Lajee hosts 22nd Annual International Summer Camp for Solidarity and Committed Volunteering
This August, Lajee Center hosted the 22nd Annual International Summer Camp for Solidarity and Committed Volunteering in Palestine. Over the course of two weeks, we provided fourteen participants with opportunities to grow, learn, and collaborate in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Participants worked on cleaning the playground, improving the front entrance to the Lajee Center, organising activities for the children of Aida camp, and completing a mural project. In addition to volunteering, participants had many educational opportunities to learn directly from Palestinian activists and professionals representing civil society organisations across Palestine. This included Khaled Alazraq, a former political prisoner and President of the board at Lajee Center, Nidal Al-Azza, director of the Badil Resource Center, Shawan Jabarin, the General Director of Al-Haq, and Miryam Mostafa from the Yafa Cultural Center in Balata Camp. Participants spoke with activist Azhar Abu Sror, who recounted her activism to demand the return of her martyred son’s remains, as well as the journalist Moath Amarneh, who shared with the participants his experience of losing his eye to an Israeli sniper and being imprisoned for his journalism.
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In addition to the time spent observing and learning in Aida, participants visited Dheisheh camp in Bethlehem, Balata camp in Nablus, and Tulkarm camp. These visits allowed the participants not only to learn about the history of Palestine and the ongoing political situation, but also to witness how Palestinians are resisting the Israeli occupation.
Day trips to Ramallah, Al Quds and Hebron offered further exposure to art, history and culture where the internationals met locals who guided them through the historical, political and economic context of the cities. The day trips included visits to museums, cultural centers, factories, resource centers and organizations working in the field of justice, human rights, media, among others. These activities allow the participants, not just to learn about the work that locals are doing but also how everyone of them is resisting the Israeli occupation
Throughout the two weeks, the participants also learned about Palestinian cuisine and took Arabic and Dabke lessons, in celebration of Palestinian culture. They were encouraged to interact and have conversations with the residents of Aida camp to gain better understanding of everyday life under Occupation and Apartheid. Many of the participants forged strong friendships with residents of Aida camp and staff members at Lajee Center. Participants visited the Mar Saba Monastery and spent a night camping in the desert with the Lajee Center staff. This provided the opportunity to enjoy getting closer to each other and appreciate the astonishing and beautiful nature around them.
Throughout the Summer Camp participants learned about Palestine in an authentic and purposeful way that is sure to stick with them as they return and share their experiences back in their home countries.
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