October 23, 2025
Collège des Frères – Bethlehem had the great pleasure of welcoming Mr. Jean-François Canteneur , Director of the Catholic Schools Organization in Paris, Ms. Agnès Revel , and Ms. Alice de Rambuteau , members of Réseau Barnabé , a Catholic organization that has been building strong links between Catholic schools in France and Christian schools in the Holy Land since 2007. www.reseaubarnabe.org
The delegation’s visit reflects the deep and longstanding relationship between Réseau Barnabé and our school, as well as their continued support for many institutions across Palestine. Their ongoing efforts to foster partnerships between French and Palestinian Catholic schools embody true solidarity and educational collaboration.
Along with the delegation, Mr. Guillaume Cariou , Attaché for Cultural Cooperation at the French Consulate , joined the visit and expressed great interest in the new partnership project. Mr. Cariou and the delegation affirmed their commitment to supporting this initiative in the coming years, highlighting the importance of cultural exchange and educational collaboration. They also shared their enthusiasm for hosting French teachers and students at our school , and for welcoming our students to visit schools in France , aiming to create joint exhibitions and collaborative projects in the future.
The visit was coordinated between Mrs. Ekhlas Bannoura , the School Director, and the delegation. During the visit, they met with our French language teachers , discussed ongoing academic programs, and toured different parts of the school, including our kindergarten section , where they were warmly welcomed by students and teachers alike.
This meaningful visit was also organized by Mr. Basil Khoury , founder of the new partnership between Collège des Frères – Bethlehem and Saint-Bruno School and College in Évian, France https://www.stbruno-evian.com/ . The initiative, developed in collaboration with Mrs. Muna Hilal from Beit Sahour, who is living in Evian, and Mrs. Caroline Rocher from Saint-Bruno, envisions weekly online meetings every Monday where students from both schools will discuss ecological and environmental challenges and work together to find creative and sustainable solutions.
The project aims to strengthen bonds between the two schools, fostering long-term cooperation and nurturing a generation of young leaders who are connected, compassionate, and committed to humanity and the environment.
The school extends its heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Dyala Hihi and Mrs. Suha Daraghmah for their valuable contribution to this project, and to Réseau Barnabé for their friendship and partnership — as well as to the French Consulate for its continuous support and dedication to educational cooperation
