Children building bridges of peace

Palestinian and Jordanian Children on a Mission to Build Bridges of Peace and Understanding

23-Sep-07
Ten Christian youth from Palestine and Jordan and their two teachers will visit the United States from September 23, 2007 to November 4, 2007 as part of Holyland Christian Ecumenical Foundation's - www.hcef.org - Children's Peace Project. The purpose of this program is to enable American churches and schools to work for greater understanding and Christian solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land by hosting Christian youth from that troubled region.

Hosting this year's Holy Land students and teachers are St. Susanna Catholic Parish in Mason, Ohio for the 5 Jordanian children and teacher, and St. Lawrence Catholic Parish in Utica, Michigan for the 5 Palestinian children and their teacher.

The youth will also take part in a Children's Peace Conference in conjunction with HCEF's 9th International Conference on October 26 and 27, 2007 in Washington, DC. There, the students will have the chance to interact with American Christian youth and to share what they have learned during their time living with Christians in the United States. Attendees of the conference will have the chance to learn from the reactions, fears, insights, hopes, and prayers of these young ambassadors of peace from the Holy Land.

With the goal of "building a living bridge of peace between Christian communities in the West and Christians communities in the Holy Land," the Children's Peace Project gives youth an opportunity both to learn from and teach each other and the larger community. Stereotypes are broken down, and those involved come to see that differences do not diminish the dignity of a person. Lasting relationships develop between the Holy Land youth and their American families and friends that continue even after the students return home.

HCEF President Rateb Rabie, KCHS, believes that these youth act as ambassadors of peace who are able to share unique insights about the experience of Christians in the Holy Land. The Children's Peace Project changes hearts and lives, providing hope for peace in the Holy Land.

For additional information on the Children's Peace Project, visit: http://www.hcef.org/PublicFiles/conference/9th%20Conference/07CPPflyer.pdf

If you are having problems with this link copy the above link to your internet browser or visit our website at www.hcef.org

Contact: Jonathon Smith
Tel: (301) 951-9400 ext 217
Email: Jsmith@hcef.org