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This was Peacecamp 2007 for me
It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever been
in!!!!
I learned so many new things in the camp (as like dancing
waltz and tango and Hungarian traditional dance and many more).
My English was improved too and I got quickly the self
confidence of speaking English, mostly because I felt safe and welcome in
the environment where we have been in, and because I was understood very
well by the other participants and the adults.
I felt I can communicate freely and be understood very well
and to talk even on subjects that it's hard for me to talk about them (the
war last year in Israel, my feelings, my thoughts, etc.).
The people which came to the camp were wonderful teenagers,
whom are very unselfish people, who came to the camp because they care of
what happening in the world and they want to change it.
At the Peacecamp I did things that I would have never done at
home (movement activities mostly). Activities I understood that I came to
the camp to do them also.
The guiders (as I think so) were amazed of level of the
taking part at the activities. The kids didn’t ask questions and didn’t
argue with the guiders, they just did what they said, and it worked, and
everybody enjoyed the activities!!!!!
Between the kids at the camp became a very close
relationship, and even before the camp was over, everybody started thinking
about reunion and how to communicate with each other. It means that it was a
very good experience for everybody and not only for me. The participants
became very good friends, without a connection to their religion, culture
and homeland.
We learned that differences are not an obstacle for peace!!!
We all lived in peace for whole 10 days, so why can't we all
live together in peace?
I came back to Israel from this camp with a lot to think
about: About how can I change the situation now? How can I break up stigmas
and paradigms? What are the things that I learned in the Peacecamp that will
be able to help me? And many more questions.
In the Peacecamp learned so many new things about me that I
didn’t know. It changed me positively. It change my way of viewing at world,
at the people in my country, at my friends, at my family and at myself.
In my country there is a project which is called "Lead". It
didn’t interested me at first time, but now, after I had been in this camp,
I really think seriously to go there, because I learned a lot about myself
and about teamwork, On me as a leader and as a part of a group. Now I
understand the importance of this project, and how it can help me to help
the world, to help other people and to help myself.
I wrote an e-mail to Evelyn which in I told her that she
can't give up her dream. that she must continue with this project which is
called Peacecamp. I could see what I think she wanted us to see: the subject
of the Peacecamp was "imagine peace". And I, as I think everybody in the
camp, was able to see the peace and not only to imagine it!!!
I also wrote her that the place she picked up for doing the
camp, Reibers, was the perfect place for the goal of the camp. It was a
quiet and peacefully place which in we felt safe and didn’t have to worry on
everything except for the activities and the goal of the Peacecamp. I asked
her to do the next camp in this place/ in a place as peacefully and quiet as
Reibers.
Thank you from all of my heart for this one time experience.
I will never forget it.
Thanks for all the crew of adults and children who helped
this Peacecamp to be existed. And big big thanks for Evelyn and Ronny Böhmer
whom we couldn't do this lifetime experience without.
Segev Elnir
Jewish Israelian delegation
Peacecamp 2007 |
