Montag, 30. Juli 2007

Ines wrote

Ines wrote an article for an Austrian youth magazine, which is provided by her organisation ("Evangelische Jugend"). Ines translated the text and you can read it here:

Meeting of minds among adolescents – „future through cooperation“
dialogue4thefuture

Diary entry of the dialogue until:
„We are not part of the problem, but part of the solution!“

Participants:
8 Hungarians: Alex, Misi, Vicky, Adri, Kinga, Peter, Ezster, Zsofi;
8 Palestinians: Reem, Anas, Lina, Ibrahim, Tareq, Mais, Safa, Samer;
4 Austrians: Martin, Christina, David, Caro;
6 Israelis: Sahar, Lilach, Koren, Sharon, Naama, Yoni

and all of them were impressive;

Custodians:
1 Hungarian: Eszter
2 Palestinians: Wisam, Mazen (Parents Circle)
1 Austrian: Hans
2 Israelis: John, Ariella (Parents Circle)

Prearrangement team: Evelyn Nöbauer (Camp leader), Veronika Schwaiger, Hans Steinmaurer, Roland Werneck, Ines Hauser, Olivier Dantine
Leaders of the workshops: Manfred Rühl, Klaus Pahr, Lisa Kolb, Leyla Helbich, Michael Ingber

Visitors: Paul Gulda, Marwan Abbado, Aiosha Biz, Bert Kenyeri

Organisation of event: Dagmar Lassmann (Diakonie-Auslandhilfe, Roland Werneck-Evangelsiche Akademie Wien, Silke Dantine – Concentrum Stadtschlaining, Ines Hauser-Evangelische Jugend Österreich, Parents Circle – Families Forum, Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA)

Who is the problem? Generally, it’s “the others”, the foreigners, those we don’t know and don’t want to get to know. I remember a text about “foreignness”, its final (ironic) sentence is: “Being a foreigner is a crime which cannot be compensated anymore”. This sentence may be absolutely agreed with, if the matter is rest with foreignness, if not even xenophobia. Those two weeks of “meeting of minds” showed me a lot, in other words, proved that black is white and that being foreign, being strange, in whatever way, must never be seen as “a crime”. In those two weeks we got to know each other, conducted conversations, were shocked, cried and laughed with each other and finally uncovered: “We are not part of the problem, but part of the solution!” Well organized workshops helped us uncovering this: Through games which made us discuss for finding corporate solutions. Through background information and intense examination of the history and policy of Israel and Palestine. Through the theatre of the oppressed that made particular feelings for one’s opposition obvious. Through trips to Vienna, the Neusiedler See (lake) and other experiences which connect each other. We got to know insights into other cultures, every day situations and traditional cuisines. Comprehension questions moved us to question already posed questions, experiences and muddle to saddle the horse from the back. Pictures which moved us from our secure campsite into frightening scenes to Israel/ Palestine. The way to the army in one or more months. Together, way above the Austrian, Hungarian, Israeli and Palestine borders – for 14 days – living together with others and experiencing things with others and about others… All those workshops, corporate experiences and especially the will and wish to unite different nationalities, point of views and personalities in such an extraordinary camp helped us to recognise that we have made a big step towards the solution…however solution is defined.
Much more could be written about those fourteen wonderful days. But it is sure that it will be much more interesting to read the participants’ experiences in the blog.

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