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AEI-Open Windows News
AEI-Open Windows
participated in Monte Sole Summer peace camp
-2006 in Bologna/ Italy with two teamers from
the New Graduates and Young Employees Youth
Group in addition to 10 participants from the
high school group. In an evaluation meeting
which took place last week with them, they
talked about their experiences.
In the first few days of
the exchange project, some of the Palestinian
youths were unable to interact, because they
were shy and their English was not that good.
They even did not interact with the other
participants from other countries. However,
later during the activities they found
themselves more talking and mixing with others.
According the teamers, the youths had to
challenge the psychological barrier of lack of
knowledge about the other. Later they felt that
the interaction was growing and the interest in
knowing about one another was growing more and
more. According to Jabra, "at the beginning of
the exchange I wasn't t taking it seriously but
later I realized that I have a message to
communicate to others". He confirmed that the
seriousness of the exchange influenced them
(Palestinians) to an active participation.
T here were also some
sensitive experiences between the Israeli and
the Palestinian participants. For example, Hanin
said: "One of the Israeli participants was
religious and he was showing that in his clothes
and attitudes. It was provoking but we were
respecting his identity". Giving another
example, what Jeries faced when he was asked, in
one of the workshops, to present three important
things in his life, and he referred to the
occupation and its repressive actions, but one
of the leaders/ Hanin stopped him by asking
whether he was saying so to make the other
participants hate the Israelis. Jeries stood up
and replied: I am not aiming at cornering the
Israelis, I even can't generalize because not
all the people are the same". On the other
hand, Zaki confirmed the importance of the
Israeli-Palestinian encounters. "These
Israeli-Palestinian encounters are very
important for these are opportunities to change
misperceptions the other holding against us". He
added "Preparation is very important to be able
to confront the other". They said that they were
able to communicate the Palestinian daily life
realities and further they were able to change
certain misperceptions against the Palestinians.
In one of the activities the youth were asked
what they would do one they return to their home
countries, Jeries heard Edhar (Israeli youth
participants) saying: "I will tell my friends
that the Palestinians are not terrorists".
 When the Palestinian
youth participants in this exchange were asked
about the cultural diversity, they all confirmed
the fact that there are many cultural
differences. For example, Zaki noticed, "the
Europeans are more open than us". Jabra added,
"They were drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes,
even some were taking drugs". Hanin had some
reservations against the other youths'
attitudes. "They didn't show any respect to our
conservative customs and traditions". When they
were asked if they wanted to imitate the other
youths; Suha jumped and said, "We can't do it!
Why should we do it in the first place?"
However, they confirmed that they were talking
about the youth culture in the youths' home
countries. Zaki narrated a very funny story: "I
was having a shower, after I finished I put on
my clothes and when I went out of the shower I
saw a guy completely naked lying on the bed. I
was shocked and I moved out of the room".
 On the other hand, the
youths expressed their feelings and attitudes
regarding the cultural shock, which they faced
in Italy. Jabra said: "We were all the time in
shock, because we have seen things that never
experienced in our country". They were referring
to sexual identities of some of the participants
from the other groups, attitudes, drinking and
smoking, clothes, etc.
The youths admitted the
importance of the workshops in bringing people
together. The ice-braking games, mixed groups
and many other activities aimed at mixing the
youths together. Hence, they noticed that the
Israeli group was the closest to Hanin: "they
(Israelis) used to talk to us, and we talked a
lot with them as well. We used to listen and
respect one another" that was impressive because
these young people have learnt already how to
have an effective communication with the other.
The teamers' performance
was also evaluated from the perspective of the
participants. The participants recognized two
different types of leaders in Manar and Musa.
They found in Manar a caring kind of a leader.
Khader said: "she used to mix with us. We
referred to her for advice… she was a big
sister". On the other hand, they found in Musa
the strong leader or "Pure leader" as Suha said.
"He didn't mix with us a lot. However he was
concerned about us". The participants complained
about the presence of the teamers. They said
that the organizers did not allow them to
interfere, support, advise or even give remarks.
 Regarding the training
period that preceded the youth exchange, the
participants confirmed its importance for the
following reasons; first of all, it gave them
knowledge about the Palestinian situation.
Secondly, it gave them the possibility to
acquire some non-violent communication skills
and national education. On the other hand, they
said that part of the training was irrelevant to
the exchange. However, it did not cover all the
aspects of the exchange. They recommended having
more training on national education, more
knowledge about the AEI's philosophy and
educational projects.
At the end of the evaluation session, the
participants appreciated the chance that was
given to them for the following reasons; first
of all, it strengthened their personalities. In
addition, it taught them how to deal with other
youths from different cultures. Moreover, it was
an escape from the difficult life in Palestine.
They have become persons that are more sociable.
Above all, it helped them to transform many
distorted images they hold against the west and
the Israelis. Finally, it was a chance to
communicate their daily life realities to the
other. On the other hand, the attendees have had
a rich learning experience, which can contribute
to their formal school education. Finally, our
participants have got some fun and enjoyment
through out this interesting travel peace camp. |
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