Community Building for 1000 Jews & Muslims, 11-13

We divided the students into three groups. Each group had an Hebrew specking facilitator and an Arabic speaking facilitator.

• First activity: who remembers the names of students from the other group (most of them did remember…)
  - Putting stickers with the names;
  - The students wrote their names in both Hebrew and Arabic;
  - The students cooperated in the writing of the names and in the acquaintance activity;
  - Activity to mix the students. The facilitators mentioned peace greetings in Hebrew and Arabic, such as: hallo, shalom, salam etc.
• Temporary groupings of children according to similarities:
  - All those who like basketball;
  - Those who played football yesterday;
  - Those who wear a coat;
  - Those who have brown eyes.
• Breakfast break:
  Students ate together breakfast that included elements related to the olive harvest season: Zatar, Labaneh, oil, olives…
  They enjoyed a lot the joint meal.
• Work in small groups:
  - Planet in space: students cooperate and help each other to have the "earth" stay steady in the place indicated by the facilitators;
  - Presentations of various groups. Each student explained what he saw in each of the groups. The goal was that each student will be aware of the group s/he is part of and at the same time be able to identify with other groups.
  Each time the students and facilitator held a conversation about the explanation of the student to the group.
  - Choosing five words and presenting them in movements – an activity that requires cooperation and concentration.
  - Creating Mandalas:
  First the students were presented with different Mandalas and shared what they saw, what is common to all drawings, what feelings the drawing arouse.
  Then they received explanations about the Mandala:
           - the meaning (center, circle in ancient Indian language)
           - Mandala-like drawings are found in several world cultures in America and
             Asia, without connections between them. The Mandala symbolizes
             existence and the human sole.
           - Mandala is a drawing that has a central point with branches going out of it,
              making a circle full of lines, symbols and circles.
           - Its purposes are art, healing, conveying a message of wholeness and
             equality, circle of life and implication of world peace.
  
  

Students expressed their satisfaction and joy from this encounter and the connections and conversations between them, with mutual respect and acceptance. We all look forward to the next encounter.

Links:

• IEA Website

A-Salam School and Dekel School 

Majd el-Krum and karmiel

Our joint project for A-Salam School from Majd el-Krum and Dekel School from Karmiel started its school-year activity on Thursday, October 18^th, 2012. In the encounter participated the team of A-Salam School, the team of Dekel School and thirty students from each school. We were visited my Ms. Maria from the US, who participated with us, watched our activity and had a conversation with the project's team.

Content of the encounter:

Conversation on values: religion, acceptance, tolerance, peace, respect

Order of activity:

1. Acquaintance games between the students:

• What is common between you
• Ordering of students according to height
• First letter of the name
• Similar words in Hebrew and Arabic

2. Creating a "Hamsa" (palm shaped artifact) on the theme of peace: each students drew something related to the theme and activity and each student shared their creation with their partner from the other school.

Summary and feedback:

All students enjoyed the encounter, were satisfied with its activities and asked about the next encounter.

It was interesting and challenging for bringing the hearts together.

Links:

• IEA website
• Updates link (in three languages)

June 26^th, 2012  

An experiential encounter for the 5^th and 6^th graders from both schools.

Some 60 students took part in this encounter in this a special company led them through activities of challenge and creativity. The teachers of art and music accompanied the children.

The encounter took place in a grove near Majd el-Krum. With the group were also parents from Majd el-Krum, who offered food and drinks to the joint group. They also took part in the activity, which strengthened the children and helped them integrate in such great way.

July 2^nd, 2012

The summarizing encounter for our year of doing took place in a restaurant in Akko. 22 educators took part in it, together with the two principals who spoke about the activities that were realized, how to plan the activity for the next year and how to develop what we have.

Doron, an educator from Dekel School, led an activity to support the construction of a successful process.

We spoke about the difficulties and how to overcome them.

What do we aspire for?

Finally, the two principals Najeeba Sirhan and Amit Yaniv wished the teachers a pleasant vacation and the wish they return with new and massive energy for the new activity year.

Links:

• Website of the Interfaith Encounter Association

March 21^st

Special visit to the Barlev Industrial Zone – to Straus factories, with 3^rd graders from both schools.

The children learned about the process of producing yoghurt and ice-cream. They watched a film about the process and then went through a guided visit of the factories. In the end they received a product as a gift.

April 22^nd

An encounter of the educators of both schools: evaluating the program and recommendations. 25 educators participated.

The activity was organized by the two program coordinators – Mr. Nader Taha, vice-principal of A-Sallam School, and Ms. Hadas Keren, vice-principal of Dekel School.

The encounter took place at Dekel School.

June 3^rd

Joint Sports Day for 3^rd and 4^th graders.

Some 50 students took part from each school. They had a few stations like dances, music, drawing and arts. In the end of the day the children received food and soft drinks and went back home.

The encounter took place in A-Sallam school.

Links:

• IEA website
• This reports in the three languages

February 8^th: Tu Bishvat

50 students from A-Sallam School in Majd el-Krum and 50 students from Dekel School in Karmiel participated together in this special Tu Bishvat activity.

They sang songs in both languages and worked in the classes with work-sheets.

Artistic activity was conducted by the teacher Nariman Asadi and each group presented the final work they produced. We watched a film about Keren Kayemet, its history and its work.

We all planted together trees and plants in the school.

This encounter took place at Dekel School in Karmiel.

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February 21^st: Purim

Some 70 students took part in this cultural-educational encounter around the Jewish Holiday of Purim. The encounter took place in A-Sallam School in Majd el-Krum.

The students of A-Sallam School learned about Purim through a text brought by Hadas from Dekel School.

Then they held various activities of painting and gluing masks and costumes; and watched together a play in Hebrew about the theme.

The goal was to expose the Muslim students to the Jewish Holidays so that they know why Purim is celebrated and can relate to the issue.

Links:

• IEA website
• Report in three languages (English, Hebrew & Arabic)