This summer we are traveling to Palestine to volunteer with a program called Palestine Summer Encounter. We have been increasingly interested in this area for a few years now, the more we learn the more our hearts overflow with compassion for the Palestinian people. Since Hannah was facing a decision about what to do for the summer between her junior and senior years of college, and I was feeling restless, we decided to follow our hearts and serve a people faced with many hardships. We are both giving up work, Hannah a summer job, and me two months of full-time employment, but we just can't escape the pull to serve.
Finding the perfect program to volunteer with has been a great confirmation for us. While we want to give our time in tangible ways through working at a non-profit in the area, we also want to contribute in intangible ways, like building relationships that break down stereotypes and learning about another culture and religion to develop respect and understanding, things we believe build a foundation for peace.
The Palestine Summer Encounter Program allows us to do all of these things by living with a Palestinian family, volunteering at a local organization, and taking Arabic, as well as other seminars on local issues.
Finding the perfect program to volunteer with has been a great confirmation for us. While we want to give our time in tangible ways through working at a non-profit in the area, we also want to contribute in intangible ways, like building relationships that break down stereotypes and learning about another culture and religion to develop respect and understanding, things we believe build a foundation for peace.
The Palestine Summer Encounter Program allows us to do all of these things by living with a Palestinian family, volunteering at a local organization, and taking Arabic, as well as other seminars on local issues.
The program's goals align with ours in every way:
- Strengthening relationships between Palestinians and the international community.
- Developing long-term advocates for the peoples of the Middle East.
- Humanizing Palestinians and Israelis, connecting our experience with theirs.
- Solidifying international support for Palestinians and Israelis working towards a just peace.
- Deepening internationals' understanding, appreciation and respect for the culture, language, history and religious beliefs of Palestinians.
- Educating and mobilizing broader constituencies in our home countries on issues related to Palestine and Israel.
So truly, we are first asking that you hit 'subscribe' right now and follow us on our journey. Secondly, we are humbly asking for financial support. We have been saving our money for months now, but we are still going to be considerably short. We feel so passionately about taking this trip, so we are doing whatever we can to raise funds, including requesting the support of friends and family, or maybe friends of friends, friends of family, whoever you are, we appreciate you even reading this far!
So...if you feel so inclined...please visit the DONATE tab at the top of the page!
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