Breaking News scholarships available this year for Palestine Summer Encounter

              For More Information on the program and SCHOLARSHIPS
                              VISIT : www.palestinesummer.org

People have seen and read about Palestine In the news. But what is really known about Palestine?  What do we do for fun? What do we eat?  What do we think of the outside world?  What is daily life like under military occupation?

What is seen on the news IS NOT the ENTIRE story…  We would like to invite anyone who is interested, and the families in their  communities to visit Holy Land Trust, a nonprofit organization based in Bethlehem, Palestine.  We are engaged in great programs for the year 2009. This is a real opportunity to experience the Holy Land in a unique and life-changing way.

Palestine Summer Encounter is a one to three month cultural immersion and Arabic language training program in the city of Bethlehem, Palestine. Participants live with host families, study Arabic at a local college and are placed with individual volunteer opportunities.

In addition to Arabic study, we offer a number of other academic tracks, including: Nonviolence in Palestine, Regional Politics,
Theology and the Land, Comparative Religions and the History of Zionism.

Learn Palestinian traditional dance (Dabkeh) and how to cook Palestinian food. At the end of the program, you can perform the dabkeh that you have been learning for weeks during the Farwell party; an amazing way to say goodbye to your host family and your volunteer organization. See Summer Encounter videos for the Dabkeh performances . .

The purpose of the program is to create a dialogue between Palestinians and members of the international community.

Those who join the program will also have the opportunity to meet with both Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers and human rights activists. For details please visit www.palestinesummer.org.

• Everyone is Welcome! Palestine Summer Encounter is a program for men
   and women of all ages and nationalities!

• Participants live and share meals with a local Arabic-speaking family
   in Bethlehem or neighboring cities Beit Sahour and Beit Jala.

• Study Arabic and other subjects:  Politics of The Region,
   Comparative Religions , Nonviolence, Bible, History ,Christian Zionists
   and Theology of the Land , all in one program .

• Volunteer:  Each participant will utilize their unique skills and talents to
   serve at a local nonprofit, children’s summer camp or humanitarian organization.

• Be a Witness for Peace and be exposed to daily life in Palestine.  Participants will meet with dozens of Palestinian and Israeli
  human rights organizations and peace activists.

• See the Sites Every weekend, participants will have the opportunity to visit different sites of historical, religious and
   political importance. Some sites may include: the old city of Jerusalem, Haifa, Nazareth, Ramallah, Hebron, Qalqilya,
   the Dome of the Rock, the Nativity Church, etc.
   There will be a total of 8 weekend trips 4 per month.

"My host family is wonderful. They are so kind. Arab hospitality is truly amazing and there is a constant supply of food and tea always. Everyone knows everyone here and there is strong sense of community… I could write about so much more… but nothing I say can really explain the way it really is. You see images on TV or read about them in the newspapers…but nothing prepares you for what it is like in reality. The good and the bad, the ugly and the beautiful, the happy and the sad"

Rebecca Davies, PSE 2008

1st of July – 15th of July . 2009 /  Home Rebuilding Camp Offers Hope to Victims of House Demolition

Purpose of the Camp: The main activity of the camp is to rebuild a home demolished by the Israeli military in a Palestinian area; this is one of the most important issues facing Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. In addition to working on rebuilding the house, Holy Land Trust will provide:

- Nonviolence training courses for the participants.

- Political tours in Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Israel.

- Discussions and presentations by Israeli and Palestinian NGOs.

- Field trips to historical and religious sites.

- Weekend excursions and cultural evenings.

During this experience, participants will learn more about the culture, food and lifestyle of those who live here as they will work hand in hand with the local community. Participants will be staying at a local Palestinian guest house in Bethlehem.

At the end of the camp we will have a dedication ceremony which will include speeches and Palestinian folklore dance. This will be an opportunity to send our message of steadfastness, nonviolence, and solidarity to the world.

It is our hope that you will return to your homes carrying the messages of peace, justice and hope.

Part of what we request, in addition to raising funds to cover your own travel and logistical expenses here is to also engage in fundraising to help cover the cost of rebuilding the house. To facilitate this effort, a comprehensive information packet about the issues of house demolitions and the work of Holy Land Trust will be provided to you.

If you can’t make it you can still be part of the project by:

• Providing scholarship assistance.

• Donating money towards the rebuilding of the house.

• Passing the information to organizations and individuals that can help in the project.

Al Khader Village which means (For Arabic name of monotheistic prophet Saint George), and is located 5 km west of Bethlehem is inhabited by 10,000 Palestinians, who previously owned 22,000 dunums of land. However, due to land confiscation and settlement expansion, the villagers have lost 20,000 dunums of that land, they have been left with a mere 2000 dunums in which to grow their crops and let their animals graze. 400 dunums of those 2000 belong to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchs, and are reserved as sacred land. Before the building of the Separation Wall, 65% of the population of the village relied on agriculture as a means of earning their living; currently, 15-20% work as farmers. It has become increasingly difficult to reach their lands, as settlers from the surrounding settlements of Neve Daniel, Ali Azer, Ephrat, and Gush Atzion Block have built caravans and obstructions. The village is also near the site of religious importance, Solomon’s pools.

Rizik Salah currently lives in a house that belonged to his brother, who was deported to Gaza during the Second Uprising, or Intifada. Nine people, including his elderly mother, live in the two roomed structure. His daughter, Salwa Salah aged 16 and a half, was recently arrested for seven months under ‘administrative detention’, meaning prison with no trial.

His previous home, next door to the one he’s currently living in, has been demolished twice; once in 1997 because Israeli authorities claimed it did not have the appropriate building permits even though it was being built on Palestinian lands, and the second time in 2003 because it was deemed to close and therefore a threat to the settlers’ bypass road, called Route 60. This is also built on Palestinian lands. He had to sell his wife’s jewelry to fund the second rebuilding. When his own house was demolished, half of his brother’s was also.

The family feels that living in a small space is humiliating and demoralizing. In addition the family still has the debts from their demolished home. In the most literal sense this family has nothing. The cost for a new building will amount to approximately $25,000.