22nd, March 2012
See more photos of the trip, and watch a video (in Danish)
As part of an ongoing partnership between the JAI and Nørre Nissum Efterskole in Denmark, the JAI organized a co-planned 6 day program in Palestine, from the 16th to the 22nd of March 2012, for the Global Teenagers class which consists of 24 students, aged between 17 and 19, who were accompanied on the trip by 3 of their teachers.
Their trip included interaction with Palestinian high school students, lectures, presentations, guided tours in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jericho, and Hebron, as well as helping Palestinian farmers planting olive trees in their fields.
On the first day, Danish students met with some Palestinian students and the JAI team at the YMCA in Beit Sahour, were they participated in ice-breaking activities, followed by briefings about the work and programs of the EJ YMCA, YWCA of Palestine and their Joint Advocacy Initiative campaigns and activities. In the afternoon, they were taken on a guided tour to witness the Israeli apartheid wall, Jewish settlements and bypass roads constructed inside the Bethlehem area which annex Palestinian land.
On the second day the Danish students visited the Palestinian students at their school, the Evangelical Lutheran School in Beit Sahour, were the students shared information about their respective countries, schools and the daily activities they engage in their. The Danish students were led on guided tours by the Palestinian students at their school in small groups, after which they participated together in soccer and volleyball games. After having Falafel for lunch in the old city of Bethlehem, the Danish students were given a guided tour inside the Nativity Church and Manager Square. Later that evening, the Danish students stayed overnight in the homes of the Palestinian students’ families for one night.
The following morning, the Danish students headed to Al-Ferdous village in east Bethlehem to help Palestinian farmers replant olive trees that had been uprooted by the Israeli soldiers and settlers, a week earlier, who have annexed and live in part of the village. Later in the afternoon, the Danish group headed to west Jerusalem, were they had meetings with Israeli human rights groups.
On Monday the 19th March, the Danish students spent the day in Jericho. They were briefed about, given a guided tour inside the YMCA Vocational Training Center, and had the opportunity to meet and talk with students and teachers there. They also visited the YWCA kindergarten which was nearby. Here they were introduced to the work that happens at the Kindergarten and spent some time playing and singing with the children. A presentation on the work of the YWCA in Jericho was given by the director of the center, this was followed by lunch made by the YWCA food production center. The students were then guided on a walk up the Mount of Temptation and visited the monastery that is at the top. A cultural event was held in the evening which included Palestinian and oriental music followed by a Dabka dance show by the Palestinian students. Later the Danish and the Palestinian students dined at a traditional-style restaurant.
On Tuesday, the Danish students and teachers had a day in East Jerusalem which started with a guided tour of the old city, which included a visit to the Al-Aqsa mosque, the Sepulcher Church, and witnessing evidence of the settlements and the apartheid inside the old city. In the afternoon, the students met with a Danish Rabbi and a woman from DanChurch Aid in Jerusalem.
The last day of the program was spent in the old city of Hebron. The students listened to a presentation by the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee, who then guided the Danish students on a tour inside the old city. The students witnessed settlements, closures of businesses, streets that are forbidden for Palestinians to walk on…etc. The students had lunch with a family who has been trapped by Israeli settlements inside the old city. After lunch the students were given a guided tour inside the Ibrahimi mosque, they were then allowed some free time to shop in the old market in Hebron. On the way back to Beit Sahour, a stop was made at a glass factory, where the students witnessed the production of glass vases and had the opportunity to purchase some souvenirs. Later that evening, they heard presentations on the Kairos Palestinian document and its impact by a member of the Kairos youth, and were introduced to the Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions Campaign by the JAI advocacy officer. Before the Danish team bid their farewell, some arrangements were discussed as to how the Danish students would hold advocacy-related activities and actions for Palestine after they returned home.