Gatherings and Partnerships

The Gatherings

The Partnerships

We believe that gatherings, having dialogue and building trust, are a necessary step but only the first step. Partnership and working together, following this initial process, create a real and long-term commitment, on the way to true peace between people and communities.

Therefore, during the meetings we invite and help participants initiate projects of partnership with people they met. Later, we accompany the teams on their joint projects, assisting helping them to step forward and realize their vision.

Here are some partnerships born in GVS gatherings, and have effected the lives of the leaders and the lives of others.

Family GVSs

Since 2005, gatherings are held regualry, with new and repeating participants. They are facilitated by a professional and experienced staff, and allow participants to open up to others, to themselves, and to the complexity of life in our region.

People who participated in GVSs said:

"It was a great opportunity to see the other side and see that they are not so scary as we thought, and in fact human just like us "
"The most important thing I got it to see beyond stereotypes. See people, see your eyes and see my thoughts"
"When I left for the meeting did not tell my family. When I come back I'll tell them it was the most beautiful days of my life"

Beyond prejudice, beyond fear, beyond politics and simplistic solutions

CEF holds regular meetings between Israelis and Palestinians, called GVS*.

GVS gatherings take place at Beit Jala (Area C, 10 minutes from Jerusalem) and last two days.

During the meetings the participants on both sides, as well as international participants, discover their common humanity through various techniques of conversation, deep listening, discussion and experience.

The next GVS will take place on May 30-31, 2014

* GVS = Global Village Square

Many times GVS participants share the passion of getting their families and friends to meet each other. Several meetings of Palestinian and Israeli families were held - the first in 2009 at Beit Jala, the second took place at the beach of Zikim in 2010, the next meeting took place at Beit Jala in 2011, the next in Ben Shemen in 2012, and the most recent in Beit Jala in December 2012..

Rihla-Tiyul

A group of young Israelis and Palestinians who met at the June 2011 GVS, jointly initiated a series of trips, of learning and fun - of Palestinians hosted by fellow Israelis and of Israelis hosted by fellow Palestinians. The first trip took place in September 2011, and the recent trip was in January 2013.

For more information see here .

The Beit Jala Hackathon

In the November 2009 GVS, participants raised the idea of holding a meeting of Israeli and Palestinian software professionals. In April 2010 the first Beit Jala Hackathon took place, and in 2012 we hope to see the second.

Recipes for Peace

In a GVS held on 2009, one of the participants initiated the writing of an Israeli - Palestinian cookbook, based on recipes gathered from meetings of the GVS. After a year the book was published, written in three languages, and containing recipes and personal stories. For more information and to purchase the book please contact us at cef.gvs@gmail.com.

Center for children with special needs and Peace

The town of Tarqumiya (west of Hebron) and it's neighboring villages, lack the needed services for children with special needs. Since 2009, two residents of Tarqumiya and some fellow Israelis (all who met in a GVS), are leading a joint project to establish a center suitable for children with severe needs. The center will also host meetings of dialogue and peace. The team recently formed an independent NGO, and partnered with Beit Issie Shapiro, which will help with the project.

Neighbourhood Initiatives

Israeli and Palestinian women work together to create fabrics with traditional Palestinian, for sale abroad. For more information see here

Tai Chi and Shiatsu for Peace

Two GVS participants - an Israeli Tai Chi & Shiatsu teacher and a Palestinian local leader of South Hebron - initiated joint Tai Chi and Shiatsu lasses for residents of the southern Hebron hills. See here a video describing the activity.

Other projects in which CEF is involved

- Other Voice - people from both sides of the Gaza border, working together to stop the violence cycle. for details see here.
- Playground in the El-Arub refugee camp. for details see here.
- Alternative Energy in the Susya Villages. for more information see here

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