Friendship Village
Semi-annual report of Activity
July 2006
This report is actually a summary of our 2005/6 activity year that is more or less parallel to standard academic year. The last half year can be described, as period of swift expansion in activities of our Organization. While before January 2006 most our projects' activity was rather modest, since that time all of them were working with "full steam".
1 – Academic Courses
The last half year we worked in cooperation with 3 academic institutions: Emeq Yizre'el Academic College – our oldest partner (2 courses), Levinsky Academic College for Education (one course) and the Haifa University (one course). The cooperation was through joint execution of academic courses in these institutions. Methods, introduced by us were alike – the Academic institute comprised lectures, while under our responsibility were dynamic workshops, run by facilitators of Friendship Village. Each course contained 12 – 14 weekly sessions of 4 hours each: first two hours were devoted to lecture, the second part to elaboration and internalization of its subject, on emotional level. In financing the courses we had the lion's share ( the next year financing will be done on more equal basis).
To understand this unique approach, one has to realise the subjects of these courses:
1 – Woman Educators for Peace & Human Rights
2 – Ethnocentrism and Racism in Israeli society - a feminine approach
3 – Sociology of Occupation
Participants were (mostly) woman students for education, in their 2nd and 3rd year of studies for B.A., Jewish and Arab ( selection to get proper number and national composition was done by staff of the Academic institutions). We had to put limitation on number of participants, as this is the maximum for standard workshop. National composition is integral part of our approach to projects. It was accepted without any reservation by our partners. We would like to have a proportion of 50:50, however we had to compromise with reality. In all courses there was a certain majority of Jewish participants.
Methods used in these courses brought academic studies close to the real life and built commitment among participants, to values transferred to them.
Cooperation between us and academic institutions has real benefits for all partners: the institution gets fund for more courses, as well as new, novel ways to transfer their messages to students, the students get new, unique experience – and academic benefits. We get willing participants to our project, comfortable physical environment, academic support (lecturers, obligatory framework) – and enjoy respectability of the institution.
Woman Educators for Peace & Human Rights (in cooperation with Emeq Yizre'el Academic College)
The Course focuses on two subjects: Inter-ethnic encounter and dialogue and feminine empowerment.
Participants were 19 female students for education, 11 Jewish and 8 Arab on their 2nd and 3rd year of BA studies.
This was our 2nd and 3rd course in the Emeq Yizre'el Academic College. They were very pleased with the partnership, even expressed their readiness to reduce the budget in the future: they asked for keeping on running this course the next study year too. They were also ready to expand it - in case of getting more available funds. We plan to gather, some time next summer, all participants of the three courses, accomplished along the last two years, in order to discuss over with the graduates, ways to spread the message over additional educational frameworks.
Ethnocentrism and Racism in Israeli society (in cooperation with Levinski Academic College for Education)
Participants: 19 students: 10 Jews, 9 Arabs. All of them academic professionals, shifting to education.
The course was focusing on the Israeli society, its components and characteristics, while examining racist elements and phenomenons in its institutions and population – with emphasis on feminine aspects of this issue. Following very positive feedbacks from participants, the College directors wish to keep on with it for 2 semesters of the next academic year. They were even ready to reduce the sum of our financing. We also started negotiations to expand our involvement in more programs of the College, such as one more course, concerning various inter-ethnic issues in Israeli society and special training program for teachers in charge.
Sociology of Occupation (in cooperation with the Haifa University)
Participants - 26 students: 10 Arabs, 16 Jews.
Purpose of the course was to analise and understand the social forces in state of occupation. The Jewish – Arab and Israeli – Palestinian conflicts should be understood in wider context of emerging national consciousness, colonial and post-colonial processes over the world. Different narratives concerning these issues were studied along the course. In addition to above mentioned aspects, economical, cultural, psychological, juridical aspects of occupation were studied also, as well as media and gender contexts.
Head of the Faculty for Sociology expressed his willingness to go on with this course – and our partnership – during two semesters of the next academic year.
2 - Talk Peace – Make Peace (TPMP) ( in cooperation with "Palestinian Institute for Peace & Democracy")
Second cycle of this wonderful project started last January. Like in the former cycle, our Palestinian partner is the "Palestinian Institute for Peace & Democracy", an organization close to Mr. Sari Nusseibeh, President of El Quds University. Within the Project's framework 10 Israeli Jewish and 4 Israeli Arab young politicians and social leaders meet 10 Palestinian young politicians and social leaders, along a series of encounters, in order to cope with emotional aspects of the conflict: fear, hatred, suspect, hostility are inseparable parts of every conflict. Unfortunately these factors are usually neglected in efforts to develop dialogue between rivals – in our "Talk Peace – Make Peace" project coping with these factors is emphasized. In a series of meetings, longer ones in Turkey, short ones
( one day long) in A-Ram Palestinian town, most aspects of the Israeli – Palestinian conflicts are discussed in well structured workshops, run by Jewish and Palestinian facilitators, experts in conflict groups' encounters. Although some lectures are heard too, treatment of emotional aspects are emphasized on both, individual and group level.
As an integral part of the process, short single-identity sessions are hold between each bi-national encounter, in which each side discusses over questions and problems arouse in previous encounters.
Sessions of the Project are hold once in a month.
Present cycle of the Project included up to now one long weekend ( 4 days) in Turkey, 2 bi-national meetings in A-Ram and 2 single-identity sessions that included lectures and discussion in workshops.
Most Palestinian participants belong to the Fatah party. Israeli participants are activists of the Labour, Kadima (Centre – Right) and Likud (Right). It has to be announced, that most participants of present group joined the Project following warm recommendations of first cycle's participants.
Because of sharp increase in violence between Israel on one side and Lebanon and the Palestinian people on the other side, continuity of the Project was suspended for the next month. It will be renewed, when political situation will calm down.
3 - Young Leaders Talk Peace – Make Peace (YLTPMP) (in cooperation with the Palestinian Scout Movement)
Participants: 12 Palestinian Scout Leaders, 10 Israeli Jewish Youth Organizations' leaders and 4 Israel Arab Youth Organizations' leaders.
This project is actually an extension of TPMP: framework and methods are alike, however participants from both side are Youth Organizations leaders and activists. In this Project our Palestinian partner is the Palestinian Scout Movement. From the Israeli side leaders, coming from several youth organizations are taking part in encounters. This project started last June, by 4 day long encounter in Turkey.
Because of sharp increase in violence between Israel on one side and Lebanon and the Palestinian people on the other side, continuity of this Project too was suspended for the next month. It will be renewed, when political situation will calm down.
4 - Nemashim (Youth Play Peace) (in cooperation with the Newe Yosef Social Centre)
A group of 5 young volunteers, age 18 – 19, share apartment in Newe Yosef low-income neighborhood of Haifa, in purpose to build connections between local community and nearby Arab community of Halisa neighborhood. The group (nicknamed "the Communa" – as they share apartment, activity and income) started a year of volunteering in August 2005. They are going to finish this period of volunteering next August, when a fresh group is going to replace them. This group is already prepared and ready to fulfill their difficult but important and exciting role.
Work of the volunteers is mostly through art and drama circles of children, youth and adult women. These circles include theatre, street theatre, music, belly dance, video, photography.
In addition to work as volunteers, members of the group work also 2 days a week, to earn money for participation in their maintenance.
Lately 3 out of 5 volunteers expressed their wish to go on with their volunteer activity for one more year. As we – unfortunately – don't have the necessary funds to maintain them – in addition to the next year's fresh group of volunteers – these enthusiastic young people will be under the framework of our partner: the Newe Yosef Social Center. On this way they will be able also to introduce their superseders to the complex social – educational – cultural work in Newe Yosef and Halisa – in addition to assistance along the way.
As can be seen from this short report, our activity is spread on three fields:
1 – Inter-cultural local activity, in which – in addition to benefits to population of Jewish and Arab low-income neighborhoods in Haifa – young activists are prepared for our Organization.
2 – Young multi-cultural, educational leadership preparation inside Israel, who will be able to use as agents for change of values toward more tolerance and understanding in our society.
3 – Trust building and connections creating between Israeli and Palestinian future leaders.
In the future we mean to spread our activity to more fields, such as renewal of international seminars for European and Mediterranean NGO activists, working on inter-ethnic encounters, involving additional groups of future leaders, such as University student activists, young journalists, etc. All this will be possible, if we will succeed in finding additional financial sources, to fund all this. Prospects are wide – means to exploit them very limited.
Administration
With the expansion of our activity, we had to increase the number of staff members, however still we are talking of rather modest numbers:
All staff members work in part-time jobs.
Jonatan Peled – General Director – 1/2
Mohammed Abd el Halim – Educational Director – 1/2
Yuval Arbel – Organizational Director – 1/3
Nemashim Project:
Uri Shani – Professional co-Manager - 1/3
Shadi Faher a-Din - Professional co-Manager - 1/3
Inas Talhami – Social Coordinator – 1/5
Woman Educators Project
Revital Yonai – co-Director & facilitator – according to work
Raimonda Mansour - co-Director & facilitator – according to work
In our different Projects facilitators and lecturers are employed according to needs.
As the extent of our work can't justify renting an office, all administrative work is done by staff members from home. Coordination is done by phone, e-mails and in weekly meetings.
Our book-keeping is made by professional accountant, under supervision of hired auditor. We are registered, supervised Non Profit Organization.
NGO ( Amuta – Non Profit Organization)
In general assembly of our Organization, a new Executive Board, as well as Overseeing Committee was elected. List of Executive Board members is as such:
Mr. Kamal Agbariye ( Chairman)
Mrs. Anat Reisman – Levy
Dr. Abed el Salam Azim
Ms. Shulamit Kuriansky
Prof. Dan Jacobson
Mr. Ahmad Azim
Ms. Irit Sharon
Overseeing Committee:
Lawyer Mr. Saleh Abu Riash
Accountant Mr. Muhamad Mansour
Detailed report or any other description of projects can be received on request from Jonatan Peled (General Director) e-mail: jonatanpeled@yahoo.com, phone: 00972-523-697139
July 10, 2006
