“ My next Christmas is in Palestine”

Introduction:
The project seeks to bring young people from various cultures together to build bridges of understanding, reconciliation, and peace. The long term goal of project is to prepare youth to make positive contributions to their future and society through the values of understanding, helping, contributing tolerance, and respectful coexistence. These goals are achieved through education –awareness reaction, youth empowerment and work camps.
Project Description:
The volunteers will work in different areas in Bethlehem city. The work includes renovation of old sites near the church of the Nativity and assisting the Bethlehem municipality in preparing for the Christmas season; painting the streets, distribution of booklets and flyers to the tourists, decorating walls.. etc. (more detailed program will be sent to the volunteers ahead of the workcamp).
Food and Accommodation:
The volunteers will be hosted in flats in Bethlehem (15-20 minutes walking distance from the Nativity Church) where men and women stay in separated rooms. The accommodation includes hot water and kitchen with basic equipment. The volunteers will cook by themselves through the kitchen group. Tea and coffee will be available all the time.
There might be curfew for the workcamp, which would be around mid night, unless we have some activities around the church or in the city that night.
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. IPYL073 “ My next Christmas is in Palestine”
Detailed day by day cultural program will be developed and sent to the participants before their arrival.
Why in Bethlehem?
Bethlehem is considered a central hub of Palestinian cultural and tourism industries. The city has significant values for Christians as it is considered the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth according to the Gospels. Bethlehem is also home to one of largest Palestinian Christian communities in the Middle East. In addition, Bethlehem has three Palestinian Refugee Camps (Dhisha, Al-Azza and Aaida). The construction of the Israeli apartheid wall has had sever negative impact on Bethlehem; politically, socially, and economically. The wall runs along the northern side of the town's built-up area, within meters of houses in 'A'ida refugee camp on the one side, and the Jerusalem on the other.
The workcamp will be running in the period of Christmas, where Bethlehem is the best place to celebrate the Christmas. The volunteers will have the opportunity to celebrate the Christmas with the Palestinians and express their solidarity with them.
Detailed information sheet and arrival note will be sent later.