Activities Conducted by the Boarding Section:
1. Curricular Activity:
It takes the largest share among the various student activities and consists of preparation for the next school day and exams, where a purposeful study program is allocated for students to improve their academic level.
2. Sports Activity:
Allah Almighty said: “Indeed, Allah has chosen him over you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and physique.” [Al-Baqarah: 247]. In order to maintain good health for students and protect them from diseases, and as the saying goes, “A sound mind in a sound body,” the students practice various sports activities on a daily basis, including football, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, physical fitness, and chess.
3. Watching Television:
It is conducted in a planned and purposeful manner, where students enjoy watching local, international, and sports news daily, as well as some scientific programs and intellectual seminars.
4. Recreational Trips:
The administration of the boarding residence at the Arab Institute is keen on organizing comprehensive recreational programs for its orphaned students, which contribute to improving their psychological condition and enhancing their sense of belonging and happiness. These programs include regular trips to several tourist and natural sites in Palestine, in addition to educational and recreational visits to archaeological sites, museums, and public parks.
These trips aim to bring joy to the students, provide them with recreation, broaden their horizons, and create opportunities for positive social interaction, which contributes to supporting their psychological stability and developing their personalities in a healthy and safe environment.
5. Medical Care:
Allah Almighty said: “And when I am ill, it is He who cures me.” Islam has given great attention to the treatment of physical diseases in general and psychological illnesses in particular. Out of our commitment to maintaining our students’ well-being, we organized a medical day under the supervision of the Faculty of Medicine, called “The Inspiring Medical Day.” The SCOPH Committee – the Medical Students’ Association at Al-Quds University – held this medical day on 1/10/2023 at the Arab Institute – Boarding Section on the Al-Quds University campus in Abu Dis. The medical day included various stations relevant to the targeted age groups, focusing on awareness, guidance, and competitions. Special emphasis was placed on the smoking-awareness station to increase students’ understanding of its dangers, as they are at a sensitive age for adopting habits. This was done through creatively designed stations that successfully captured their attention.
In addition to the many common stations found in medical days—such as blood pressure, diabetes, vision, and others—aimed at detecting any early warning signs of health problems and ensuring continuous follow-up of the students’ health status to prevent any negative consequences resulting from neglecting periodic checkups.
The medical day concluded with a recreational activity in the form of a knowledge competition that included general medical and religious information, creating an atmosphere of positive competition that encouraged the love of learning. The boarding section administration honored the doctors for the service they provided to the orphan students in the boarding section.
An ambulance team – the South-East Jerusalem Volunteer Committee – is also hosted to teach the students how to provide first aid in cases of choking, fainting, or breathing cessation.
6. Psychological and Social Services
Believing that the body needs food and drink for nourishment, we also recognize that there is a psychological and social aspect that is inseparable and no less important than physical nourishment. Therefore, we maintain constant and continuous communication with the Faculty of Social, Psychological, and Educational Work, where students from these fields provide comprehensive programs to guide and counsel the students. This is done through various extracurricular activities and events that contribute to the healthy psychological release of the orphan students.
This is met with commitment and cooperation from our students to ensure that the benefits reach all. This dedication and cooperation, along with the supportive atmosphere provided by the boarding section’s administration, staff, and students, have brought psychological comfort to those delivering the service programs.