American University’s Alternative Breaks will go to the Middle East for the first time in the program’s 11-year history.
Group leaders Lauren Barr and Ryan Dubois have planned a two-week trip to Israel and the West Bank for AU students. The trip’s focus will be grassroots peace activism.
“The Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the most pressing and has so much historical context,” said Dubois. When issues concerning Israel and the West Bank are discussed they are usually in the context of power politics, Barr and Dubois said. The goal of this trip is to see the roles individuals and organizations are playing in resolving the conflict.
While in Israel and the West Bank students will look at strategies that Israelis and Palestinians are engaged in to resolve their conflict and create peace. The group will meet with peace activists and government officials to learn how societies are creating peace and connecting with each other.
Barr and Dubois are the first students to ever propose a trip to the Middle East through Alternative Breaks. Both Barr and Dubois thought their trip would not make it passed the proposal because it would be considered too risky for students to lead a trip to a conflict zone.
“We wrote a 25 page single spaced proposal and we really thought it wasn’t going to happen,” said Barr. Since the trip has been approved, Barr and Dubois said they have only gotten positive reactions, although many people express surprise at first. “The reaction is shock and awe,” said Dubois. The American University Administration and faculty have been very receptive and have been very open to working with Barr and Dubois on the trip.
The group’s Faculty Advisor and Coordinator of the Alternative Breaks program Shoshanna Sumka said that this is the first time there has been a student led trip to the Middle East because no student has ever shown interest in going to the region before. Although Alternative Breaks has existed for the last 11 years, student proposed and led trips have only existed for four years. Prior to that the Community Service Center organized trips.
Barr and Dubois are planning to have the group of about 10 to 15 students spend time in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah, Nazareth, the Galilee and Tel Aviv. The trip will take place from May 10 to 24.
The trip is partnering with two organizations in Israel and the West Bank. One of the organizations is Holy Land Trust, a Palestinian non-profit organization based in Bethlehem. The other organization is Jerusalem Peacemakers, which is a network of peace-builders from different faiths that have the common goal of achieving understanding and peace in Israel.
While in Israel and the West Bank students will meet with various groups, including advocacy, community, human rights and policy groups. In addition to learning about peace strategies, trip participants will have the opportunity to visit historical sites and markets. The group leaders and the Alternative Break program are taking every measure to ensure that students are safe when in Israel and the West Bank.
“The groups we partner with are our eyes and ears on the ground,” said Sumka. The Alternative Breaks program receives daily reports on the situation in Israel and reserves the right to cancel any trip if it’s deemed unsafe.
Students will participate in homestays for part of the trip. “We were looking to immerse our participants into the culture and get them to make as many personal connections with people as possible and homestays seemed like the most effective option,” said Barr. Alternative Breaks has done homestays in the past and Barr said they have always been a highlight for students.
“Hopefully we will foster friendships that will last beyond the trip,” said Barr. After returning from the trip, Barr and Dubois hope students will keep in contact with those that they met on the trip. They also hope that students will remain active in peace efforts in Israel and the West Bank. Barr and Dubois are thinking about creating a trip report of stories and student reflections.
The trip will cost between $2,800 and $3,000. The cost includes airfare, lodging, food, transportation and all activities. Barr and Dubois said they will avoid taking public transportation while in Israel and the West Bank, so all transportation will be private to ensure the safety of participants.
Alternative breaks have gone to countries in Africa, Asia, Central America, South America, and North America. Past trips have looked at issues concerning women’s rights, HIV/AIDS, the environment and the rights of indigenous communities.
By: Lindsey Reese
Sources:
Lauren Barr lb1985a@american.edu
Ryan Dubois rd7584a@american.edu
Shoshanna Sumka sumka@american.edu
Link to Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpsvapA_pDU
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