London Stock Exchange Foundation Donates to BC for new Israeli and Palestinian projects

December 2023

This Christmas and holiday season, as the world prays for peace at a time of great suffering and uncertainty, Beyond Conflict announces two projects for Palestinians and Israelis, thanks to a major donation from the London Stock Exchange Group Foundation.

BC and the Foundation (LSEG) have been in discussions since the crisis broke in October 2023. The unfolding events have seen death, destruction and trauma on both sides. As always, it is children and young people who suffer the most. Thanks to our donor, Beyond Conflict will be announcing details in the New Year of two new projects in Israel and the Palestinian West Bank to provide mental health support to young people.

Simultaneously, BC adds its voice to the global call for peace in the region.

“The mental health impact of heart-breaking events in Israel and Gaza will echo for generations on both sides. We ask you to support these projects that will seek to address the psychological fallout of the on-going conflict and humanitarian crisis. Thank you to our donor for making it possible,” said Edna Fernandes, Co-Founder and Director of BC.

We will be working with respected local partners on both sides and will tell you more in January 2024.  Each project will receive equal funding.

Working in Gaza right now is unfeasible until a permanent ceasefire is in place. So we will begin by supporting the Palestinian community in the West Bank, working with a leading Palestinian NGO. As soon as work in Gaza becomes possible for mental health, we aim to turn our focus there too. In southern Israel, we will be working with a leading Jewish NGO partner to deliver mental health support to young people directly affected by the Hamas attack on October 7 2023.

The London Stock Exchange Group Foundation has set up an online giving page too, which you can donate to here. https://www.justgiving.com/page/lseg-foundation-lsegfundraiserforbeyondconflict?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Flseg-foundation-lsegfundraiserforbeyondconflict&utm_source=linkedin&utm_campaign=pfp-linkedin

BEYOND CONFLICT MARKS 5 YRS AS A CHARITY

Beyond Conflict marks the close of its 5^th year as a charity this year in 2023 with the following achievements in our first 5 years. In 2024 we will begin in good shape with five projects spread across the Middle East, Asia and E Europe. Here are the highlights:

1. Support for mental well-being classes for widows and orphans in Iraq.
2. Support and training for refugees and frontline workers in the Rohingya refugee camp, Bangladesh.
3. Support for Ukrainian refugees via donations to frontline support in Poland, a fundraising charity concert and a music therapy project for refugees at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral.
4. Our first major donation from LSEG Foundation, which will fund two new projects for Palestinians and Israelis.
5. Support from the John Lennon estate.
6. Support and donations from major organisations including Eton, Trinity and Alleyn’s Schools in Windsor and London; Barbican Centre and PwC.

Thanks to every person who has donated, no matter how small.  We couldn’t do it without you. Happy Christmas and Happy Holidays.

The Beyond Conflict Team