"Discovering a whole world in three days. Sounds unrealistic, isn't it?", in these words Sergey, a young MDA volunteer, has chosen to open his summary describing the joint Israeli-Palestinian activity.
The project, which included a one-week first aid training followed by a three-day "Peace Building" workshop, was initiated the Peres Center for Peace, which applied Yoni Yogodowski, the director of MDA's International Department, and with the cooperation of the Red Cross Cooperation Coordination office in MDA, the project was formed.
The youth chosen, 30 Israeli and Palestinian aged 14-17, learned first aid followed by a joint three-day workshop which took place in "Neve Shalom" village. The workshop was guided by "Abershir Institute", which expertise on stress, conflict resolution. Through teaching the model "Out of the box", the youth were given the opportunity to know each other, to spend time together as one group.
While learning, the youngsters said that as the time passed, "walls of prejudice" were removed and concerns with which they arrived, "What do they think about us?", "Why are they so different from us?", all these faded away. As was indicated, they discovered, at a very early stage, the equal and similar, "the joy of life, the willingness and hope. Hope for better times". Throughout the workshop, Gal Nakdimon, MDA's IHL Youth Instructor, taught the young boys and girls on International Humanitarian Law and the seven principles of the Red Cross, a very experiential instruction.
MDA would like to express its deep thanks to "Peres Center for Peace" for the cooperation, to management and guides of "Abershir Institute" for their wonderful work, and to the Palestinian Institute for Democracy and Peace, for taking part in this important initiative.
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