Each youth group consists of 15-25 participants, who
range from 14-19 years old, and exist throughout Israel. In addition to the
meetings throughout the academic year, the youth are encouraged to participate
in the organization's weekend
seminars,
tours, and summer programs.
Goals and Objectives
The "Friendship Group" project began in 1987. Its goal is to educate Jewish and Arab-Palestinian Israeli youth through first-hand experience. The groups promote mutual understanding, recognition, and tolerance while fostering intercultural cooperation and joint activity. In Israel, it is unusual for Jewish and Arab youth to mee t on an ongoing and equal basis. Due to differences in language, religion and culture, Jewish and Arab Israelis have separate educational systems and generally live in separate neighborhoods. Friendship Groups provides a rare opportunity for Jewish and Arab youth to deepen their knowledge about the other and to strengthen mutual trust. Knowledge and trust lead to an atmosphere of openness, tolerance and readiness to accept each other.
Methods
Neighboring Jewish and Arab youth, aged 14-19, meet weekly in permanent, stable groups of 15-25 participants. These two-hour meetings are led by two co-facilitators, an Arab and a Jew. Professional educators train the group leaders for their difficult task through two intensive 3-day seminars, monthly workshops and ongoing supervision throughout the year. For many of the participants, these groups provide the first opportunity to talk to someone from the other community.
Each Friendship Group begins with a structured educational process, which lasts about three months and includes issues such as personal acquaintance, elementary facts about the two nationalities and cultures, coping with prejudice, stereotypes, norm differences, conflict resolution, and self identification. These initial discussions and activities serve to build trust between participants. When this is achieved, the subjects discussed in the meetings expand to include political and social problems, values, education, problems of youth, involvement in the community, etc. In addition to the weekly meetings and talks, the youth groups occasionally initiate political or social activities. Often spontaneous activities take place after the formal weekly meeting such as going to the movies, organizing an instant party or just walking together and chatting as friends.
Implementation Schedule
At the beginning of the school year, the organizational team visits high schools around the country. In coordination with the school officials, Reut-Sadaka members meet the students in their classroom and explain the goals and principles of the Organization. At the end of every meeting, interested students are invited to join their local "Friendship Group."
Team members and participants of the
pr
oject also
take advantage of the high concentration of young people at pop and art festivals
to interest them in joining. Invitations and information are distributed
to youth from all over the country.
In October there is a national meeting of all the project's participants. The regular educational process continues until the end of the school year, in late June. This process includes ongoing weekly meetings, as well as seminars held by Re'ut-Sadaka every six weeks, and a weekend trip in the early spring. A two-day trip and a ten-day work camp during the summer vacation (July-August) serve as a worthy end to the yearlong educational process that prepares these young people to live and serve as leaders in a multicultural, democratic, non-violent society.
Outcome
Every year 500 Jewish and Arab youngsters, who are highly involved in the life of their society and communities and eager to prove the necessity and real possibility of peaceful coexistence, are educated in Reut-Sadaka Friendship Groups. They are the real young leaders of their society.