Friendship Village
Annual report of 2006/7 Activity Year
One more year of extensive work of education for Peace, Human Rights and tolerance is over. As you surely remember, in Friendship Village we focus on education for inter-cultural understanding, respectful coexistence, inter-cultural and inter – faith cooperation, based on real equality, tolerance, democracy and peace. The last year of activity can be regarded as a period of fast expansion as well as deepening of work in all our Projects. We can be proud of the diligent work of our devoted staff and their well proved achievments in preparing young agents for change in Israel and in Palestine, among students for education, teachers, young politicians and children and youth from marginalized population in the North of Israel. As in the past two years, we were focusing on three main projects – two of them were divided to sub-projects:
1 – Young multi-cultural, educational leadership preparation inside Israel, who will be able to use as agents for change of values toward a society of higher level of tolerance and equality.
2 – Trust building and connections creating between Israeli and Palestinian future political and community leaders.
3 – 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.
1 – Academic Courses – Young People Against Racism
Preface:
As we expand the Project to more and more Academic Institutes, content of the different courses started to diversify. Although started with strictly woman courses, willing to run all Academic Courses under one umbrella, we changed the Project's title from "Wome Educators for Peace and Democracy", to "Young People Against Racism" that includes all these courses.
Out of the last year's six courses three included woman issues – actually Jewish – Arab woman educators' dialogue – in participation of women only. The other three courses contained different subjects, related to Human Rights, anti-racism, xenophoby.
= = = = =
The last year we worked in cooperation with 3 academic institutions: Emeq Yizre'el Academic College – our oldest partner (2 courses), Levinsky Academic College for Education (2 courses), the Gordon Academic College (one course) and the Haifa University (one course). The cooperation was through joint execution of fully evaluated academic courses in these institutions. Though the content in each institute was different, the methods - introduced by us - were alike: the Academic institute comprised lectures, while dynamic workshops, run by facilitators of Friendship Village were under our responsibility. Each course included 12 – 13 weekly sessions of 4 successive hours each*: first two hours were devoted to lecture and discussions, the second part to elaboration and internalization of their subjects, on the emotional level. In financing the courses we had the lion's share, even though our financial participation is diminishing from year to year.
(* in second semester a students' strike shortened duration of the courses to 10 sessions)
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 Jewish and Arab (mostly) woman students for education, in their 2nd and 3rd year of studies for B.A., (selection to get proper number and national composition was done by staff of the Academic institutions). Uppermost limit of participants' number was a total of 20. 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 the values transferred to them. Cooperation between us and the 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 to work, academic support (lecturers, obligatory framework) – and enjoy the respectability of the institution.
Woman Educators for Peace & Human Rights (in cooperation with Emeq Yizre'el Academic College)
This was our 4th to 5th course in the Emeq Yizre'el Academic College. The Institute's staff is very enthusiastic with the partnership. In a meeting between our Educational staff and Prof. Alisa Shenhar (President of the College) and Ms. Mika Kaptor (Academic Director) they expressed their willingness to expand it to further courses - in case of getting more available funds.
Following this meeting our staff met last June a wider representation of the College staff, in which it was agreed by all, that next year we shall expand our partnership to two more courses: one with the Faculty for Sociology – preparation of Jewish and Arab woman community leaders in sustainable projects accomplishment and another one with Faculty for Education – preparation of Jewish and Arab community activists for deeper involvment in their society. All this will be one without increasing our financial commitments – except salary of our facilitators.
The last years' courses focused on two subjects: Inter-ethnic encounter and dialogue and feminine empowerment. Participants of the last courses were 19 Jewish and Arab female students for education, on their 2nd and 3rd year studying for a B.A. degree in psychology, sociology and education. The aim of the last courses was twofold: First, to introduce students to theories and research dealing with identity, gender and conflict. Second, to enable a framework in which open dialogue between members of both communities can occur.
The first part (2 academic hours) of each of the weekly meetings in the course consisted of an introduction to the above issues, including reading academic papers analyzing and explaining the various existing perspectives. Class discussions allow students to express their personal opinions regarding these important and relevant themes.
The second part of the course (2 academic hours) consisted of a workshop, with two female facilitators, Arab and Jewish. During the weekly meetings of the workshop, which follow the theoretical class, the students discussed the impact of the raised topics on their personal lives. This possibility of exchanging ideas and expressing emotions allows participants, some of them for the first time, to become acquainted with the other's experience and feelings.
The assumption at the basis of the course was that the opportunity to articulate their beliefs and impressions, and, perhaps more importantly, to listen to other individuals, who are in the same age-group and study program, may lead to greater understanding between the two communities, and thus to promote the possibility of resolving conflict in the long term.
In October 2006 a general assembly was hold for all participants of the first 3 courses. About 30 participants of the assembly discussed about ideas concerning possibility of spreading the Courses' message over the school system. We mean to turn this assembly to an annual event.
Last January, when we have finished 4 cycles of this Project, a statistic evaluation was hold about its efficiency and our conclusions. The evaluation included questionnairs and telephonic interviews in participation of graduates from all cycles.
Results can be requested from Jonatan Peled by whoever is interested.
Ethnocentrism and Racism in Israeli society (in cooperation with Levinski Academic College for Education)
Participants: 19 Jewish and Arab students from both sexes. All of them academic professionals, on their way to shift to education.
The course was focusing on the Israeli society, on its components and characteristics, while examining racist elements and phenomenons in its institutions and population. Following very positive feedbacks from participants, the College directors wish to keep on with it for 2 semesters along the next academic year. They were even ready to reduce the sum of our financial participation. 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 – 22 - 26 Arab and Jewish students from both sexes.
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.
Teachers' Summer Training Course (in cooperation with the Gordon Academic College for Education)
After one year interval we returned to work with this important College for Education in Haifa.
This year the Course was run – in addition to the Gordon College – in cooperation with the "Women Coalition" that is a network of Jewish and Arab feminist NGOs spread over Israel.
The 8 day long course ( study of 7 hours a day) run in strong cooperation between the three partners: the Gordon College found participants, gave space and logistics, the "Women Coalition" supplied lectures and study tours and Friendship Village run the workshops. Participated 20 Arab and Jewish woman teachers in proportion of 50:50.
= = = = =
In addition to the above mentione 4 academic institutes, an agreement has been accepted to start a project of Jewish-Arab encounters among students in the Oranim Academic College, also located in the North of Israel. This means that the next academic year we are going to work with 5 academic institutes in projects that will include 8 – 10 academic courses. Realization of this plan – based on detailed agreements with the above mentioned academic institutes will depend on proper financial resources.
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 and Cyprus, short ones (one day long) in A-Ram Palestinian town, most aspects of the Israeli – Palestinian conflicts were discussed in well structured workshops, run by Jewish and Palestinian facilitators, experts in conflict groups' encounters. Although some lectures were heard too, emotional aspects were emphasized on both, individual and group level. As an integral part of the process, short single-identity sessions were hold between each bi-national encounter, in which each side discussed over questions and problems arouse in previous encounters. Sessions of the Project were hold once in a month.
Most Palestinian participants in this course belonged to the Fatah party. Israeli participants were 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 the 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, activities of the Project were suspended in July - August. They were renewed later on, when political situation calmed down.
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 was 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 was the Palestinian Scout Movement. From the Israeli side leaders, coming from several youth organizations took part in encounters. This project started last June, by a 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 several months. It was renewed only in October, when political situation was calmed down. One more session of long weekend in Turkey was hold, followed by two one day long encounters.
Although the work with youth organizations' activists turned out to be more problematic than with young politicians (on more than one level), we gained an important benefit out of it: one of the Israeli participating organization, the "Hashomer Hatzair" youth movement's representatives turned to us to facilitate their attempt to help the "Arab Youth Movement" in Israel, that actually dissolved, to rebuild itself. The suggestion was discussed over by our staff and the Executive Board. Both bodies applied positively to the suggestion. As for now, we are in a state of negotiations with "Hashomer Hatzair", concerning this important project and our role in it.
3 - Nemashim (Youth Play Peace) (in cooperation with the Newe Yosef Social Centre)
This is the second year of this beatiful Project. Three out of the first year's 5 volunteers decided to keep on volunteering in the same neighborhoods for an additional year. Lacking necessary funds, their second year of volunteering was within the framework of Newe Yosef Social Centre.
The group of this year included 6 young volunteers, 3 Jews, 2 Arabs and one German, age 18 – 19. They shared apartment in Halissa low-income neighborhood of Haifa, in purpose to build connections between local community and nearby Jewish community of Newe Yosef neighborhood. The group (nicknamed "the Kommuna" – as they share apartment, activity and income) started a year of volunteering in August 2006. They will finish this period of volunteering next August, when a fresh group is going to replace them. This group is ready already, to fulfill their difficult but important and exciting role.
Work of the volunteers is mostly through art and drama circles of children and youth. These circles included theatre, street theatre, music, video, photography.
In addition to work as volunteers, members of the group worked also 2 days a week, to earn money for participation in their maintenance.
Beside their work with local children and youth, the Kommuna members also produced a multi-lingual play for children which was performed by them about 10 times over Haifa and the North. Second play was performed in April and a third one will be performed in August.
= = = = =
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 almost unlimited – our means to realise them are unfortunately very limited.
NGO ( Amuta – Non Profit Organization)
In general assembly of our Organization, a new Executive Board, as well as Overseeing Committee was elected.
Our Executive Board members are:
Mr. Kamal Agbariye ( Chairman)
Dr. Abed el Salam Azim
Prof. Dan Jacobson
Ms. Irit Sharon
Mrs. Yael Ben Shahar
Overseeing Committee:
Lawyer Mr. Saleh Abu Riash
Accountant Mr. Muhamad Mansour
Thanks to our generous donors that their help and support, made our work possible.
Caritas Switzerland
Ms. Shira Ettinger (U.S.)
Bancroft Clark Charitable (U.K.)
Bloch Fdn. (Switzerland)
Eisen Pickard Fdn. (Switzerland)
Danielle Mitterrand Fdn. (France)
Inheritence Fund of Israel
Ms. Diana Evelina Ottolenghi (Italy)
Ms. Sarah Gomel (Italy)
Ms. Joy Humpreys (U.K.)
Rabbi David Adelson (U.S.)
Caritas Italiana
Networking for Peace (Canada)
British Embassy in Israel
Amberstone Fund (UK)
Kibbutz Maabarot Israel)
Secours Catholique (France)
CCFD (France)
Umverteilen ! (Germany)
DIPG (Germany)
Humanitarian Trust (U.K.)
Detailed report or any other description of projects can be received on request from Jonatan Peled (General Director) e-mail: jonatanpeled@yahoo.com, phone: 00972-542-620521
15 July, 2007
