Reflection from a Planting Program 2018 Participant - Britta Olinder - Sweden

Category: JAI Programs Ex-Participants Created: 21 January 2019

Britta2019Four years ago my grandson accompanied me to Beit Sahour - Palestine - to take part in the Olive Planting Programme. It was a marvellous experience, the landscape, the holy places, the people. We had chosen to stay with a family who one evening took us along to a party with their relatives. The work in the fields was most satisfactory, the happy cooperation with a touch of competition with others in the large international group.

So, in February 2018, I went back and managed to get my eldest granddaughter and her son (14) to come along with me and both of them enjoyed it thoroughly. At the same time the three of us felt deeply uncomfortable and disturbed by the Palestinian situation. We visited refugee camps and places like Hebron, listened to talks about Palestinian history and facts about the occupation and learned a lot. My great-grandson was not afraid to ask questions and take part in the discussions. It is essential for me to share with my family the importance of justice, human rights and solidarity.