Hind al-Husseini

She is Hind Taher al-Husseini, who wrote her own biography stating:

I was born in Jerusalem on April 25, 1916, in the house of my maternal grandfather, the late Muhammad Saleh al-Husseini. This house is currently known as Dar Al-Tifl Al-Arabi (House of the Arab Child) in Jerusalem. My father passed away when I was two years old (I do not know him), so my mother struggled to raise six children, which had the greatest impact on my practical life. I was the only girl, and I had five older brothers.

Education

I finished my primary education at the Islamic Girls’ School in 1932. I then joined the English Girls’ College in Jerusalem, completing my secondary education there in 1937. I subsequently undertook private studies for one year in Arabic and English literature in 1938.

Career

I worked as a teacher at the Islamic Girls’ School for the academic year 1938/1939. Then, World War II broke out, which changed my plans, as I was preparing to go to university. Consequently, I worked as a teacher until the end of the academic year 1944/1945.

In 1945, I left the teaching profession and joined voluntary social work, serving as an organizer for the Women’s Social Solidarity Society in Jerusalem.

The Turning Point: 1948

The Palestine War of 1948 struck us, tearing the country apart. Charitable societies ceased operations following the Deir Yassin tragedy, after which many Palestinians were displaced for fear of suffering the same fate as the people of Deir Yassin.

The children of Deir Yassin who were destined to survive that terrible Zionist massacre represented the greatest phenomenon of misery and despair. Immediately, and within a week—with the assistance of Mr. Adnan Amin Al-Tamimi—I gathered 55 boys and girls. We placed them in two rooms in the Souq Al-Husr neighborhood in the Old City. I had nothing in my pocket that day but 138 Palestinian pounds.

I vowed to myself that I would live with them or die with them; I imagined that the Palestinian people would be erased and become extinct if those children died… And how could our great people be erased? No, and a thousand times no. That was on April 25, 1948.

The Establishment of Dar Al-Tifl Al-Arabi

Thus the idea began, and a few months later, I founded the Dar Al-Tifl Al-Arabi Society in Jerusalem.

When things calmed down and some schools resumed, classes were opened for the children residing with us within the compound of the house where they lived. We used the garage, the horse stable, and the grooms’ quarters as temporary classrooms under our direct supervision.

1961: We managed to build the basement and the first floor of the school building with a donation from the Aramco company in Dhahran, using them as classrooms.
1965: We were able to build the second floor of the existing school with a donation from the Al-Shaya family in Kuwait.
1969: The third floor of the school building was constructed, housing the secondary classes, the school library, and a section of the boarding house where some orphan female students reside.

Cultural Preservation

In the 1960s, we also began collecting embroidered dresses until we had 3,200 pieces. We initiated the idea of the Folklore Museum to preserve our heritage from being lost. We also began establishing a folk dance troupe consisting of 20 girls.

Expansion of the Institution

1970: The Children’s Building was constructed with donations from the German Lutheran Church.
1971: The Institute of Education and Social Work was established.

Thus, the Society grew until it became an entire neighborhood owning buildings and containing the following departments:

Nursery and Kindergarten.
Primary Stage.
Preparatory and Secondary Stage.
Literacy, Sewing, Cutting, and Home Economics Stage.
Institute of Education and Social Work.

1982: The College of Arts for Girls building was completed with assistance from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). In the same year, the house of the late great Palestinian writer Is’af Al-Nashashibi was purchased. Preparations began to turn it into an Islamic Research Center and a higher institute granting a Master’s degree in Archaeology and Islamic Civilization in Jerusalem.

Conference Participation

I participated in the following conferences:

1953 (Lebanon): Conference of Vocational Training Experts for the Middle East, where I presented my experience: “Dar Al-Tifl and the Social Field.”
1952 (Damascus): The Third Social Studies Seminar for Arab States (as an observer).
1956 (Amman): Social Studies Seminar for Arab States, organized by the Arab League.
1959: Seminar on the Role of Rural Women and Their Participation in the Rural Community Advancement Program (Organized by the Arab League). My topic was “Charitable Societies in the Field of Action.”

Awards and Honors

I received several decorations:

1964: A medal from the Pope on the occasion of Pope Paul VI’s visit to Jerusalem.
1980: The Italian Adelaide Ristori Award for Leading Women in the World.
1983: The Order of the Star of Jordan for Social Service.
1989: First Class Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany.

Memberships

I served as a member of many social and educational institutions and bodies:

Member of the Board of Directors of the Refugee Girl.
Member of the Board of Directors of the Construction Project Society.
A founder of the Al-Maqassed Charitable Society.
Member of the Board of Directors of the Arab Orphan Committee.
Member of the Board of Trustees of Al-Quds University.
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the College of Arts for Girls – Al-Quds University.

Signed:

Hind Taher al-Husseini

September 19, 1992

The First Administrative Board (1949)

The first administrative body of the institution was formed in 1949, and its members were:

Mrs. Hind al-Husseini: Founder and President of the House.
Mr. Anwar Al-Khatib: Legal Advisor to the House.
Mrs. Basima Faris: Treasurer.
Mrs. Amina al-Husseini: Member.
Mrs. Lisa Nasser: Member.
Mrs. Samiha al-Husseini: Member.
Mrs. Nuzha Nusseibeh: Member.
Mrs. Maliha Al-Najjar: Member.