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An-Najah
University - Zajel Youth Exchange Program
An-Najah
University in Nablus, Palestine organizes the Zajel Youth Exchange
Program. Since 2000, this program has fostered international and inter-cultural
understanding, and enhanced social development in the Nablus area, in
the Northern West Bank.
They
organize a Summer Work Camp program for young people, up to 35 years of
age. It unites approximately 20 volunteers
from around the world to engage in community development work,
including work with children in refugee camps. The
Summer Work Camps are run by young people, for young people.
Zajel
also offers long-term voluntary work placement at the Public Relations
department of An-Najah University. This
can involve many things, including presenting news on their local radio
station, flim making, office volunteering, international networking or
various aspects of journalism. Many
possibilities are open to interested volunteers, and housing is
provided for.
For
more information: http://youth.zajel.org/
Birthright
Unplugged
Birthright
Unplugged is a program designed primarily for young Jewish people to
visit the Palestinian occupied territories. We realize that this
experience is largely missing from most Jewish-led trips to the Middle
East. As American Jews, we have a specific responsibility to
understand the situation well and to promote concepts of social justice
and human rights for all people in the world. Birthright
Unplugged welcomes participants of all ages and backgrounds.
In six days, we visit Palestinian cities, villages and refugee camps
and help participants develop an understanding of daily life under
occupation. We meet with Palestinian and Israeli community
leaders, NGO representatives, peace activists, political figures and
families. We encourage participants to be deeply reflective and
give them a chance to ask tough questions.
The participants are generally people who are already in the country,
either having just completed a conventional Jewish-led tour in Israel
or studying in an international program at an Israeli institution.
Trips are facilitated by two women who have spent extended periods in
Palestine/Israel. They are experienced trip leaders in the West Bank,
and have lived or worked in all the communities where we spend
time.
For
more information: http://www.birthrightunplugged.org/
Birzeit
University - Palestine and Arabic Studies
Birzeit University continues to encourage international students to
enroll in the international student program. Aside from the academic
courses offered, a semester with the Palestine and Arabic Studies
program offers international students a unique opportunity to be at the
center of the scene. Students majoring in journalism, international
relations and Middle Eastern Studies for example, will be able to hear
from Palestinians why the Oslo Accords could not bring peace, what are
the prospects facing Palestinians, where we go from here. They will see
with their own eyes the untold story of a largely unarmed people
humiliated and daily oppressed by the largest military power of the
Middle East.
Approximately 50 international students are expected this summer.
Prospective applicants interested in learning about the experiences of
current or last summer's PAS students, will be connected to a
correspondence contact upon request.
Application deadline: May 30 - Applications arriving after this date
will be considered for approval, but will incur a US$25
late-application fee.
More
info at: http://home.birzeit.edu/pas/
Christian Peacemakers Team
Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) offers an organized, nonviolent
alternative to war and other forms of lethal inter-group conflict. CPT
provides organizational support to persons committed to faith-based
nonviolent alternatives in situations where lethal conflict is an
immediate reality or is supported by public policy.
CPT
works in various countries, in Palestine they are based in Hebron. CPT
has been in Hebron since 1995, witnessing to the need for peace in a
violent and sometimes desperate situation.
Activities
include school accompaniment, documentation and human rights reporting,
nonviolent trainings, regular visits to families involved in the
Campaign for Secure Dwellings (CSD) and joining with Palestinians and
Israeli peace groups to develop action campaigns that expose the face
of the Occupation are all part of the Hebron Team's work.
Hebron campaign: http://www.cpt.org/hebron/hebron.php
CPT Homepage: http://www.cpt.org/index.html
The
Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions Summer Work Camp in
Jerusalem
Since
2003, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) has
offered a summer work camp intended to foster learning, discussion, and
friendship between Palestinians, Israelis and internationals. Our
cooperation will send a clear message to the world: We refuse to be
enemies; together we resist the Occupation. For two weeks, peace and
human rights activists participate in joint projects and workshops
together with the local community. The program will center around
rebuilding a Palestinian home that was demolished by the Israeli
authorities for “administrative reasons.”
ICAHD
The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) is a
non-violent, direct-action organization that resists Israel's
Occupation through opposing its policy of demolishing Palestinian
homes. ICAHD also resists all other oppressive occupation policies “on
the ground:” land expropriation, settlement expansion, policies of
"closure," the destruction of Palestinian agriculture and
infrastructure, construction of the "Separation Barrier" and all other
attempts to prevent the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.
ICAHD works closely with Israeli, Palestinian and international peace
and human rights organizations.
Camp
Activities
The main activity of the camp will be the actual rebuilding of the
home, from the foundation to the roof! Additionally, participants will
join “critical tours” of Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Negev desert,
the Galilee, and the “Triangle Area” in northern Israel, where they
will learn about “facts on the ground:” house demolitions, settlement
expansion, the “Separation Barrier,” checkpoints, and other components
of the Occupation and the conflict. Discussions, dialogues, lectures
and panels by leading Palestinian and Israeli NGO representatives will
also take place throughout the two weeks at Beit Arabiya. Through
exposure to and education about the Occupation alongside the
rebuilding, the work camp will be transformed into a site for
discussion, cooperation, and constructive resistance while creating a
supportive community of Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals.
For
more information about ICAHD: http://www.icahd.org/eng
(as of June, the summer work camp was not clearly listed on their
website. To inquire about the camp specifically, send an email to
info@icahd.org.)
International
Solidarity Movement
The
International Solidarity Movement is a Palestinian-led movement of
Palestinian and International activists working to raise awareness of
the struggle for Palestinian freedom and an end to Israeli occupation.
We utilize nonviolent, direct-action methods of resistance to confront
and challenge illegal Israeli occupation forces and policies.
More
info at http://www.palsolidarity.org
International
Women's Peace Service
IWPS-Palestine
is an international team of women based in Haris, a village in the
Salfit Governorate of Occupied Palestine's West Bank, which began for
three continuous years in August 2002. IWPS-Palestine documents human
rights abuses, nonviolently intervenes in abuses, and works with the
media. IWPS-Palestine joins Palestinians in acts of nonviolent direct
action to oppose human rights abuses and the confiscation and
destruction of land and property of Palestinian people. This includes
joining demonstrations and opposition to the Apartheid Wall, helping
remove roadblocks, and accompanying ambulances and Palestinians whilst
they farm. IWPS-Palestine supports Palestinian and Israeli
anti-occupation groups in their grassroots resistance to end the brutal
and illegal military Occupation.
More
info at http://www.womenspeacepalestine.org
Request Volunteer Applications at: iwpsvolunteers@yahoo.co.uk
Middle
East Fellowship
Middle East Fellowship sponsors delegations to Palestine, Israel and
Jordan. All travel programs are arranged and developed in full
partnership with their Sister organization, Holy Land Trust, in
Bethlehem.
For
more info: Middle East Fellowship: http://www.middleeastfellowship.org
Project
Hope
From
Project Hope's Mission Statement: Project Hope provides opportunities
for the Youth of Palestine. We bring together internationals and
Palestinians to teach language classes, produce drama and art, and
provide other important activities in the local community. Through
alternatives to violence, we are improving both the physical and mental
health of the children. Many of our programs are geared to the
community at large, with training courses to provide skills to people
that will improve their everyday lives. Project Hope works to improve
the condition of Palestinian women. They are very active in running our
programs, as well as participating in them. Project Hope is also active
in the medical field, aiming to improve basic medical knowledge within
the community and helping to acquire new medical supplies. Through
education and recreation, along with the serious involvement of women,
we provide hope to the people and enrich the community. Medical and
training courses help with the actual aspects of everyday life and
survival. Our involvement provides an alternative to a desperate and
violent environment, with the goal of improving their mental health.
Our focus on children provides hope for the future.
More
info at http://projecthope.ps/
Last Updated on 10/16/05
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