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Feb. 1, 2008
Films to promote peace
High-profile donor helps local youth initiative.
LEONARD BLAKE
As conflict in the Holy Land rages on, another ambitious peace initiative is scheduled for this August. However, it will not take place at Camp David or Annapolis but at a youth camp in coastal British Columbia.
Founded in 2003 by Adri Hamael and Reena Lazar, Peace it Together seeks to promote peace and understanding by bringing together Israeli, Palestinian and Canadians youths for two weeks of dialogue and filmmaking.
Hamael believes that balance and compromise is crucial in the search for a just and lasting peace.
"I am Palestinian and Reena is Jewish, we work together and listen to one another, it is the key to our success," Hamael said.
After having undergone some conflict resolution training, youths who attend the camp work with each other to create films depicting their feelings and day-to-day struggles.
"The process of collaborating in a creative way is incredibly powerful for conflict transformation," said Lazar.
Co-ordinators in Israel and the Palestinian territories choose the participants. Hamael said that their organization seeks youths who demonstrate strong leadership skills, a proficiency in English and a willingness to learn from "the other."
A passage on the group's website explains: "Our vision is to build a culture of creative leaders inspiring and educating others to work toward peace."
Though youths are chosen on the basis that they seek dialogue and understanding, Hamael said that many are resistant when they first arrive at the camp. "Both sides are filled with anger, hatred and mistrust when they arrive. Some of them don't even look at each other, but through the intense work of the program, they move from accusing each other to becoming very good friends."
However, it is not always easy for the participants once they have left the camp and returned home.
"Both the Palestinian and Israeli youths will have to answer to people who do not support what they did when they were here," said Lazar. "A lot of their friends don't understand why they would do this – they call them traitors."
The youths are between 16 and 17 years old and Peace it Together tries to recruit participants from a variety of socioeconomic, political and religious backgrounds, as well as from different regions. However, due to instability and travel restrictions, there have not been any Palestinian youths from Gaza in recent years, nor will there be any this summer.
Indeed, many of the Palestinian participants have had to undergo a great deal in order to reach the camp. Hamael related the experience of two young men, Majdi Saleh Hafi and Ragheb Askari from Tulkaram, who had to climb through the mountains to avoid a checkpoint that had been closed the day they were scheduled to leave for Canada. "You can imagine them walking and struggling with their suitcases – it just shows you how determined these kids are," said Hamael.
In addition to the Israeli and Palestinian participants, Canadian youths also attend the camp. "Their role is crucial," said Hamael. "They are the unofficial mediators and they keep things balanced.... Both sides want to show the Canadians that they are the victims and get them on their side, but the Canadians listen carefully to both sides and don't choose."
While the program is currently focused solely on promoting dialogue and understanding between Israeli and Palestinian youths, organizers hope that, one day, Peace it Together can build bridges between youths divided by other protracted conflicts.
"The core of our work will remain the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," said Hamael, "but our long-term goal, once we have perfected our techniques, is to move on to other zones of conflict in the world."
Peace it Together has received support from a variety of donors, including a recent $25,000 donation from the Righteous Persons Foundation, an organization supported by Steven Spielberg and funded by revenues generated from his films Schindler's List and Munich.
"We are very grateful and very happy to receive their support," said Hamael. "We haven't stopped smiling since we heard the news.... We are very grateful for Mr. Spielberg's donation but we are also very grateful to the local people who have supported us."
Hamael said Peace it Together has received private donations from the Vancouver Foundation, as well as from a variety of donors in the Muslim community. However, even with that financial assistance, Hamael said, the program always needs more help.
"We are very lucky to receive support," he said, "but we need more." Anyone who would like to view last year's films, or make a donation, should visit peaceittogether.ca.
Leonard Blake is a Vancouver freelance writer.
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