Kids4Peace

Run by volunteers from 3 Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), K4P draws upon interpersonal communication to foster pride, respect, cooperation, and an understanding of the importance of listening as a strategy for moving beyond ignorance into shared appreciation. Stories, prayers, songs, and child-led teachings about each tradition are amongst the activities organised as part of K4P offerings. For example, a 10-day camp held each summer in Vermont (United States) brings together 24 children (ages 11-12 years) from Vermont and Israel/Palestine who play, observe, and learn about each other's faith traditions, and ask questions. During one event put on by the children for some 80 invited friends of and donors to Vermont K4P, campers designed and performed a skit intended to teach something about their own tradition. The goal is to use an entertaining approach - laughter, play, and mutual engagement in the daily activities of camp - to see beyond adult war and to connect, even across opposite sides of a conflict (e.g., Israel/Palestine). Participants get to know each other before the journey through a series of activities sponsored and hosted by St. George's College Jerusalem, exploring each other's realities, traditions, and languages. Interfaith advisers are trained in dialogue facilitation to guide camp activities.

An online "social network", provided on the K4P USA website is designed to stimulate conversation and connection after the annual camps are complete.

Children, Conflict.

Here is an excerpt from the K4P newsletter, which illustrates the K4P impact: "George and Eliad are typical 12 year old boys. George is a Palestinian Christian living in East Jerusalem. Eliad is an Orthodox Jew from West Jerusalem. Despite living only a few miles from each other, it is highly unlikely their paths would have ever crossed. That is the nature of the segregated society they live in. But George and Eliad did meet in 2003. They both traveled to Camp Mikell as part of Kids4Peace. At Camp Mikell the boys played together, got to know each other and became friends. Upon their return home, their parents encouraged the friendship, crossing roadblocks and check points to allow their boys to see each other again. The families became friends, often sharing meals in each other's homes. At one such meal, the conversation turned to the Western Wall, the last remnants of the ancient temple and the most sacred site in all of Judaism. George commented that he had never been to the Western Wall. Eliad couldn't fathom this, as George lives only blocks from the Old City. Eliad immediately offered, 'We'll take you there, won’t we Dad?' There was silence as Eliad's and George's fathers tried to figure out how to explain to their young and naïve sons that this wasn't possible. But Eliad insisted so their brave fathers agreed they would try. On the appointed day, the two families met and tried to enter the plaza in front of the Western Wall. As expected, the guards refused to allow George and his father to enter because they were Arabs. The fathers, not wanting to disappoint their sons, tried to ex- plain to the guards why a Palestinian and an Israeli wanted to visit the sacred shrine together. While the fathers were debating with the guards, the two boys slipped past. They walked down to the Western Wall and stood in silence. They then took each other's hand and prayed together for peace among their people."