The Open House in Ramle - a peace education center in Ramle, Israel
 

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Youth Delegation to the U.S


International Video-Conferencing

International Travel & Exchange Programs
Teen Delegations to Europe Small delegations of older OPEN HOUSE teens have traveled to Europe for each of the past several summers, deepening friendships among themselves and fostering connections with their peers abroad.

2001 –September Holland

2002 – Summer USA

18 Jewish, Muslim and Christian Teen Peacemakers from Open House Ramle traveled to the United States on August 1st through August 24th 2002. The trip was organized and hosted by Open House families and friends. The youths and their counselors stayed with their hosting families and were taken on educational trips regarding the United States history, focusing especially on racial relations and history.

Participants’ Reflections

Raneen

1) RANEEN YANAKI (Christian Arab girl, 16 yrs) … I’m in 10th grade, have a younger sister and brother, to collect telephone cards, play saxophone and love to go to parties. I have taken part in OPEN HOUSE activities since I was 9, first in the Keitanat Hashalom summer day camp, then the Kiyufit sleepaway camp, then in the young leaders’ training course. Throughout the years, my parents were in the Jewish-Arab family network.

Reflections on the tour: The high point for me was seeing the Broadway play, “I’m not Rappaport,” because I love theatre and comedies. Also, our visit at the home of Jay Rothman (in Yellow Springs, Ohio) — he mediated the conflict in Cincinatti between the blacks and the police together with Judge Dalus. The trip overall was wonderful and unbelievable. I didn’t think it would be so. In Cincinnati the families and hosts were really nice, they were like family to me. In Sharon the young people were a lot of fun and we enjoyed every moment of their lives. In Martha’s Vineyard meeting so many young people was fun. In Boston I most enjoyed the visit to Harvard because that is my dream. In NY I liked everything we did and I think I will go back.

MIchal

2) MICHAL BEN-OVED (Jewish girl) ….I am 17, in 11th grade, I have two sisters; I really love music: singing, composing, and of course listening. I like to help people in the wider society, I am quite sociable, and I like studying other cultures. I have two dogs, Avraham and Luna. Avraham doesn’t live in our house any more; he’s at my grandma’s home. I took part in the Kiyufit sleepaway camp, the OPEN HOUSE youth delegation to Holland in August 2001, and the young leaders’ training course. I have been active in the scouts movement over the past 8 years; I was a counselor for a group of 14-to-15-year-old scouts; and next year I will help lead a group of youngsters with Down Syndrome.

Reflections on the tour: I loved Cincinatti the best of all the trip. The connection amongst ourselves and between us and the people in Cincinnati was special. It was wonderful to hear new ideas, and improve my ability to speak in a group of new friends. The trip was wonderful. We did lots of new things. I especially liked the two photographers who traveled with us, Tamra Raven and Jenny Tolan I learned on this trip that there is hope and there is reason to continue on with our peace work.

Yael

3) YAEL TIKOTSKY (Jewish girl) ….I am 17 years old, in the 11th grade. I have 3 sisters. Identifying qualities: I am forgiving of others, sensitive, and talkative (maybe too much). Animals at home: 2 dogs, 6 hamsters, 2 pet birds, and 7 fish. Hobbies: swimming, hiking, dancing, computer, conversing in English, and sports. I’ve been active in OPEN HOUSE since I was 8, when I was in third grade. First in the Kaytanat Hashalom summer camp, then the Kiyufit sleepaway camp, then two years in the young leaders’ training program, the youth delegation to Holland, and last summer I was a counselor’s aide in the day camp. Community service: I’ve been a volunteer at a center for mentally retarded children, and I have helped tutor kids with learning disabilities.

Reflections on the tour: It was wonderful to meet and get to know so many different people who love and hold Open House in high esteem. I saw that OH has international support. It meant a lot that so many people know about OH and are interested in us. It was wonderful to get to know American culture. I say that American history is not very different from the history at home. I saw that there is discrimination everywhere, even in a place that seems very humanistic. The trip enriched me intellectually and socially. I learned about different cultures and different people. I enjoyed being here with everyone. From being with our group I learned that our political opinions don’t matter, and despite the arguments and differences of opinion, we are still united.

Ruba

4) RUBA HAMDAN (Muslim Arab girl) ….I’m 16, I live in Lod (the city next to Ramle), go to the Terra Santa School in Ramle, have 3 older sisters, and a cat named Bis Bis. The thing I love most is art, so when I have free time I am likely to fill it with all kinds of artistic pursuits. I love rock music, especially Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Goo Goo Dolls, and went to sleepaway camp attended the young leaders’ training course for two years. I enjoy taking part in as many activities as I can, in order to develop myself and to better express my thoughts and feelings, especially about the Jewish-Arab conflict, which engages me deeply. I’m also active in the Re’ut/Sadaka Jewish-Arab youth movement.

Read a message from Ruba.

Reflections on the tour: I was surprised that in all the meetings we had (in Cincinnati, in Sharon and in Martha’s Vineyard etc) the people were really interested and asked questions that showed how important the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is to them. I encountered a new culture and new people, it was an opportunity for me to separate from what’s happening in Israel and to start to think about different things. It was an opportunity for me to return to myself and to know myself better. I was delighted to learn that Noam in not going to serve in the Army – something that proves her strong desire for peace and her presence in OH.

Gloria

5) GLORIA BOURSHEH (Christian Arab girl) ….I’m 16, I have two brothers and one sister, and my grandmother lives with us, along with my parents. In school my favorite subjects are chemistry, biology, and English. My hobbies: drawing, writing poetry, music and songs in English, sculpture, and dancing at parties. I also love to play basketball. I’m sociable and like to meet new people, especially from abroad: Americans, British people… I am independent and I like to stay active (I’m not capable of just sitting around). I love the works of Shakespeare, Mozart, and Van Gogh. I have a canary at home; we used to have many kinds of birds. I participate in the OPEN HOUSE young leaders’ training course. I was in the Ramle Youth Parliament and I spend a lot of time at church, my Catholic church. I dream of studying abroad, in one of the top universities, like Oxford, Harvard, Yale, USC, UCLA, and eventually going into medicine.

Reflections on the tour: It was exciting to meet people who made me change my mind. I met one Jewish man who was very liberal and understanding and I met a Muslim man who made me change my point of view about Islam. I am proud of what I said when we met people (questions and answers). It was wonderful. This was my first trip overseas. I was pleased that the Jewish kids in our group said that one day the Palestinian people would have a state.

Amos

6) AMOS (AMI) BOKOBZA (Jewish boy) ….I’m 17 and a half, a friendly and funny guy. I love computers, music, watching TV, and especially hanging out with friends. I’ve been active in OPEN HOUSE for the last 3 years. I participated in the “PEACE CHILD” program, a Jewish-Arab youth group that together created and put on a theatrical production. I have been in the young leaders’ training course for the past two years, and I took part in the youth delegation to Holland last summer.

Reflections on the tour: The whole trip was one long continuous high point. I learned that life here, in the US, isn’t more developed than in Israel. I was thrilled to see new places in the world and a life style that is different from ours.

Ayleen

7) AILEEN (EILEEN) IMSIES (Arab Christian girl) ….I’m 16; I’m in 10th grade; I don’t particularly like school but I put up with it. I have 3 brothers and a sister, and we live with our mother (our dad died). I love to listen to music, especially songs in English and Spanish. I do like learning languages: English, Hebrew, Arabic, Spanish, Italian. I like to meet people from abroad and to learn about their customs. I like to shop, to visit historic sites, and to dance. I like participating in youth movements, especially those focusing on peace and coexistence. For the past two years, I have taken part in the OPEN HOUSE young leaders’ training course.

Afteem

8) AFTEEM FANOUS (Christian Arab boy) …I am 16, in the 10th grade. I’ve been active in OPEN HOUSE for 6 years. I was a Kiyufit camper for 4 years, and for the past two years a participant in the young leaders’ training course. I like to play soccer and computer games. I especially enjoy hanging out with the friends I met in the young leaders’ group.

Reflections on the tour: I was most surprised by the big towers in NY. I was proud that I gave someone with a baby my seat in the subway. Yael and Noam are really funny and I enjoyed being with them. The trip improved my English and general knowledge.

Sameh

9) SAMEH ZAKUT (Arab/Muslim boy) … I am 19 and I live in Ramle. I have participated in OPEN HOUSE for 6 years already and continue to participate until this day. OPEN HOUSE taught me how to listen, talk and tell the other side about myself and hear from the other side how he feels. My hobbies are music, especially black music (hip hop, R&B). I also enjoy soccer and basketball. I like taking trips out of doors, and I especially like girls. [Sameh does rap in Arabic and has his own CD cut.]

Reflections on the tour: I was surprised that there isn’t much in common between me and the blacks like I thought there was. When I was asked to stand in a moment of silence for the victims of both sides, I spoke about it later and was proud of that. I am sorry that we the Palestinians in the group didn’t stand out enough, and especially myself. This trip reinforced my opinion that American culture isn’t exactly culture and that they have a lot to learn from us. But I enjoyed every minute – nice people, good hearted. I’d give it a “9” (not a 10 because of the lack of sleep!) Everyone really hosted from their hearts.

Tal

10) TAL SEGAL (Jewish girl) … I will be just16 when we come on the tour. Family: – Five people, including me and two younger brothers. Hobbies: – TV, Internet, girlfriends, writing, hanging out, parties, theatre, listening to music. I have been participating for almost two years in OPEN HOUSE activities. I was in the Kiyufit summer camp and am in the second year of the Youth Leadership Training program. I have a sweet cat named Leo and fish.

Alice

11) ALICE YANAKI (Arab/Christian girl) …. I am 16 1/2 and going into 12th grade in the Terra Sancta School in Ramle. I have many hobbies because I like to do everything. Basketball is a small hobby, every day my friends and I play under the house or go to the (Hebrew unclear, sorry) to play there. I like the beach, and would swim all day if I could! Between bagruiot (matriculation exams) and high school studies, I dance and sing whenever I have time. I like going out, anything to get away from problems and the situation. When I go out I like going to the beach, eating ice cream, pizza and junk food. The only active sport I hate is soccer because it is annoying and boring! I have participated in OPEN HOUSE for three years and I enjoy it. Two years ago I went to Kiyufit summer camp and a year ago I went to Holland and I also participated in the Youth Leadership Training program. I enjoyed this the most because I learned to open up and listen to other peoples’ opinions, and to be tolerant and patient, to respect other peoples’ opinions and not to rule something out because I don’t agree. If I could make a wish, I would ask for love and peace in the world because I am sick of hatred and racism. At the end of this year I am going to America – there we will have time to be together and get out of the political situation. In short, I hope we have a good trip. Bye Bye

Reflections on the tour: Meeting with journalists and important people who gave us the wonderful feeling that we were important to them. I felt famous, everyone photographed us, and we were interviewed on TV! It felt really wonderful. They wanted to hear our story and to show the whole world that there is a group in Israel dedicated to peace, comradery and love. I was surprised that people are really interested in our story, the story of peace. That so many people came to hear us and our experiences. I really hold that in high regard. It was really fun. I want to go back to American to study in University university and to shout to everyone that I was a part of OPEN HOUSE for peace.

Gil

12) GIL COHEN (Jewish boy) ….I am 17, in tenth grade, active in a youth group and in Hug Sayeret – trips around Israel to develop a love for the land. I also participate in a program in which we build small airplanes. I am active in a club that helps needy children from low socio-economic backgrounds. We play with the children, serve them food, and help them with their homework. I like traveling, swimming, Internet games, and I enjoy parties as well. I participated in OPEN HOUSE Youth Leadership Training program and I went to Holland. We are 4 brothers in my family. I am the youngest. I like all types of music. I want to be a pilot when I grow up. I believe in peace and I am active in it and I am still optimistic.

Reflections on the tour: The most memorable part of the trip for me was Ground Zero. The best part was the relationships between us friends. I especially enjoyed Samach and his nonsense and his rapping. I tried to represent OH in the best way I could. It was good to better know what OH is all about and to meet friends in America.

Hadil

13) HADIL FANOUS (Arab Christian girl) …. I was born in Ramle Israel into an old palestinian family that traces its roots here nearly 800 years back. I am 18 years old and this year I have three younger sisters. My father works as a mechanical engineer in a plaster factory and my mother is a teacher in an elementary school. My future plans are to continue studying physics and chemistry. I like to listen to music, play sports, watch television, spend time with my friends and I am always ready to meet new people. My activities at OPEN HOUSE: I was in the summer camp Kaytenat haShalom from the age of 8, then I went to Kiyufit teenage camp. My parents were involved in the family group, Chug Kramim. I was also involved in the Yaldei haShalom project which was involved in the arts and theater. At the end of the project we put on a play for the Jewish and Arab public. In 2001 I was in the Young Leadership Training program. Thereafter I was a counselor’s assistant in the Kaytenat HaShalom and that summer I went to Holland last summer, too. Reflections on the tour: My high point was to visit Ground Zero and to imagine the two huge towers that were twice the size of the other towers. I was shocked at the behavior of American youth in the discotheques (for ages 15-21). We are angels compared to them. I loved the sweet and warm reception I was given by my family in Cincinnati. I felt that I was part of the family and not just any guest that came for 9 days. I was proud of myself that at the airport, on the way out, I spoke up against the unequal and unfair treatment that the Arabs were given compared to the Jews. The trip just made me more proud to be an Arab, that I can represent OPEN HOUSE and that there is still hope for peace. I liked to listen to Rami Yunous who doesn’t stop believing in shalom.

Rami
14) RAMI YOUNIS (Arab Christian boy) ….I am 17 1/2 and study at Terra Sancta High School in Ramle. My interests are sport, music, movies and the computer. I like watching all sports. Next year I finish high school and I hope to finish with high grades so I can more easily choose what I want to learn in university. At the moment I am leaning towards medicine, but that may change. Or I might study biotechnology which is thought of as a profession of the future. As I wrote above, I mostly like watching and participating in sports and I think sport is one of the most wonderful and moving things in the world because sport can do what no person in the world can do – it can bring hearts (people) together.

Reflections on the tour: I saw the world. I saw what the U.S. is, I learned about the gap in states, about the problems between the whites and the blacks. The trip also put me up against new experiences. I was in a play, I did yoga, I made people laugh, I served, I was interviewed etc. Overall, an outstanding experience.

Noam

15) NOAM SHUSTER (Jewish girl) ….I was born on Feb. 12, 1987 and I am 16 years old. I live in a Jewish -Arab community, Neve Shalom and I study in the Tzafit high school. I love theatre and sport. I study Arabic and I have a dog. I am a camp counselor and I work at the swimming pool at Neve Shalom. I love to be interviewed and to express my opinions and since I live in a place that is an experiment in mixed living, as is OPEN HOUSE. I have an 11 year old brother named Omer and my parents are Ruti and Hazi Shoster. I have participated in OPEN HOUSE activities since I was in grade 2, the summer camps and I am going to be in the Young Leadership Training program.

Reflections on the tour: My high point was the interview with me and Ranin at CNN. I was moved that they chose me and even if it was short, it was quite an experience. I enjoyed every day of the trip. I was surprised by the group. I didn’t think we would develop such strong and wonderful bonds. It’s a special group and everyone really cares about one another and no sub-groups developed (as usually happens). The hospitality was wonderful and everyone treated us so nicely wherever we went. I felt special because I was part of a special group. I am proud of the strong connections I formed and the previous bonds that were strengthened. This is important to me. In addition, I expressed my opinions a lot on the trip and that is important to me. The trip gave me so much that I don’t think I can say it all on one page. Living together for 25 days, and meeting such wonderful people – I will never forget it.

Shimrit

16) SHIMRIT SHEMESH (Jewish girl) ….I am 17 1/2 and going into grade 12. I have parents and two siblings. My hobbies: TV, spend time with friends, computers, etc. My pets: a dog and parakeets. I have been involved with OPEN HOUSE for 9 years – Kaytanat haShalom, Kiyufit, parents’ Chug Kramim, Young Leadership Training Program, trip to Holland, and I was a counselor’s assistant at the Katenat haShalom last year .

Reflections on the tour: I formed bonds with people in the delegation and with other people I met. Overall the trip was very enjoyable. The family I stayed with in Cincinnati was wonderful, and it was especially good because I was together with Yael, Alice and Raneen. It was fun to be together with the whole group such as the evening we arrived on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, and on the sea and in NY at the youth hostel, and sailing.

Shai

17) SHAI HALAWI (Jewish boy, 15 1/2) ….I am going into the 10 grade in September. I have two older sisters, My hobbies are computers and surfing the internet, as well karate and judo, music and especially MTV. I like to do outdoor survival skills and play soccer. My dream for the future is to be small Chinese breed dog. I was in a special project with OPEN HOUSE in the 7th grade that matched two classrooms, one Arab and one Jewish. Several classes from two schools were paired.

Reflections on the tour: The best part was seeing the statue of Liberty and Ground Zero. The worst part was seeing the pickpockets and poor people in New York. It was wonderful to see the other side of the world, to travel, to see if it is really possible for Jews and Arabs to live together (it is!) and to really understand the significance of OPEN HOUSE and the work it does. This is a trip that every child at OH should take and just as something happened to me in this month, for him/her too something will happen. Everyone supported and encouraged everyone else, even though I was new. When I didn’t speak up at the press conference they said to me, “No matter, next time.”

Mishel

18) MISHEL ZARROR (Christian Arab boy, 16) ….I am going into the 11th grade, am studying in the Christian Orthodox High School in Ramle, and I have a younger brother and older sister. I went to the OPEN HOUSE sleep away summer peace camp for several years. I like pop music and ping pong (table tennis). The subject I most love in school is history. I have a Doberman pincher dog that just gave birth to two puppies. I love pizza very, very, very much.

A year later the youth participated in a video conference

OPEN HOUSE teens discussed interfaith relations, shared thoughts and feelings about war, peace and other issues live on-line in December 2002 and December 2003. Connected by live videoconference, teens from OPEN HOUSE were able to converse in real time with American high school students from schools around the U.S.

The video-conference was sponsored by The Global Nomads Group which specializes in bringing international youth together across the globe.