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Dear Sir or Madam,
I would like to send you warm greetings from Palestine.
My name is Alaa Yousef from Zajel Youth Exchange Program/ Public
Relations
Department of An-Najah National University Nablus in Palestine.
I would like to invite you on behalf of our project partners which are:
- European partners: SCI Germany, SCI France, SCI Italy, SCI Belgium,
SCI Northern Ireland, SCI Madrid, SCI Hellas;
- Arab Israeli partner: Arab Youth Association Baladna;
- local partners: Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees, Ibal
Sports Club in Nablus;
To read the below invitation of the international voluntary Workcamps
which we are organizing in July and August 2003.
The idea of this called SHABAB Reconstruction Project results from a
screening, which took place in Nablus in September 2002. Representatives
of SCI-Germany and ZAJEL Youth Exchange Program consulted several youth
institutions and identified reconstruction of the facilities and
activities for emotional release and educational empowerment as the
urgent need of the youth in Nablus.
International and local volunteers will support the reconstruction of
the Ibal Sports Club in the Old City of Nablus by manual work. Common
cultural activities with the youth of the clubs and centers attempt to
create a platform for dialogue between the different cultures.
The Workcamps will take place:
1) 10th -31st July 2003
2) 10th -31st August 2003
We hope that you or your members/students would be interested to join us
in our endeavors to reconstruct youth clubs in Nablus.
We would like to ask you to pass this invitation to the interested
prospective volunteers.
To receive more information, or if you have any questions please contact
us:
Ala Yousef (Zajel Youth Exchange Program)
youthexchange@???
or
Doreen Vorndran (SCI-Germany) doreen.vorndran@??? .
We thank your for your attention to our project and we appreciate your
interest in empowering youth of our societies. We hope to see you in
Palestine.
Yours sincerely,
Alaa Yousef / Zajel Youth Exchange Program
Public Relations Department
An-Najah National University
Nablus, Palestine
www.najah.edu
http://www.najah.edu/english/Youth%20Prog/camps.htm
youthexchange@???
Phone: ++ 970 9 2381113/7
Fax: ++ 970 9 2387982
http://www.najah.edu/english/Youth%20Prog/youth.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Invitation to international voluntary Workcamps in Nablus/ Palestine
SHABAB Reconstruction Project
A youth initiative for Palestine
The joint initiative of ZAJEL Youth Exchange Program, An-Najah National
University, Nablus, SCI-Germany and all its involved partners is a pilot
project, which takes place in form of two international Workcamps in the
summer 2003.
Rational/ Background
Youth in Palestine represent approximately 66% of the population.
However, they are a marginalized group.
Deprived of the right to evolve democratically and culturally, and
isolated through repeated closures of Palestinian areas, young people
are left with little exposure to outside ideas, customs and cultures.
Only few resources like clubs and associations are available to them to
engage in stimulating and enriching extra-curricular activities. The
youth in Palestine lacks constructive and productive outlets through
which they can use their time to their own and others' benefit.
This increases the chances of becoming involved in dangerous activities
or increasing their frustration, making them more susceptible to join
extremist groups.
Occupation and the 2nd Intifada
The Israeli Occupation has had a negative and serious effect on
Palestinian youth culture.
First and foremost, the occupation implies insecurity and threats the
lives of youth. Soldiers have killed and injured mostly young
Palestinian males. Since September 2000, approximately 22% of those
killed have been
children, aged 18 years or under. Furthermore, of those injured in the
West Bank, 36% are children, and in the Gaza Strip 20% of the injured
are under
the age of 18.
Furthermore the Occupation has stifled independence and freedom of young
people, which limits their creativity and ability to create better
futures. It hampers their ability to develop a positive self-identity,
and tries to dismantle Palestinian culture.
Youth institutions
During the current emergency, in which villages and towns are isolated
from each other for long periods it is of vital importance that youth
have a forum for communication. Youth institutions help young people
feel less isolated and more unified. Creating connections among
Palestinian youth also encourages them to learn more about the country,
to learn
about its people, places and organizations, thereby promoting
volunteerism and responsibility for their country and fellow citizens.
It also broadens their horizons by exposing them to different career
opportunities.
The centers and clubs provide youth with opportunities to acquire skills
such as basic life-skills, computer and Internet skills, and education.
They also learn about concepts such as leadership and democracy. The
activities of the institutions also promote emotional release. Here,
youth is offered a third way to learn and to release, in order to
express their
feelings, needs and ideas.
Youth institutions like clubs and centers give young people a place to
socialize, to receive training, and
to experience integration. In addition they promote equality and
democratic values. Youth also connect with university students who
volunteer at the center, who provide them with positive role models of
educated young adults who are working toward the advancement of
themselves and their country. Such facilities offer them the chance to
connect with their peers, learn
about themselves, have more control over themselves and their
communities, and discover new options in all areas.
Youth Institutions in Nablus/ West Bank
In the Old City of Nablus there were 13 youth institutions: either youth
clubs, forum centers or organizations. Now only 5 of them are operating.
This is not enough for the youth under curfew. Despair and hopelessness
are
growing. The youth needs physical and emotional support in order to
reconstruct their lives.
The IBAL Sports Club is one of the oldest youth centers in the Old City
of Nablus. Since 1959 the club has offered various activities,
especially during school vacations. Young men and women participated in
sports like
football, basketball, table tennis, volleyball, handball and
body-building. The members of the club also provided training on
computer skills and lessons in foreign languages. Furthermore, the club
involved young men and women in social and cultural activities such as
small festivals with actors.
Approximately 1000 young men are members of the sports club. They are
youth leaders or youth trainers over the age of 18 or participants from
the age of 6. The club is composed of approximately 60 per cent pupils
and students(including graduated students) and 20 to 30 per cent
workers. Around 60 to 70 per cent of the young workers are unemployed.
During the invasion in April 2002 the facilities of the club were
completely demolished. The renovation attempt failed because
of a lack of financial support. Since then the sports club has not been
able to run any of its activities in their rooms.
Nonetheless, some members have continued for example the table tennis
team, which plays daily in a private place or the disabled who train in
a school.
The vision/ objectives
The vision of SHABAB reconstruction project is to contribute to the
sustainable development of the Palestinian youth by addressing their
needs.
Therefore, we, the project partners, work united:
-to assist in the reconstruction of youth institutions through joint
voluntary work of Palestinian and international youth;
-to initiate intercultural learning between the different cultures in
order to promote understanding and respect between the youth of the
Oriental and Occidental culture and to empower them for dialogue;
-to dismantle and minimize prejudices and misperceptions about the
different cultures through workshops on history, society,
religion and cultural activities;
-to influence the local community in its most diverse spheres, such as
environmental protection, education, health and promotion of peace;
-to raise awareness about the situation of Palestinian youth and their
environment;
The project partners
Keeping in mind the needs of the youth and the common objectives of
the project partners, we work in united action for the empowerment of
the youth, both local, regional and international.
This initiative of the ZAJEL Youth Exchange Program and SCI-Germany
includes close cooperation with:
- our European partners: SCI Germany, SCI France, SCI Italy, SCI
Belgium, SCI Northern Ireland, SCI Madrid, SCI Hellas;
- our Israeli partner: Arab Youth Association Baladna;
- and our local partners: Union of Palestinian Medical Relief
Committees
(UPMRC), IBAL Sports Club, which provide the necessary facilities.
Project description
The overall aim of the proposed project is to support the development of
youth in Palestine. Delineated within this broader goal are two specific
objectives:
1) to reconstruct the IBAL Sports Club in the Old City of Nablus and
2) to empower local and international youth to respect and understand
different cultural backgrounds.
To implement the identified objectives we have chosen Workcamps as the
suitable tool.
A Workcamp is considered to be a place where people of all races,
ideologies, and nationalities live and work together on a project
organized by local sponsors for two or three weeks. Workcamps generally
have 10 to 20 participants, who volunteer, socialize and work with the
local people.
The message of Workcamps is to promote equality in living (all work camp
members live by local standards) and internal decision making, problem
solving, developing a sense of group identity and seeking to increase
tolerance.
1. Description of the Working place
The working place is IBAL Sports Club located in the Old City of Nablus.
During the invasion in April 2002 the Israeli military entered several
times the club. They were trying to make a path to the neighbor
building. Thus, most of the walls and the floor were demolished. Windows
were destroyed, electricity and water were cut off, stairs and doors
were
damaged. Fortunately, most of the equipment was removed before the
invasion. Only the abandoned equipment was destroyed .
2. Project activities
To continue with the renovation endeavors, two international Workcamps
will be organized for the following dates:
Workcamp 05 : 10th -31st July 2003
Workcamp 06 : 10th -31st August 2003.
The Workcamps consist of a working part and a study part, as well as
leisure time.
A) Working part
For the working part the project partners have decided to reconstruct
the rooms of IBAL Sports Club in the Old City of Nablus.
The first step of the renovations is to clean the rooms. Professional
workers assist the volunteers preparing the floor and the walls.
Afterwards the walls are painted. The work is considered for 4 to 5
hours, 5 days a week.
The final decision about the working place is made in consideration of
the current situation in Nablus. Therefore we, the project partners,
have already developed an alternative plan for the working place.
B) Study part
The study part of the Workcamps is held in form of workshops and
other cultural activities. The workshops are closely related to the
interests and needs of the local youth of the youth institutions.
There are lectures about history, religion, gender roles, refugees, and
youth itself which provide an insight into the different
cultures. To create interaction the workshops include various role
plays.
Furthermore, the group visits local community associations for women and
youth, cultural clubs and forums to have some activities with them.
During the weekends the activities of Workcamps focus on cultural
activities. On the first weekend the program for the group consists of
trips to historical places in the surroundings of Nablus. On the second
weekend the families of the local volunteers host the international
volunteers.
The expected outcome of the workshops and the renovation work itself is
a public event in form of a street festival with an art gallery and
sports activities. The volunteers and the locals prepare these cultural
activities during the Workcamps.
3. Our target group
We are looking for young men and women 18-28yr. from different social
backgrounds: students, workers and unemployed, from the local community
of Nablus and from abroad who wish to join our reconstruction Workcamps.
The number of participants desired is about 30 for each camp: 15
international and 15 local volunteers.
We are looking also for two volunteers who are specially trained on
campleading: one female international and one male local volunteer
will function as Campleaders.
We expect from the participants of the project to be highly motivated
which implies self preparation for the workshops before attending the
Workcamp itself.
4. Application
To apply for this project special applications forms will be handed out.
If you are interested please contact us and we will provide you with the
papers.
For the European volunteers: Please contact Doreen Vorndran from SCI
Germany: doreen.vorndran@???
For the Israeli/Palestinian volunteers: Please contact Zajel Youth
Exchange Program/ An Najah National University in Nablus:
youthexchange@???
For the international volunteers: Please contact Zajel Youth Exchange
Program/ An Najah National University in Nablus: youthexchange@???
5. Costs
The involved costs for the volunteers depend on the funding we will
receive. We did apply for donation from the EuroMed Youth Program of the
European Commission.to get some fund to cover the 150$ of the
accommodation,while volunteers have to afford their tickets.
If we receive the funding, we will inform you about the extent of your
involved costs. and if we dont receive funding, you will be asked to pay
the fee:150$
So,the participating volunteers will expect to afford their flights
tickets and probably a Workcamp fee from US $150.
***************************************************************************
Special information on SAFETY and Other Issues
ARRIVAL
As a foreigner with a passport, passing though Jordans Amman, or Ben
Gurion, Tel Aviv Airports, all visitors may be questioned minimally and
allowed to pass.
But because of the current situation in the region, we recommend that
you fly into Jordan's Amman Airport. There you will be met at the
airport by a representative of An-Najah's Liaison office in Jordan where
you will be accompanied to the Israeli border to continue your
destination.
RISKS
Health, safety, and security risks are an unavoidable part of life and
of volunteer service. Service does involve certain risks, including road
accidents, natural disasters, crime and civil unrest.
Everything possible is being done to eliminate all risks associated with
volunteers' service overseas.
EXPECTATIONS
This is surely an exciting time, and we want your expectations to be as
realistic as possible.
However, there are many variables beyond the agency's control that
impact volunteers' welfare.
Being a volunteer requires changes in lifestyle preferences and habits
in deference to host country cultural expectations. Choices in dress,
living arrangements, and means of travel, entertainment, and
companionship may have a direct impact on how volunteers are viewed, and
thus treated. Navigating the differences in gender relations may be one
of
the most sensitive and difficult lessons to learn. Build respectful
relationships with those in the local community.
SAFETY
Safety is, for the most part, best assured when they are well integrated
into the local community, valued and protected as extended family
members, and viewed as contributors to development.
Our Policy requires that volunteers report their proposed plans if they
travel away from any city or their place of residence.
Access to medical, banking, postal, and other essential services,
communication, transportation, and local markets, living arrangements
are available.
It is necessary to ensure that volunteers relations can be contacted in
case of emergency.
If a situation arises that poses a potential threat to volunteers, the
local partners will immediately assess the nature of the threat and
respond
in a manner that ensures the volunteers' safety and well being.
Volunteers will have full access in receiving phone calls immediately
from relatives, overseas.
We will be working in the Old City of Nablus, where people used to move
freely in most times, even hard times. The volunteers will be far away
from the hot zones. We will also cooperate with the Union of Palestinian
Medical Relief Committees, which normally moves freely during hard
times. This will help us to run our Workcamps in most times.
Every staff member at Zajel Youth Exchange is committed to provide
Volunteers with the support they need to successfully meet the
challenges they will face to have a safe, healthy, and productive
service.
We hope that the information provided here will help you gain a sense of
these challenges, the changes in attitude and lifestyle that may be
required to adapt to a new environment and the level of support that can
be expected from Youth Exchange, local colleagues, and host communities.
The success of each youth exchange is our goal. We rely on volunteers to
exercise personal responsibility, demonstrate a keen awareness of the
world around them, and a willingness to adjust their behavior in a
manner that will enhance their safety and well-being. In the end their
efforts will be
rewarded with an incredible, unique experience.
We will be working in the Old City of Nablus, where people used to move
freely in most times, even hard times, so, you will be far away from the
hot zones. We will also cooperate with our project partners; the UPMRC,
United Palestinian Medical Relief Committees, which normally move freely
during hard times, which will help us to run our workcamps in most
times, so you will in safe hands in between your new friends.
Contact
If you have any questions or you would like to know more about our
SHABAB project, we would like to respond it. Please contact us via email
youthexchange@???
or add zajel_program@??? on your MSN Messenger to chat with us.
Sincerely,
Alaa Yousef
Zajel Youth Exchange Program
Public Relations Department
An-Najah National University
Nablus, Palestine
www.najah.edu/english/Youth%20Prog/youth.htm
www.najah.edu
youthexchange@???
Phone: ++ 970 9 2381113/7
Fax: ++ 970 9 2387982
http://www.najah.edu/english/Youth%20Prog/camps.htm
