BE A PART OF SOMETHING AMAZING – BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION!
WITH YOUR HELP, FOR A FULL YEAR WE WILL BRING 20 ISRAELI & 20 PALESTINIAN BOYS AND GIRLS TO WEEKLY MEETINGS OF UNDERSTANDING, HOPE AND COEXISTENCE.
WITH YOUR HELP, WE WILL TEACH TRUST, DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR BOTH SIDES – ENCOURAGING NON-VIOLENCE AND PEACE.
WITH YOUR HELP – WE WILL MAKE A TRUE DIFFERENCE ON THE GROUND!
Founded in 2014, Roots-Judur-Shorashim is a joint organization of local Palestinians and Israelis seeking to create a culture of nonviolence, understanding, trust and transformation even within the persistent Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The only such organization in the West Bank, Roots is located in the Gush Etzion-Hebron area, a region which frequently experiences the pain of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Roots is working with people on both sides of the divide, creating a new discourse from within the very communities most at odds, through programs that reduce hate and fear, address injustices and foster mutual trust and resilient partnerships. Roots’ vision is to build a climate that honors the rights and connection of both peoples to the land, and provides freedom, dignity and civil rights for all its inhabitants.
Now in its third year, the Roots Youth Program brings together 40 Palestinian and Israeli teens for ongoing dialogue and relationship-building programming. The project aims to replace fear and enmity with a sense of partnership among West Bank Jewish and Arab youth and to instill a sense of empowerment so that they can become successful pioneers of change.
As Mohammad, age 16 from a village next to Hebron, writes: ” Before anything else, I’ve never expected to meet Israelis one day, especially Israeli students who’re the same of my age, but I learned through these meetings that we can live together. I’ve made strong relationships with these peers, relationships that are based on the mutual love and respect.”
Activities include:
- Student-led learning sessions and guest lecturers expose the participants the each others society, religion and life experience of the conflict and beyond.
- Volunteer projects and open events root the project in our local communities- involving family and community elders and empowering our youth to create positive responses together. (e.g. Blood drive, working with local farmers).
- Travel to sites of national and religious importance are both opportunities to bond through the fun and truly share the land and its place in both identities.
- Marking the Israeli and Palestinian calendar events deepens understanding of each others narrative and collective identity. (e.g. break-fasts during Ramadan, candle-lightnings and Shabbat).
Avital, age 17 from Neve Daniel, writes: ” I have next to no knowledge about them, and I find myself asking- Who are they? What’s their life like? How do they feel? All that I know is that there is a cycle of blood that continues more and more and affects our daily life and that I have a responsibility to take actions to battle this circle of blood. The right way to fight this battle I found in Roots Youth.”
True change begins with dialogue and understanding – together we can create a new climate in the region – we are looking forward to your joining us!
For more information and questions, please feel free to contact us at development@friendsofroots.net
Hello Friends of Roots!
Thanks to your generosity, we have reached our first goal of $10,000 which covers costs for the educational components of our program- sessions in identity, religion and dual-narratives. We are now on a mission to reach the new goal of $16,000 which will allow for the community service actions, joint trips and more!
As the waves of response to Trumps announcement ripple through our communities- this has not been a simple time. But our youth have been simply incredible– sharing with each other this last week it became even clearer to them how distant their realities and perceptions are. So they decided to dedicate this next weeks learning session to Jerusalme/al-Quds. Two students from each side are preparing presentations about what the city means to them- historically, religiously and nationally. Maybe our politicians should attend?