Nick Bilbrough • Artistic Co-ordinator
I’m a teacher, teacher trainer and author of methodology books for teachers. I started the Hands up Project in early 2015 after running a British Council training course on storytelling for teachers from Gaza. These days I’m responsible for organising everything to do with remote theatre; any events which we do related to this, and our EU funded and British Council funded Remote Theatre Projects. I'm also currently writing the Remote Theatre Handbook and editing several books of remote plays, some by Palestinian children and others by well known people in the fields of ELT and theatre. I think my proudest Hands up Project moment was when I was able to present our first book, ‘Toothbrush’, to the children in Palestine whose plays were included there.
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Sara Wood • Learning Co-ordinator
I’m an experienced and enthusiastic English teacher and a Hands Up Project volunteer since 2016. I became the Learning Coordinator in October 2020 and since then I’ve been working alongside the Palestinian teachers and volunteers whose dedication and determination ensure that children and young people living in hugely difficult circumstances get every possible opportunity to learn. I set up training and teacher development sessions, write the monthly newsletter, run courses for volunteers and monitor team-teaching sessions and I feel privileged to be part of this great organization .
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Raja'a Abu Jasser • Administrative Co-ordinator
9/12/2023 Raja’a is an indispensable part of the Hands Up Team, dearly loved and respected by her colleagues. At this moment, we don’t know exactly where Raja’a and her family are nor the conditions they are living in. We have lost all contact with her over the last week. We are hoping and praying for her safety and a permanent ceasefire to end the war on Gaza.
I trained as a civil engineer and then as an English language teacher, and started working with the Hands Up project in April 2020. My job basically is all about administrating and coordinating sessions and activities held by the HUP as well as communicating with all the volunteers inside and outside Palestine.
My proudest moment in the HUP was the time when I went to the schools in Gaza and delivered the trophies to the winning students of the Lockdown Remote theatre competition. I am very attached to the HUP and I enjoy working with such a lovely brilliant team.
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