Israeli Program
ISRAEL PROGRAM -Coming July 19th!
A Palestinian woman was trying to bring her son to a Jerusalem hospital to save his sight. An Israeli soldier at a checkpoint turned her back. He said the hospital was "closed." As the mother began to weep, a second soldier approached and soon insisted that she pass. "Why are you being so kind to me?" she asked. His reply, "I have been to America with Friends Forever. Mother -- I am a friend to Arabs, as well as your friend. Please take your son and have him be well."
Want to play a role in the peace process? Do you feel like you are powerless to make a difference? Ever have lunch with a Jewish and Arab Muslim youth from Israel and see them laughing together? Ever watch a group of ten 15 year olds from Israel on both "sides" of the culture spend a weekend volunteering with the eldery, the disabled, or the homeless? If your answer is "YES" to the first two questions and "NO"" to the last two then you need to become a part of Friends Forever.
In the fall of 2008, Friends Forever established a partnership with Common Paths *see attachment, a co-existence group based in the north and south of Israel.
We worked to help the group achieve its aims of bringing together Arab and Jewish teenagers, aged 14- 16 years, for the purpose of:
•Reducing prejudice and stereotyping
•Learning to live and work together in the shadow of the inherent regional conflict
•Learning the skills necessary for leadership development that will contribute to their becoming more responsible, compassionate and productive members of society
•Cooperating together in social projects for the betterment of their mutual concern as neighbors in the same community
With your help, a group of ten culturally-mixed teens were immersed in an intensive group living environment and participated in a variety of trust and friendship building activities. These activities included: a challenge course and high ropes experience, a community service-learning project with developmentally disabled youth and elders, extensive and in-depth group discussion sessions with City Year and the Museum of Science Youth, a team physical challenge hike, dialogue sessions in local high schools, and public presentations on their goals for the future at our sponsor Rotary Clubs. There were also a range of diverse activities with local Synagogues, Mosques, Christian Churches, the Ba'hai Center, Native American Tribal councils, and inner city youth in Boston.
Here Is A Look At The Israeli Program
Phase 1 - The US Group Immersion: A life-changing two-week experience...
The first phase of our program is an intensive, two-week "Life Raft" retreat in the United States in which participants focus on group work, team building, self-expression, and peaceful conflict resolution. While living as a family in one home, the group shares the duties of the household and learns to cooperate through numerous group discussions.
The core elements of our US program include:
Participation in trust-building activities on high and low ropes
Community presentations
Team volunteer service-challenge projects
Observation of the religious services of each culture represented on the program
Group living environment
Throughout the two-week program, Friends Forever participants are almost never separated from one another. Each day's challenges must be worked out together as a team. After supporting and encouraging one another throughout the varied challenges of the program, our participants return home feeling that they have gained nine new brothers and sisters.
Phase 2 - Long-Term Commitment: Each culturally mixed group is continuously reunited by our youth workers in the local community...
As powerful as the Life Raft retreat is, we know that proving the teens can get along in another country is only the first step in a larger process. For this reason, following each team's retreat experience, the entire group and its leaders work formally together for a full year, reinforcing the gains made in the United States.
Because each core group we work with shares the same home community, such meetings are facilitated locally and lasting friendships can be reinforced over time.
Perpetuation meetings range in form from serious discussion sessions to group outings at sporting events or weekend hiking trips. Through this long-term element, the core group incorporates family members and peers into their new community, enlarging the circle of those who are willing to cross cultural barriers in pursuit of peace.
If you would like to contribute your services or facilities or give a financial contribution, please call Stephen Martineau at 603.433.7607.
