Reflection - participant at the Planting Program - Stephen Wiard - USA

To be in Palestine is a unique experience. It involves so much history and so much conflict. And yet, in spite of it all, friends made there are embedded into one’s heart and soul. It’s about social justice and becoming more aware of what the Palestinian people suffer and experience on a regular basis.

However, by planting olive trees a statement is made by one’s activism that sends a message of hope and persistent defiance in the face of insurmountable odds. An important witness is shared with others when participants return home to tell of their experiences with JAI and the international friends they met & planted trees with. Take your work clothes, take your camera, open your mind, & expand your heart.

You'll be planting olive trees that will take root in the rich soil of Palestine but your connection to the land, the people, and their cause will change your perspective forever.