There’s a non-governmental organization located in Israel (active for seven years now) dear to my heart called Kids Creating Peace. KCP offers spiritual education programs for personal and societal conflict management and resolution among children and youth in Israel and Palestine. They believe children and youth need practical tools to deal with life’s challenges, and that the moment they feel more self-confident they are able to come to terms with the Other and avoid prejudice.
More than 10,000 Palestinian and Israeli children from East Jerusalem, Holon, Ramat Gan, Rishon LeZion, Nazareth, Zarzir, Petah Tikva, Rehovot, Barkai, Rosh Ha’ayin, Taibe, Lod, Ramla, Tira, Abu Snan, Daliat al-Karmel, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Beit Hanina, Hizma, and Shuefat Refugee Camp have been through this program. Over time KCP has cooperated with the USAID and other organizations on dialog programs and have successfully achieved real change. It’s amazing, with so much death, destruction, and pain in the Middle East today it’s hard to imagine this organization can survive. But just yesterday I heard that a group of children from KCP have been summoned to the UN to discuss potential solutions to the conflict they are facing at home, and they are on their way. In awe, maybe this is a lesson we can all take something from. – Michele
