A group photo in front of the bannner |
Learning together |
During a class |
Learning social responsibility |
Visiting
the elderly |
Learning to listen |
Paying attention to the environment |
Planting
trees |
The balloons carried the prayers to heaven |
BETHLEHEM (Holy Land) (October, 2008).- A mixed group of 41 Christians and Muslims youth
enthusiastically participated the five-day Youth Encounter Summer (YES)
2008 organized by the Pontifical Mission Library-Bethlehem (PML-Bethlehem)
in cooperation with Teresian Association (T.A.) in the Holy Land. With
the theme Unity in Diversity, the camp focused on activities
and dynamics to awaken a sense of social awareness and responsibility
among the participants, no matter how different they may be.
Monnitte V. Monana, PML director and over-all organizer, together Meliza
Panes of the T.A. and two other local staff, Hala Batarseh and Iyad Ali,
facilitated this year’s third summer youth camp which was held last
July 2-6 at Betharram Seminary, Bethlehem.
The learning process was made possible through modular sessions that allowed
the youth to do things together in an atmosphere of trust, respect, and
acceptance of what is different and unique in others, while promoting
the value of tolerance, and learning to appreciate plurality and diversity
by taking concrete actions.
Furthermore, the activities were complemented by the exposure/immersion
experiences wherein a day was dedicated for planting a tree in a Bethlehem
public park, followed by a significant visit to the Home of the Elderly
in Antonian Society and a “walk and see? experience in some of the
busy streets of Bethlehem.
These were all new and unique experiences for all the participants which
increased and awakened their sense of service, social commitment and sensitivity
to the needs of those who are economically and/or socially deprived in
society, and becoming more aware of their social responsibility towards
keeping clean and taking care of the environment.
On the first day of the camp, Monnitte Monana warmly welcomed the participants
and stressed on the need to use one’s potential and giftedness in
building community, unite effort to make a change as well as create an
environment where everyone feels accepted despite the cultural and religious
differences which in effect challenged them to start in their „here
and now?.
“Responsibility is a task of everyone regardless of age, gender,
profession and economic status in the society wherever we are –
whether at home, school, village and country in general”, said of
the invited speakers, Dr. Jeanne Kattan, Head of the English Department
at Bethlehem University, who spoke on commitment and responsibility.
This sense of social commitment was further complemented by the video
presentation and group dynamics as well as participation introduced by
Nina Gedeon. The session with her has allowed them to get in touch with
different situations wherein they learned how to conserve limited supply
of water especially in the Palestinian context – at home, in schools,
in their neighborhood, and in the villages. Eventually, the presentation
helped the participants to think of the many ways of water management
and helped in its conservation.
The experience of “planting trees? de-lighted and challenged the
participants to consciously take care of the environment and promote the
“green and clean? activity such as this. Divided into small group
of four, participants and staff went together to Marie Doty’s Park
in Bethlehem, on the second-day of the camp, and each group took charge
of planting trees and some flowering plants in the park’s vicinity.
For many, the experience was unique of which they had a great time planting
trees and had the feeling of pride for having contributed to the world’s
concern to counteract climate change even in their own simple way.
Participants and staff went to the Antonian Society and spent some time
with the elderly there by simply talking, listening, entertaining, assisting
them in their needs and even feeding them during meal-time. For many of
them, the experience has moved and touched them as they became more aware
of their social and moral obligation toward the sick and the elderly,
and how to treat kindly those who are physically fragile in their family.
“My heart was moved and wanting to put compassion where there is
misery, love where therei s hatred, and tenderness where there is insensitivity?,
said Jihan Gedeon, one of the participants.
Many heads turned as a group of YES participants, each accompanied by
a staff, were walking on some of the major and busy streets of Bethlehem
under the scorching sun. It was a “walk with a cause?. The experience
was meant to make them become more aware and notice how clean and orderly
their surroundings and cities are or vice-versa. It enabled them to feel
more responsible for their own surroundings and how to keep it clean and
orderly.
Inspite of their different beliefs and ways of praying and calling on
God, participants became one and prayed as one at the beginning of each
day. The ways of praying were varied in order to accommodate all of the
participants without them feeling offended or isolated, but rather allowing
the atmosphere of respect and tolerance during those moments of prayer.
On one occasion the whole experience of the day was recapped by drawing
out reactions and insights from the different groups of participants.
The comments were translated into a prayer. Then, written in pieces of
papers that were linked to make a chain, it was tied into a bunch of balloons
and was let go, off into the air.
Through ‘role playing’, participants were also made to familiarize
themselves with the various social problems affecting lives of people.
Later on they were invited to give/share some concrete actions to resolve
these social problems they have seen in the Palestinian society.
“It was wonderful! It is the best camp that I ever went to. I learned
a lot of things, and had great time especially when we went to Mary Doty?s
Park and planted trees”, Said Izzat Salameh at the end.
This year?s camp was special and unique in ways of presenting new things
which were more exciting than the previous years”, Said Hala Batarseh
who has participated in previous years experience.
For Samar Sabat a sataff member, “spending time with children is
the most exciting thing in facilitating camps”.
Jihan Gedeon said that through the camp “ I have met lots of new
friends who made my life different and full of happiness and peace”.
Text by: MONNITTE V. MONANA
Photos by: Meliza Panes
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