JERUSALEM | The Seeds of Peace Women of Action group organized the “I Am From” Youth Arts Festival outside Jerusalem on June 7.
The day-long event was held at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute and brought together more than 80 Palestinian, Jewish-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli children between the ages of 10 and 15.
Women of Action is a growing group of Palestinian and Israeli women who are committed to working together to create a better, more peaceful future.
Participants in the Youth Arts Festival came from Tulkarem, Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, Tel Aviv, Tira, Hod Hasharon, Kfar Saba, I’billin and Jerusalem.
In addition to the participants, guests included the Jerusalem Youth Chorus, founded by Seeds of Peace alum Micah Hendler, Ukuleles for Peace, and visiting educators and community leaders.
The participants created a variety of arts projects—visual, performing, film—that represented their communities.
They also participated in a drama workshop organized by graduates of the Seeds of Peace summer course, “Expressive Arts; Educational Transformations,” and wrote expressive poetry about their identities in an “I Am From” workshop.
This was followed by a gallery walk supervised by a Seed of Peace Educator who has worked as a museum curator. Participants responded to the artwork, much of which was challenging for those not used to seeing to images of conflict and military occupation.
“I overheard conversations between kids who had never met before and who never would have met,” said one Seeds of Peace Educator. “The kids participated. They were thoughtful. They engaged.”
“I wish this could be common—for Palestinians and Israelis to meet up,” said an Israeli participant.
Palestinian youth workers from Tulkarem volunteered for the event. For most of them, it was the first time interacting with Israelis.
“It really mattered to them,” said Karen AbuZant, co-founder and Palestinian coordinator of the Women of Action. “It made them comfortable to know that there are Israelis who want peace, who are just like them.”
The “I Am From” Youth Arts Festival was made possible by USAID as part of the Seeds of Peace On Common Ground project.