lebanon, it is up to us to save ourselves, our heritage, and land.
The Palestinian Heritage Trail invites you, as members of our community, to work with us in saving some of these old building, creating jobs, and building sustainable jobs.
Our work will begin with DAR BARROUG a Historic cultural center in Beit Sahour. Once renovated, this timeless cultural center will be used cultural exchange, community empowerment, and sustainable income.
The jobs will begin with renovation but will not end there. Once renovated DAR BARROUG will be used as cooperative that will include space for 100 women and artists. DAR BARROUG is more than a building it is hope.
While the original owner is unknown, the first known owner was Metri Abu Saada, and in 1967 his sons, Saba and George, lived in Dar Barrouq until the late 1990s.
During the first Palestinian Intifada, activists and the Beit Sahour Municipality started a Local Cultural Heritage Museum on the ground floor and remained open until the mid-1990s.
In the early 2000s, SOS Children’s Villages Palestine used it to house young girls. In 2012, Mr. Tariq Ellyan from Beit Safafa rented the ground floor and opened Singer Café, combining coffee, art, and education.
Unfortunately, the building was vacated in November 2022 and has awaited fresh faces to continue the story.
We are seeking to turn Dar Barrouq into a space that is designed as a center for cultural exchange, community empowerment, and sustainable tourism to Palestine.
Located in the historic center of Beit Sahour, Palestine, Dar Barrouq will bring together international visitors and local communities to experience authentic Palestinian culture, engage in artisan workshops, and purchase handmade crafts.
This is being stewarded by “3amo George” (George Saliba Rishmawi) and his organization, The Palestinian Heritage Trail (PHT).
PHT is a not-for-profit community-based tourism organization that creates hiking trails in, and around, different Palestinian communities. PHT collaborates with more than 90 local communities to uplift Palestinian identity, history, and ways of living while advocating for Palestinian human and environmental rights.
Please help us keep the rehabilitate DAR BARROUQ — a Historic Cultural Center in Beit Sahour, Palestine. Help us keep the Palestinian heritage alive. Please Donate here
