January 22-23, 2016
Languages weekend in Ecome.
Seventyparticipants met for a weekend of learning languages at the Ecome Center, including Israelis who came to learn Arabic, Palestinians who came to learn Hebrew, and international visitors who came to learn both languages. There were also English classes for those who wanted to improve their skills in that language. Six groups studied separately according to their language and skill levels.
This weekend was organized based on the belief that if we learn to speak each other's language we can get closer, know each other better, and create a deeper trust. We ate together, played together, sang and made music together and went for a walk in the desert. It was inspiring.
February 5-6, 2016
Kibbutz Yagur- Teen and parent delegation preparation
On February 5-6 we held a preparatory encounter a youth delegation. Eight Israeli and Palestinian students will be part of a youth delegation to snowy Switzerland, where they will meet with Irish and Swiss youth. Prior to the trip, the 8 participating students and 8 parents met, along with their two guides. The purpose of this preparatory encounter was to provide the youth and their parents with the logistical details of the program as well as the ideal behind it, and material to be covered. We met for a few hours in the afternoon, ate delicacies from Kafr Manda and answered the parents’ questions. At first some seemed worried but they became more open and relaxed. The initial introduction was positive and sowed seeds for this exciting trip.
February 22-30, 2016
Youth Delegation - Israelis and Palestinians, in Switzerland
The youth delegation of 8 Israeli and Palestinian left from Ben Gurion airport on the morning of Monday February 22. The Palestinian guide left the previous day, through Jordan. We arrived safely in the Governors Mountains of Switzerland, where we meet 14 Irish and Swiss teenagers and six guides. During the week we spent with the Irish and Swiss group we learned about their cultures and told them about ourselves. We learned non-violent communication, did yoga, and sang each morning in German, English, Hebrew and Arabic. We hosted a cultural evening, for which we prepared traditional foods from our cultures, showing the diversity and color of the countries in which we live.
March 4-5, 2016
Languages weekend at Ecome
Sixty Israeli, Palestinian and international participants met for another language weekend at Ecome. As at the first and second language weekends, Israelis came to learn Arabic, Palestinians came to learn Hebrew and internationals came to learn both languages. We also taught English for those who wanted to improve their skills in that language. Six language groups studied separately according to their language and level of proficiency.
These meetings are inspired by the belief that if we learn to speak each other’s language we can get closer and create a deeper trust. We ate together, played together, made music and sang together. We went for a walk in the desert. It was inspiring.
We left with a taste for more, and intend to continue to develop this program in the future.
March 10-24, 2016
2 weeks of non-violent communication at Ecome.
150 people participated during the two-week session at Ecome, including Israelis, Palestinians and international visitors. There were various workshops on non-violence communication, with several different tracks on deepening foundations, teacher training, transformation and social change, offered by a dedicated team of seven teachers from the USA, Slovenia, Germany, Brazil, Palestine and Israel. The encounter was deep and meaningful. Some people came to participate for a few days of the workshop and others remained for the whole workshop. This activity is expanding. We plan to create a similar but even more sophisticated study forum next year.
April 1-2, 2016
Sensory Writing Workshop at Ecome
30participants, Israelis, Palestinians and international visitors met at Ecome for a weekend writing workshop taught by Madeline Kent, who came from New York to lead the workshop. Over the weekend we wrote and shared our writing in groups. We had a Feldenkrais exercise which helped us develop and get in touch with the senses that lead us to write more accurately, authentically, and to connect to who we are and what we are experiencing.
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