“ Battir : Saving Heritage of 2000 years & preparing for Battir 2020 ”

Introduction:
This work camp, is a continuation of a previous work camp that is connected to the scheme (world Heritage - Palestine: Land of olives and vines. Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir village) seeks in the first place to protect and renovate old and Palestinian sites in a very ancient village with wonderful landscape and nature. The place has been registered by the WHC in UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2014.
International Palestinian Youth League (IPYL)
IPYL is an organization that aims at empowering Palestinian youth through non-formal educational programs, intercultural learning, training, media literacy and youth leadership
activities. Since its inception, IPYL has implemented hundreds of activities, including 71
international voluntary Workcamps in Palestine (and 61 in different countries in the Middle East), youth exchanges, cross-cultural study trips, leadership seminars, think tank groups and community meetings. By undertaking these activities, IPYL has developed strong alliances with a wide network of individuals and organizations. For more information about IPYL, please visit https://www.ipyl.org
ME057 / IPYL067, the land where history started”
Battir Landscape Eco-Museum Center:
Local organization that is working on reserving their village’s ancient sites after being listed in 2014 on the world Heritage List. Active in renovation, landscaping and archeology. The club was established 7 years ago and now seeking the world help to renovate the old monuments and IPYL072 “ Battir : Saving Heritage of 2000 years & preparing for Battir 2020 ”
water canals that goes back to thousands of years. The landscape resembles the Babylon
gardens. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/BattirLandscapeEcomusuem
Project Description:
The work will include the following activities:
 Rehabilitating the old places in it including the very ancient water canals (Battir Village
has a special and ancient water system that is connected to several water natural
resources).
 Assist in rebuilding of an ancient wall that leads to the very ancient water cistern at the
edge of the village. This wall will help the locals and internationals reaching the water
cistern, which is hoped to be a touristic historical and natural attraction.
 Working on several locations beside the ancient train railway which was established
since the Ottomans Empire that was a main line that connected Turkey to Palestine. The
location of the railway is the borderline between Palestine and Israel.
 Assisting the local partners and the different stakeholders in developing the promotion
plans of their village under the title “Battir 2020”.

(Detailed program will be sent ahead of the workcamp date)
Cultural Activities:
The afternoon will be used to give volunteers an inter-cultural learning experience, with focus
on exposing the Palestinian culture within the context of the occupation and hopes for the
future. This will include visits to refugee camps in the Bethlehem area, tours of place of
interest, lectures, and most importantly interaction with the local people. The volunteers will
be able to visit the different associations and centers where they can watch Documentaries or
attend lectures about the situation in Palestine and the Middle East. They will also have the
opportunity to speak with the Palestinian politicians and activists to open the space for them to
find the answers for all the questions they want to ask. The volunteers will also have the
opportunity to visit other cities in occupied West Bank.
Detailed day by day cultural program will be developed and sent to the participants before their
arrival.
Accommodation: the volunteers will be hosted in rented flats in Batter or Bethlehem (if in
Bethlehem, they will be transported daily by bus to the work location in Battir village).
Food will be prepared by the volunteers themselves (kitchen group-daily) or provided by some
sponsors if any.
p.s. final and detailed program as well as the arrival note will be sent on July 20th