The Palestinian Summer Celebration 2009

international | miscellaneous | event notice Monday December 01, 2008 16:13 by George S Rishmawi - Siraj Center for Holy land Studies george at sirajcenter dot org

The Palestinian Summer Celebration 2009

The Palestinian Summer Celebration 2009
14 June 2009 – 16 August 2009
June 14th – July 12th 2009 (first month)
July 13th – August 16th 2009 (second month)

http://www.sirajcenter.org

Come and celebrate Palestine! The Palestinian Summer Celebration is a unique annual program that gives people from all over the world the chance to encounter the life, culture, and politics of Palestine. Learn Arabic and study Palestinian history at Bethlehem University, spend time with local families and volunteer with a community organization.

The Palestinian Summer Celebration 2009

http://www.sirajcenter.org

14 June 2009 – 16 August 2009
June 14th – July 12th 2009 (first month)
July 13th – August 16th 2009 (second month)

Come and celebrate Palestine! The Palestinian Summer Celebration is a unique annual program that gives people from all over the world the chance to encounter the life, culture, and politics of Palestine. Learn Arabic and study Palestinian history at Bethlehem University, spend time with local families and volunteer with a community organization.

The Palestinian Summer Celebration 2009 will take place in Bethlehem from June 14th to August 16th. The program consists of two terms: June 14th to July 12 th , and July 13th to August 16th. Program participants can choose to stay for one or both terms. The celebration is organized by Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies in partnership with Bethlehem University (www.bethlehem.edu) and the U.S.-based Society for Biblical Studies (www.sbsedu.org). Program participants will have the opportunity to meet and learn with accomplished speakers, experts, activists, and officials.
Program:
FIRST TERM (June 14th to July 12th 2009):

Sunday 14th June 2009: Arrival

Guests will arrive at Siraj Center in Bethlehem, where they will be introduced to their host families. Dinner and overnight with host families.

Monday 15th June: Orientation day
We will begin bright and early at Siraj Center, where participants will be briefed on the customs of the region and the layout of Bethlehem—restaurants, health services, and public transport. We will visit Shepherd’s Field and The Church of the Nativity. In the afternoon, we will tour Bethlehem University and find out more about class offerings. Dinner and overnight with host families.

Tuesday 16th June – Friday 19th June: Classes and volunteer work.
On Tuesday morning, representatives from local organizations will introduce themselves and pick volunteers. For the rest of the week, volunteers will go to the office in the mornings and attend classes in the evenings at Bethlehem University. Dinner and overnight with the host families.

Saturday 20st June: First Day Tour – Hebron
We will tour the old city of Hebron and meet with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT Palestine) and Temporary International Presence (TIPH), two organizations committed to peace and reconciliation in Palestine. We will visit traditional glass and pottery factories, Ibrahiemi Mosque, The Tombs of the Patriarchs, and converse with locals. On the way back to Bethlehem we will stop at the Tent of Nations to hear stories about the conflict. In the evening, we will have a barbecue in Beit Sahour. Overnight with host families.

Sunday 21nd June: Free Day

Monday 22rd June – Friday 26th June: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University.

Saturday 27th June: Second Day Tour – Jerusalem
We will explore the Mount of Olives and the Old City of Jerusalem, Al Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In the afternoon we will meet with the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) for a tour and lecture regarding the geo-political situation in Jerusalem. After that we will go to B’Tselem—an Israeli NGO committed to documenting and educating the Israeli public about human rights abuses in Occupied Territories—and meet leading figures in the fight for human rights. Dinner and overnight with host families.

Sunday 28th June: Free Day

From Monday 29th June – Friday 3th July: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University.

Saturday 4th July: Third Day Tour – Jericho and the Dead Sea
On this day-trip we will visit the world’s oldest continuously thriving city—Jericho—whose settlements date back to 9000 BCE. In the early morning we will hike Wadi Qelt, the Mount of Temptation, and Tel Jericho. In the afternoon we will splash and float in the famous, salt-dense and mineral rich Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight with host families.

Sunday 5th July: Free Day

Monday 6th July – Friday 10th July: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University.

Saturday 11th July: Fourth Day Trip – Ramallah
We will tour the city of Ramallah—an exciting political scene, home to many human rights organizations, broadcast centers, and artists. We will meet with students of Birzeit University and representatives from The Right of Education Campaign. In the afternoon there will be time to visit galleries, eat ice cream, and stroll Rukab Street. Dinner and overnight with host families.

Sunday 12th July: Free Day

SECOND TERM (July 13th to August 16th):

Monday 13th July – Friday 17th July: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University.

Saturday 18th July and Sunday 19th July: Fifth Day Trip – Nazareth and Galilee
We will travel to Nazareth and Galilee for an overnight excursion, and participants will learn about the current state of Israel and the 1948 catastrophe. Along the way we will meet with Ittijah, a coalition of Arab community organizations, tour destroyed and unrecognized villages, see Haifa, Jaffa, and Akko, and visit a number of holy sites. We will return to Bethlehem late on Sunday night for dinner and overnight with host families.

Monday 20st July – Friday 24th July: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University.

Saturday 25th July: Sixth Day Trip – Negev
On this day trip we will be escorted by an Israeli organization to the stunning Negev desert, where we will learn about the Bedouin culture and visit unrecognized Bedouin villages. While in the Negev, we will see holy and historical sites, too. Dinner and overnight with host families.

Sunday 26th July: Free Day

Monday 27th July – Friday 31th July: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University.

Saturday 1nd August: Seventh Day Trip – North of the West Bank
In the Northern West Bank, we will tour the cities of Qalqilieh, Tulkarem and Jinin. In Jinin, we will visit the Arab American University. We will also meet with local organizations and officials, see refugee camps, and learn about regional living conditions. Dinner and overnight with host families.

Sunday 2rd August: Free Day

Monday 3th August – Friday 7th August: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University.

Saturday 8th August: Preparations for finals. There will be no day tour.

Sunday 09th August: Last weekend with host families.

Monday 10th August – Friday 14th August: Classes and volunteer work. Final Exams.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University. Final Exams.

On Friday night Siraj will host a farewell party with guests and host families.

Saturday 15th August: Graduation party at Bethlehem University.

Sunday 16th August 2009: Departure.

Other Activities:
Hiking. Participants will be able to take short and long hikes while in Palestine, enjoying wonderful outdoor experiences.

Half-day trips. During the week, participants can visit the rural areas of Bethlehem and Palestine for authentic village experiences. All visits will be organized by Siraj Center.

For more information:

George S. Rishmawi

Coordinator,
Siraj, Center For Holy Land Studies
Beit Sahour, Schoold Street
P.O.Box 48
Palestine
Email: george@sirajcenter.org
abusaliba@yahoo.com
abusaliba@gmail.com
abusalib@p-ol.com
Website: http://www.sirajcenter.org
Tel: +972 2 274 8590
Fax: +972 2 274 8774
Mobile: 0599 180 872
USA number: 1 989 607 9480