Events Calendar

	AEI-Open Windows Visitors Gouda Group – Holland Click to read Gouda group report On Saturday 7th of July 2007 Dutch Group from Gouda arrived at the Peace House near Rachel's Tomb to find out in two weeks what Palestine is (occupation, separation walls, checkpoints and camps) also realities and dreams of the Palestinians. On daily basis, Gouda Group has a full program of visits, meetings, tours, activities and workshops in Bethlehem. The Group had a many tours and visits to many cities, villages and camps such as Bethlehem City (Nativity Church, the old market, souvenirs shops, handicrafts industry (mother of pearl, olive wood and other) also they visited Al - Salesian Vocational School and The International Museum of Nativity with father Nikolas. In addition, a visit to the museum of the Women's Union.  The Group also had a tour into the Aida camp by Al- Rawwad Center. They had a brief introduction about refugees, the life in the camps and what difficulties they face. A day in Jerusalem, the group walked in to the Old City, Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock. A day in Ramallah at Pyalara Center to know about the center, youth and the media. During the day, the group had a visit to Al - Jalazon Camp by Pyalara to see the shooting of a film for kid's camp singing together. A day in Hebron, the group walked in to the Old City, they visited the Abraham Mosque, markets, the oak tree and the Russian Church. A day in Jericho, in this day Guada group had a wonderful experience walking in the desert the whole road of wadi Al –Kilt for almost five hours under the warm sun that reached to 40 degrees. They visited Jericho and the Mount of Temptation Monastery. Also, they had an experience in the Dead Sea, which was amazing for the group.  In addition, meetings were held with all AEI youth Groups range from High school groups to women's Group. Every group presented itself and shared their works, activities and their fields of work in peace and non-violence. Many questions were asked about our situation, lives, dreams, spirit, hope, the relations between Moslems and Christians. Our group members in the spirit of peace and openness answered all the questions. Gouda Group has also a meeting at Artas Folkloric Heritage Center. They got a brief introduction of the center in addition to the meeting with teachers from Artas. The group of Holland was interested in the Palestinian education, educators, students, subjects and schools (private or governmental). One of the questions that came up from the Dutch group, do you teach your students to hate Israelis? The teacher said: we teach our students' education of love in spite of what we face from Israeli occupation measures such as arrests, house demolition, building walls, stress and fear. We see walls in everywhere. They affected our students psychologically and make them sick. But in spite of these hardships, we fight peacefully for our education, dreams and peace to come true. On daily bases, three of our young members accompanied the Dutch group and shared with them in their dinner. Women's group prepared and cooked typical delicious Palestinian food at AEI premises and so did the Dutch group. One of the great things that happened at the Peace House near Rachel's Tomb is an activity that includes various manual construction and work at the garden by the Dutch Group. The Gouda Group day by day has been learning and adapting themselves to the Palestinian life, culture, identity, traditions, hospitality and values. Day by day Gouda group understands effectively the reality of Palestinians and how much they are suffering from occupation. Night by night the Dutch members spent some time evaluating what their eyes had seen what their ears had heard. They saw realities and they would go back home with new ideas about realities and dreams. The AEI members also participated in many workshops such as graffiti, documentary, photography, drama and street dance (dabkeh). The group decided to do the workshop close to the Peace House near Rachel's Tomb. About documentary, the group decided two choose two persons from Bethlehem. Muhammad Al Sha'lan, a Moslem Osama is a Christian who is a news broadcaster in the Palestinian News Network. The aim of documentary was to talk about their lives, career or education, dreams and their future under occupation. The photography workshop was at Aida Refugee Camp, it was about the ugly wall, checkpoints. We should not forget the drama with two of Gouda group and two of our members Muhammad and Samia Shaheen a schoolteacher. The play was about a Palestinian pregnant woman who wants to cross the border and Israeli soldier did not allow her to pass because she did not have permission. This play shows the denial of human right and humiliation of the Palestinian human being. Gouda group worked hard to perform their products and work at the final festive evening. The celebration was held near Rachel's Tomb beside the wall under the Israeli towers for many reasons. First, to revive, activate and bring hope to the deadly place and for the people who live there. Second, in spite of walls, towers fear, and closure AEI believes in non-violent actions such as singing for peace and justice. For example, two Palestinians rapper from Al Dheshah Camp, Muhammad and Loua'ay A'liyan performed wonderful songs for peace such as, stop violence and stop occupation. In addition, drama was performed by two Dutch and two members, Mouhammad and Samia Shaheen as a way of communicating the real life of Palestinians. AEI invited a Dabkeh group from Artas Heritage Center to revive the Palestinian folkloric dances in this event. The great things that happened at the Rachel's Tomb and to that deadly place after building the Separation Wall that some families of the neighborhood were singing on the roofs, some were danced in the streets. The dinner, which was served to all, was eaten in the streets. We saw hope on the faces of the families, I saw tears of joy in their eyes. The fear has disappeared and some spirit of freedom seems to appear. Thanks for the AEI that gave me this opportunity and experience to be a facilitator and accompanied them in their tours, fieldtrips and meetings. I gain a lot of knowledge, experiences, joy and communication skills. Our Palestinian people should keep hope alive and continue struggling in such non – violent ways in addition to go ahead in communicating Palestine to our international friends.