Ramallah: The Palestinian commercial and political
                                         center located 15 minutes north of Jerusalem city limits.
 

                                         Population: Central Region immediately north of
                                         Jerusalem—200,000

                                         Religion: The old section of Ramallah has about
                                         10,000 Christians; the rest of the area is primarily
                                         Muslim

                                         Distinctive Social Cliaracteristics: Ramallah was
                                         founded by Christians. The schools located there are
                                         among the earliest providing education for the poor and
                                         for girls. High degree respect for education among the
                                         populace. People in the area have been heavily
                                         influenced by the West.

                                         Distinctive Political Characteristics: Palestinian
                                         governing ministries are being established in Ramallah.

                                         Distinctive Characteristics of Al-Ahliyyah College:
                                         Founded in 1857. Grades: K-12 with 466 students. Half
                                         of the students are Muslim.

                    POPULATION PROFILE:

                     Ramallah is located only a few miles north of Jerusalem. Before 1967, it
                     was called the Pearl of Palestine. The first residents of Ramallah came
                     there about 400 years ago. Until 1948, the city was totally Christian.
                     Muslims driven out of their homes along the coastal region fled to the
                     mountains and have stayed on in the area.

                     The city still has a Christian ambiance with churches located here and
                     there about the town. One can find Baptists, Lutheran, Pentecostal,
                     Quakers, Catholics and Orthodox living congenially side by side with their
                     Muslims neighbors in the city. Since 1948, there has been a mass migration
                     of Christians of Ramallah to the West and particularly to the States. Those
                     left behind are determined, despite their minority status, to maintain their
                     faith and live in the land of their ancestors.

                     ECONOMY:

                     The Ramallah area is surrounded by hilly farmland whose small patches for
                     farming can be quite productive in the rainy season. The town is destined
                     to be the major location of government ministries. Many are hopeful that it
                     will blossom even more into the permanent commercial center as well.
                     There are a number of colleges and technical schools in the area. Many of
                     them are for refugees only and are run by the United Nations. Higher
                     education provides many jobs in the area. Despite high expectations, until a
                     means for shipping goods out of the West Bank to other countries is
                     worked out, the economy will not grow if there is limited access to markets,
                     which is the current situation.

                     EMPLOYMENT:

                     As in other areas of the West Bank unemployment is quite high. Currently,
                     there is a building boom, which is providing jobs. When tills temporary
                     phase passes the area will have to begin the task of job creation that is
                     stable and at a level that prohibits poverty. There are a number of factories
                     in the town's industrial area and a large number of shops, banks and
                     insurance offices. The area still is far from the point of being able to provide
                     jobs for the town residents much less the surrounding villages.

                    SOCIAL MILIEU:

                     Many of the people of Ramallah have dual passports and have traveled
                     abroad. They have had considerable contact with Westerners because of
                     the contribution of the West in establishing schools in the area beginning in
                     the last century. Despite the affluence of some, the whole area does have
                     considerable number of people below the poverty line.

                     Ramallah suffered considerably during the Intifada. Strikes and curfews
                     were abnormally high in the town. Businesses suffered and many closed
                     their doors permanently. The violence during the past has had its effects on
                     the social well being of the family.

                    EDUCATION:

                     Children and teenagers have known only a life described by psychologist
                     as that resembling the experience of children in war zones. The schools
                     have become the social institution for repairing the lives of the young. They
                     are challenged in a way not know in the past when families were strongly
                     close knit and protective of their children. This breakdown of the family,
                     which has been experienced in the West, has resulted in schools having to
                     shoulder the task of caring for children in a way that in the past was the
                     duty of the family.

                    INSTITUTION BACKGROUND:

                                          AL-AHLIYYA COLLEGE OF RAMALLAH

                     The Latin Patriarchate school in Ramallah was begun in 1858 and is in the
                     heart of the town. The Christian schools in this era were the first to become
                     the educators of the poor and for girls. These schools were very important
                     in that they included religious training an area which had been long
                     neglected. The schools were a source of strengthening the faith from their
                     beginning. These Latin schools were open to all Christians and from the
                     early days of their founding there was present a mixture of Christians from
                     different backgrounds. Today, half of the students in the school are Muslim.

                     Schools like Al-Ahliyya became part of the heart of life in the towns and
                     cities where they were located. Even today, the schools and activities there
                     and at the adjacent churches make up much of the social and cultural life of
                     the people.

                     Private schools educate 18% of the students in the country. These schools
                     receive many children from very poor families since their policy is to reach
                     out to the needy and not just those who have funds. The schools receive
                     so many underprivileged children that they must seek support from sources
                     outside the country to carry on their work. The government has never
                     supported private schools in the West Bank.
 

        My name is Adly Khalayleh from Ramallah in Palestine .
       I study in Al-Ahliyyah College in the 11th Grade, I like many subjects as Math and Biology.
        My hoppies are swimming , playing Tennis , and watching TV.
        I have 3 brothers , 3 sisters , my Father is a doctor and my Mother is wifehouse.
        MY birth day is 1-2-1984. and I'm a male .