See more photos of the program
31 Global Teenagers students from the Nørre Nissum Efterskole (NNE) in Denmark, together with 3 of their teachers and a school board member, had a week program in Palestine with the JAI, from the 14th to the 21st of March 2014, as part of ongoing students' exchange partnership since 4 years, in cooperation with DanChurch Aid.
Their trip aimed at witnessing and experiencing life under occupation through guided tours, visit, presentation, chatting and interaction with Palestinian school students.
On their first day, Friday, they had ice-breaking games with the Palestinian students, who were oriented and trained, earlier in summer 2013, with the JAI. Followed was a presentation by the JAI on the EJ YMCA, YWCA of Palestine and their Joint Advocacy Initiative' programs and campaigns, including the Olive Tree Campaign.
On the second day, the Danish students visited the Palestinian students' school, where they had guided tours in sub-groups in their school, was presented about the school, watched a music show by some of the younger school students, and then played sport games together. In the afternoon, they had lunch in the old city of Bethlehem, followed by guided tour with the JAI were they witnessed the Israeli wall-settlements-bypass road and land confiscation in the Bethlehem area. Later in the evening, the Danish students went for overnight with the Palestinian students' families, to meet them, have dinner and breakfast with.
Sunday morning, all together went for planting olive trees at a field in Teqou' village, east of Bethlehem, that is under threat of confiscation. In the afternoon, they had a guided tour inside Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, followed by free time in Bethlehem old city and markets.
On Monday, the Danish group had their day in Tel-Aviv, meeting some Israeli organizations. Tuesday was in Hebron, where they first visited a glass factory, then had guided tour in the old city to witness settlements-closures and go through checkpoints and closed streets, including the Shuhada street, as well as the Ibrahimi mosque. Later in the evening, they had a workshop with the Palestinian students on the Boycott-Divestment- Sanctions (BDS) Campaign and the Kairos Palestine document.
On Wednesday, the Danish group went walking through the Bethlehem-Jerusalem checkpoint, and had their day in Jerusalem meeting with DanChurch Aid office, and some Israeli grassroots activist, who explained about house demolition and Israeli practices against Palestinians. Later in the evening, they had a dabka show by some Palestinian students and youth, after which the Danish students presented some dance and song for the Palestinian ones.
On Thursday, they had a guided tour inside the old city of Jerusalem, including the religious and historic sites, and illustration of the Jewish settlements inside the city.
The Palestinian students spent most evening with the Danish ones, chatting, reflecting, and creating friendships. The trip came after two of the Palestinian students' visit to the NNE school in November 2013, with a JAI staff, based on the partnership with the JAI.
Two teachers from a new Efterskole in Denmark, Midtsjællands Efterskole, joined the NNE school trip to Palestine, as they have recently developed similar students' exchange partnership with the JAI and DCA.