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AEI-Open Windows Visitors
A
German College Students Visit
On Friday, April 4th
2008, German Students from a Catholic College (Katholische
Hochschulgemeinde in Karlsruhe)
visited Bethlehem City. The program was full of
meetings and visits especially to Caritas
hospital were the group had a presentation on
the hospital and the problems it faces after the
second intifada and the construction of the
apartheid wall that surrounds Bethlehem city.
The second visit was to the AEI Sumud Peace
house, in which the group got a slide show
presentation about the place, neighborhood and
the negative impacts of the wall and the bright
side of the Palestinian families who live near
the wall and how they resist peacefully the ugly
dragon (the wall) which is threatening their
daily life. After that the group went walking
around the wall to the Aida Refugee Camp, to Al
Rowad Center to have also a brief presentation
about the activities of the center. Dr.Toine van
Tefflen, Mr. Milad Vosgueritchian and two
volunteers, one from Belgium, Anael and the
other from Germany, Matthias accompanied the
students. The group visited the Milk Grotto
Church, Nativity Church and the old quarters of
Bethlehem. At 4:00 pm the German students met
AEI university members where they shared with
their experiences, opinions and activities.
There were exchanges of thoughts, reflections,
experiences and questions about the youths
dreams and life under occupation. They also
talked about what we have been facing, living
and what gives us hope and steadfastness
especially as youth in such difficult
circumstances.
The group was impressed and astonished
for the openness and clarity of our youth. Out
members welcomed such initiatives for better
understanding and strong solidarity with
Palestine and called for future cooperation and
exchanges to in order to enhance justice, peace
and freedom. |
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