JCD Lauds Peace Child Israel
- UK charity spokesperson Daniel Burger, ""They produce original drama, taking these productions around the country, which
are performed in Arabic and Hebrew for both public and student audiences and I
was amazed at how professional these productions were whenever I have seen them.
"But, more importantly. I believe they are making a real and discernible
difference to the way Jews and Arabs feel about each other." Continued at
JCD Lauds Peace Child Israel
State of Israel
Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports
Central Region
April 10, 2008
Mr. Munzar Zabnah
Principal of the Orthodox High School
Ramlah
Mr. Eilon Naveh
Principal of Achad Ha’am School
Petach Tikva
Dear Sirs,
Re: Sima’s Kitchen – a joint production of the students of both schools
I had the pleasure of seeing the performance, a joint production of the two schools of which you are
principals. It was obvious that the performance was the result of a complex and challenging educational process which
comprises profound thinking coupled with artistic creativity. Your joint initiative offered your students a meaningful
educational activity which facilitates talking to one anther, getting to know the other, and coping with a peaceful
solution of conflicts. In my opinion, beyond the writing and acting talents that were manifested in the performance, the
very production of a play in a full bi-lingual setup is a breakthrough which intimates optimism.
Special thanks to the PCI people. Please convey my appreciation and best wishes to the teachers and
supporters, the students who wrote, produced and presented the play, and the directors, Shadi Facharledin and Efrat
Barzilai.
Hoping you will continue your good work,
Sincerely,
Aharon Schneider
Inspector, Central Region
...I’m proud that we’ve reached the
final project, and although it seems to me that I haven’t made much of a difference – I know I’ve changed quite a lot of
things, because now there are at least 40 Arabs who know that there are good Jews too, and there are about 30 Jews who
know that there are good Arabs too. Stav Davidman, Meggido
PCI was so important to me because of what it
shows. What it is, is it shows that if you really think you can, no matter how much people put you down and try to rip
you apart because of age or race, you can make a difference.
I made so many new friends and learned so
much about the world from these kids! Erin,
the COW Project
The show was great and powerful. The
twins really made a good an very accurate statement that helped understanding. My husband as a Palestinian has a lot of
pain about the whole issue and it was healing for him in some ways. The truth about things the average American and
especially Jew don't know was presented gently and the Jewish perspective was put forth. The panel discussion further
was healing to hear the Israelis say the truth, say they hadn't known, say that we tend to not know, and to take action
when they did know. The courage of the troupe and role modeling is also very hopeful as they care about each other in
spite of difficulties and make progress with effort but still make it, as do many of our peace groups and discussion
groups.
I recently heard about your organization and was so impressed by the little I
heard I had to go and investigate. I have visited your website and although I haven't read everything, I am so impressed
and touched by the work you are doing. I am a high school theatre teacher in Orange, California and to see a group doing
work of the scope that you are doing is amazing.
I am in the constant battle with administrators who feel that theatre should not
be "making a statement" in education, with colleagues who feel that there is not educational value in theatre and with
students who think theatre is only for fun. Your organization illustrates the importance of theatre as an educational
tool.
Thank you for the work you are doing and please let me know if there is any way
that I can offer some help from here. As of right now I am planning on designing a lesson using your organization to
illustrate one of reasons why people "do" theatre. Thank you again and I look forward to watching your efforts
through your website.
Rachael Paschal Theatre Educator, Orange High School, Orange, California
“Melisse, I spoke to my cousin in London about
fundraising; you know I want to help the amuta any way that I can, to stay
active. I’m going to help get a Peace Child group to the congress in Morocco
this summer; the organizers remember me as a PCI delegate in Hawaii in 1999”
- Mr. Essam Daod, from Kfar Yassif, phone
conversation, February 2003. “Class of ’99”, presently doctoral student
at Technion.
“I used to have long conversations with Yael [Drouyannoff]
when I was in the workshop. I’ve wanted to facilitate a group ever since then”.
- Mr. Tarik Aliani, from Kfar Nachef,
from a conversation at a meeting in Dir Al Assad, November 2002;“Class of ‘96”,
presently youth coordinator in Nachef; will facilitate Peace Child group in
September 2003.
“The most important lesson I learned from Peace Child
Israel is that change is always possible”
-Ms Omaima Khalifa, from Sheikh Dinun, quoted in
Jerusalem Post, August 2002; “Class of 2000”, presently preparing for
national service.
“I don’t like to talk
about politics. But when you talk about the daily lives of Arabs and Jews, you
learn a lot. I made a Jewish friend called David, and he taught
me a lot about Jewish culture, how people spend their
time, how they live”.
- Muhammad
Tribieh, from Sakhnin, quoted in Jerusalem Post, August 2002; “Class of 2002”,
presently in the 10th grade.
“I didn’t tell Muhammad to join, he
wanted to. But I think it’s right that we ask how we can help each other, and
such programs where you sit together provide an opportunity to slowly, slowly,
raise our consciousness”.
- Wadji
Abud Tribeih, from Sakhnin, father of Muhammad, quoted in Jerusalem Post, August
2002.
“I was very extreme left wing when I
joined [Peace Child Israel]. I saw everything in terms of racism. But I realized
that the situation here is complex, nothing is black and white. [In our play
“Alice in the Holy Land”]… Alice wandered around the Holy Land talking to
everyone and listening to every point of view. She was objective and saw all
sides. Alice was taking the path that we all need to take”.
- Odelia Ainbinder, from Jerusalem, quoted in
Jerusalem Post, August 2002. “Class of 2000”, presently working as a
group leader in Hashomer Hatzair, prior to army service that begins in October
2003.
“Things that seemed clear two years
ago are not clear anymore. I was cynical when I joined, doubting if we’d become
friends – our culture and behavior are so different. But in the end we all
laughed at the same things, ate together, worked together as partners. And you
learn so much from just listening to a wider point of view than what you hear in
the news”.- Inbal Shaked, from
Yuvalim in Misgav, quoted in Jerusalem Post, August 2002;“Class of 2002”,
presently in the 10th grade.
“…Yet despite the pain, the friction,
the accusations and the tears, at the end of the seminar, no bitterness remained
between the group participants. It seemed as thought they had gone through a
rebirth by talking about their deepest angers, fears and pains with the “other”.
There was a sense of relief, which liberated them from those feelings. Now it’s
the kids’ turn to have it out. Quoted
in an article in Ha’aretz on Friday September 6, 2002, by Orly Halperin,
covering the Peace Child Israel facilitator training seminar in August 2002,
Nazareth.
In these days of riots and uncertainty, we are glad that we participated in the
"Peace Child Israel" program. Our friends are developing hatred for an entire
nation in light of the terrible things which have happened. We can't.
We have friends who are part of that nation. We know that this nation, is being led to
throw stones, also has parts in it with people who know how to listen and to bond, to
understand the differences and ultimately to love with the love of a true friend.
Due to Peace Child Israel, during these days, we know that we have good friends in East
Jerusalem and if the road to them is blocked, the path between us isn't blocked.
Tal, Noa and Odelia,
graduates
of Peace Child Israel at Givat Gonen and Mt. of Olive High Schools in
Jerusalem, 2000.
