A letter from Mohammad Fahili, Director
My dear Friends,
I am glad to share with you some upbeat news at this season of renewal. Akko is moving forward with plans to revitalize the city, starting with our neighbourhood, Wolfson.
The continued suffering of the hostages, their loved ones and the people of Gaza, is never far from my thoughts. We pray for a speedy end to the violence. As the war drags on, though, I feel we must prepare for better times and we are working towards that end.
For those of you who haven’t visited yet, let me tell you a little about our neighbourhood. When it was built in the 1950s, it was the sought-after area in Akko, because it was new, modern, and outside the walls of the old city. But time and neglect have taken their toll, and over two generations it has fallen into disrepair. With these new plans, I’m hopeful it will once again be a thriving community.
Over the next seven years, the old tenements will be replaced by high-rise buildings and new commercial areas. Young Arab and Jewish families will be encouraged to move here and join the existing population. An added attraction for them is that we are just two minutes from both the train station and the central bus station.
Since 1985, our Centre, which is located in the heart of the neighbourhood, has been a lifeline for its Arab and Jewish residents. We plan to continue in this role even as the population changes, though we anticipate it remaining a primarily working class neighbourhood. However, in order to do this, our centre needs a major upgrade and expansion. The timing is right as it coincides with the realisation, understood during the war, that our Centre must be a better protected space to meet safety needs. By reinforcing the building as part of the upgrade, we will not have to close if there is the potential of rockets. This will significantly enhance the provision that we can offer.
Plans have been drawn and submitted for approval, and our team is working closely with key stakeholders to envision our expanding programming in the revitalization process of our neighbourhood and city. I look forward to updating you along the way.
Thank you for being there through the good and more challenging times. We couldn’t operate without your support for which we are so grateful.
