August 2012 Workshops

For 4 days in August 2012, 40 Americans will have an opportunity to participate in a series of dialogues on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in Vermont. This workshop is for young American Arabs and Jews (18-26) and others interested in developing an awareness of the ethnic/social relations and conflicts that exist in our society.

American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam is excited to welcome two facilitators from the School for Peace (one Palestinian, one Jewish) to facilitate this 4-day program.

The School for Peace was created in 1979 in the binational community of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam. The School for Peace is known worldwide for its unique educational model that has been successful in bringing Jews and Palestinians together for constructive dialogues.

This program will take place at OscarsFarm, a 40-acre retreat center located in West Burke, Vermont. Oscarsfarm features an organic vegetable garden, winding trails and pure spring water. Guests to this event will enjoy opportunities to hike, swim, eat vegetarian cuisine and take in the beautiful mountain views.

We are now accepting applications for this event. All those interested in participating should download the flyer and application form and return the later along with a short letter stating interest to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Registration fee is $150, which includes all food and lodging. Partial or total scholarships may be available upon request.

Timeline

To accommodate the large numbers of people interested in participating in this program, two sessions are being planned:
Session One: August 12th - August 15th, 2012
Session Two: August 16th -  August 19th, 2012

Program description

The aim of the encounters is to develop the awareness of the ethnic/social relations and conflicts in their society by highlighting each person’s individual role in these processes and enabling them to explore and evolve their identity through interaction with the other. In addition, the encounters explore the relationship between power groups and cultural groups in society through the experience in a small group setting.

Educational Goals:

1. Students will learn to develop personal awareness of the conflict and the role they play in this conflict.
2. Students will become more aware of bias and treatment of others.
3. Students will learn to recognize their responsibility for creating change in their communities. 
4. Students will learn to explore their identities.
5. Students will experience impact of power dynamics on groups in conflict.
6. Students will learn about inter-group dialogue and its relationship to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Location

Oscars Farm provides an  environmentally sustainable farm where peoples of any country can come and live simply and harmoniously with nature in West Burke, VT.
Shuttle service from Montpelier will be provided, where Amtrak and Greyhound Bus are available. West Burke is a 3-hour drive from Boston, 6-hour drive from New York and 2 and half hour drive from Montreal.

Learn more

These workshops are the collaborative effort of Oscars Farm, the School for Peace and the American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam.
Oscarsfarm:
www.oscarsfarmvt.org
School for Peace:
nswas.org/rubrique138.html

Oscarsfarm, the School for Peace and the American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam are not-for-profit organizations with official status in the United States and Israel.