We started by going to the Hope Flowers School in Al Khader (neighboring Bethlehem) and heard from the director, Ibrahim Issa. The school focuses on peace education and non-violence through teacher training, compassionate listening, interfaith education and dialogue, and parent involvement. It also has many extra curricular activities, war trauma support, and exchange programs with Israelis (which were more common prior to the second Intifada).
The Hope Flowers School
A quick sidenote: The great thing about the name of the school is that the Arabic can be translated as either "hope flowers" as in hope flowers here or as "flowers of hope." I think both embody the mission and goals of the school.
Anyway, the second Intifada brought new challenges to both the school and Ibrahim Issa himself. With the reoccupation of Bethlehem, simply getting to school became a challenge for many students. A fence separated some students' homes from the school, a fence where the gate was only opened three times a day by Israeli soldiers. A roadblock was constructed on the road leading up to the school. And the main building was shelled at one point causing serious damage to the top two floors. Needless to say, these circumstances placed added strain on the goal of peace education. As Ibrahim put it, they started "educating for peace under occupation."
Additionally, the school received a demolition order against their cafeteria in 2003 because it is too close to the proposed route of the separation barrier. At this point the building still stands, but as far as I know the order is also still valid.
The war trauma support started after the second Intifada and reoccupation of Bethlehem because many students and families were experiencing home searches, curfews, seeing tanks and aircraft, demolitions, etc. The priority of the school is the well-being of the students and their families, but it became another way to connect with Palestinians and promote the goal of peace education.
Some students
Ibrahim faced many personal challenges during the seige of Bethlehem. He was imprisoned and his house demolished in 2002 because he was suspected of aiding and abetting a terrorist. The Israeli government later released him because they were mistaken, but only after destroying his house and without an apology. Not only is this a terrible story, but Ibrahim has remained committed to peace education, non-violence, and promoting dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians.
I was blown away by the fact that he did not just get angry and disillusioned, but has forged ahead despite seemingly insurmountable stepbacks. I don't know if I would be able to maintain such conviction. Although, I suppose he may feel as though he has no other choice. I am invested in this conflict in many ways, but I am also acutely aware of the fact that I can walk away from it if I choose to. I don't have to be in Israel, I don't have to pursue an IR degree, and I don't have to be an activist in the US, but Ibrahim has to wake up in Bethlehem every day. It still amazes me that he is so committed to the school that his father created and am encouraged by the fact that he believes in its mission and is willing to fight for it.
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