Volunteering for Peace

A candle lighting Vigil marking the International Day of Peace and in support of the Palestinian Candidacy to become a full member at the United Nations

2011-09-22T14:31:00.000-07:00

A candle lighting Vigil marking the International Day of Peace and in support of the Palestinian Candidacy to become a full member at the United NationsBethlehem – Palestine – 21st of September 2011

Volunteering for Peace organization and in cooperation with its partners Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem Arij and the Palestinian National Network of Anna Lindh Foundation organized a Candle Lighting ceremony and a March for peace in the occasion of the International Day of Peace 21st of September IDP and in support of the Palestinian bid for full membership at the U.N. Security Council. The candle lighting started in the Manger square ,a beautiful square in between the Nativity Church the birth place of Jesus and The mosque of Omar the famous interfaith mosque In Bethlehem, with participation of Palestinian members of Volunteering for Peace and its partners, local residence of Bethlehem and Hebron, international supporters and volunteers in Bethlehem as well as Iresh and French groups who are in a visit to the Holy land and decided to join the activity which was announced in the city widely by the media. Local council members as well as civil society activists joined the event.

The event started with an introduction from Mr. Tareq Altamimi, Volunteering for Peace chairman and a Global Council member of United Religions Initiative, who welcomed all those who joined the event and thanked them for marking the International Day of Peace with us in this holy site and supporting the Palestinian candidacy to be a full member in the United Nations. He reminded them about last year activity which was organized by Volunteering for Peace and its partners in Aida Refugee camp close to the apartheid wall. He spoke about the importance of the International Day of Peace which was chosen by the united Nations to be the 21st of September every year to celebrate the great work of those who work for peace around the globe and a time to pray for Peace in the world and specially in Palestine which lived under an ugly occupation and oppression from the Israeli government. He also spoke about Volunteering for Peace work and its partner and the reason of choosing this special site for the activity this year. He asked the participants each in his language, faith and way to pray for the almighty god to spread peace in Palestine and the world, : May Peace Prevail in Palestine, May Peace Prevail in the world”

The local participants and Internationals each in his way and faith prayed for Peace in Palestine prayed for a success of the Palestinian move in the United Nations. Children, youth, women, locals, internationals were part of this important event.The march ended with a beautiful candle march together with Palestinian flags and banners written in it May Peace Prevail in Palestine, May Peace Prevail in the world.

Visit Hebron Page

2011-08-22T04:45:00.001-07:00

Environmental Awareness of Palestinian Youth Workshop

2011-08-04T03:45:00.000-07:00

Environmental Awareness of Palestinian Youth Workshop

Volunteering for Peace CC in Palestine together with its partners United for Palestine CC, Palestinian Peace Society CC, Palestinian women for Peace CC and Palestinian Youth for Peace CC and with a Fund from URI Environmental Seed Grand organized its workshop entitled “Environmental Awareness of Palestinian Youth” which took part on Saturday July 30th 2011 in Hebron, Palestine.
The workshop started with an introduction from Tareq Altamimi, URI Global Trustee and Volunteering for Peace Coordinator about URI and the activities of URI in both Palestine and the Middle East and North Africa MENA region. Then he spoke about this partnership between five CCs of URI in Palestine to organize this Workshop which discuss about the Environmental awareness to the Palestinian Youth which considered one of the important topics in this very hard time which environment suffer from climate change and other effects on the environment due to carless behavior of the human being.

The activity started with an introduction of the participants, their organizations and why did they choose to take part in this workshop. Then a presentation was made by Dr. Taleb Alharithi , who holds a PHD degree in Environment. Dr Taleb spoke about the dangers which encounter us due to the bad practices of the human being towards our environment. He spoke about the waste issue and the waste treatment and provided a list of materials and the time it takes to be decompose.
The a discussion were generated between the participants about the Bad practices that we make towards the environment and the problems that surround us. Many issues were addressed; water issue, pollution, waste water, waste of factories, waste treatment, waste burning, dust, chemicals…etc

The next session was chaired by engineer Tareq Altamimi, who presented a video entitled “Greening the Desert II: Greening the Middle East” then a discussion were generated after projecting the video to them on the finding they found in the video, what similar things which we have in our city, village, or region.
Then the group were distributed in four working groups and the groups were asked to present their solution as individual or groups of youth to the environmental problems addressed in session one and in the video. Each group presented their solutions and they were discussed by the other groups and the facilitators and they were answered by the presenter of the group and the group members.

The group decided to keep in touch through the social media to discuss the issue and work in finding solutions and encourage our role as youth in it.

Join Volunteering for Peace in its first "Environmental Awareness for Palestinian Youth" conference

2011-07-31T01:38:00.000-07:00

Join Volunteering for Peace in its first "Environmental Awareness for Palestinian Youth" conference

Refugees Realities - Youth in Action 3.1 Seminar

2011-05-16T03:33:00.000-07:00

Volunteering for Peace participated as a partner at the Refugees Realities Seminar which took place in Belgrade Serbia in the duration from 3-11 April 2011. The event was funded by the Youth in action program under Action 3.1

3 Participants from Volunteering for Peace participated at the event together with participants from Serbia, Poland, Malta, Italy, Armenia, Belgium, The Netherlands, Ukraine, Georgia and Palestine.

The event was organized by "Your Zone" and "One World Association Poland".

visit our Facebook Page

2011-03-07T01:53:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year

2011-01-12T02:46:00.000-08:00

Volunteering for Peace would like to wish to you a Happy New Year 2011

URI AWARD to VFP for International Day of Peace 2010 Celebration

2010-11-27T04:47:00.001-08:00

Volunteering for Peace International day of Peace Celebration

2010-09-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

Volunteering for Peace International day of Peace Celebration

Volunteering for Peace organization in cooperation with its partners AL-Rowwad Society for Theatre and Culture and United for Palestine CC organized a celebration of UN International Day of Peace on September 21st at Aid Refugee camp, Bethlehem, Palestine

The activities took place in a marginalize area at Aida refugee camp which is located in the city of Bethlehem.

The activities started with a special event for children under the theme “Lets Draw Peace” in which children were given drawing papers and colors and were asked to draw what does peace to you, the children were creative and used different methods to reflect what does peace mean to them, followed with a discussion with the children about the international day of Peace and the importance of this day to reflect the need of peace in Palestine and around the globe, the activity took place in a closed theatre room inside Al-rowwad center.

The second activity were mixed which included youth and adults who shared together some open space games at the open theatre which included also an open discussion about peace and International day of Peace and the United Nation role in Peace building. International Volunteers from interfaith organizations participated in the event as well as representatives of local and International organizations. Tareq Altamimi, URI Global Council member described the role of URI in Peace building and the role of URI in MENA region interfaith work.

In the evening a demonstration under the theme “March for Peace” were organized in the streets of the refugee camp under the Key of return gate near the Israeli Apartheid wall with the presence of Dr. Abed Alfattah Abu Srour and others local leaders from different organizations.

In the evening the activities were finished with a special folklore Night and Dabka dance with a great performance of Al-rowwad Theatre group at the city of Beit Jala in Bethlehem.

Volunteering for Peace Celebrated the International Day of Peace

2010-09-26T11:03:00.000-07:00

Check the link; Volunteering for Peace News on URI MENA Website
Volunteering for Peace Celebrated the International Day of Peace

Volunteering for Peace in the International Day of Peace Bethlehem- Palestine

2010-09-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

International Day of Peace 2010 (IDP) Celebration

2010-09-19T02:08:00.000-07:00

Volunteering for Peace, Alrowwad Cultural and Theatre Society and United for Palestine CC organise the Palestinian Celebration of the International day of Peace IDP 2010 at Al-Rowwad Theatre Aida Refugee Camp - Bethlehem Palestine, Tuesday 16:00 September 21st 2010

Join Volunteering for Peace Fan Page on Facebook

2010-09-09T06:37:00.000-07:00

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VFP

One of US - Malta

2010-09-01T06:36:00.000-07:00

Volunteering for peace participated at a 7-days training course in Malta in topic entitled “One of Us” along with participants from; Belgium, Morocco, Spain, Hungary, Egypt and Malta. The training took place at the Diplomat hotel in Seilma. The participants were introduced to several types of social inclusion and methodologies how to deal with socially exuded people. Also it aimed to let the youth to live in multi-cultural environment and do collective activities. Each country had the time to show its own culture in cultural evening and brief introduction about the organization they came from. On the daily basis there was evaluation of each day and time to express ideas and reflection about the training course. Participants were also introduced to tools and methods in dealing with social problems also there was a lecture about proposal writing. At the closing ceremony the governor of Seilma gave the participants certification and encouraged them for future work and cooperation.

The program were funded by the Youth in Action Program.

Volunteering for Peace Statement

2010-06-03T04:17:00.000-07:00

We, Volunteering for Peace Volunteers, express deep shock at the continuing and deteriorating consequences of the siege on Gaza. We express our solidarity with the peace activists who acted to break the inhuman siege on women, children and men; a siege that has been preventing basic human freedoms, health services and essential materials.

We extend our support to the solidarity movement, especially those who went out to exercise their right to protest against an outrageous injustice, and found themselves facing a military attack that was a result of a violent state policy.

Lets resist the assault on the most basic human values, and to join our call – the attack on the peace flotilla is an attack on me. The siege on Gaza endangers us all.

Volunteering for Peace is a Palestinian non-profit, non-governmental, non-political organization working to create a culture of peace, interfaith and non-violence in Palestine and the world

Visit our blog http://vfpeace.blogspot.com/ or contact us at vfpeace@gmail.com

URI

2010-05-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

The purpose of the United Religions Initiative is to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.

Youth Exchane "One of Us" Malta

2010-05-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

Volunteering for Peace members are participating at the Youth Exchange One of Us in partnership with YOUTH EMPOWERMENT CENTRE in Malta.

PARTICIPANTS; 4 E.U. COUNTRIES AND 4 EURO-MED COUNTRIES (3 PAX PER COUNTRY)

TARGET GROUP; YOUTH LEADERS, YOUTH WORKERS AND TRAINERS

AIM; ‘A PROJECT WRITTEN WITH ONE THING IN MIND; TO HELP OUT YOUTH WORKERS SO THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO WORK BETTER WITH YOUNSTERS OF LESSER OPPORTUNITY BACKGROUNDS; SO THAT THEY MAY FEEL TO BE ‘ONE OF US’!

OBJECTIVES;

a) To give a global view of all of the seven types of exclusion and their presence in our societies

b) To equip youth leaders, workers and trainers with new methodologies and tools

c) To learn of examples of good practice

d) To live and learn in a multi-national, multi-cultural society for a week

e) To improve one’s cooperative and contributing skills in a team

f) To create projects with persons of different backgrounds

g) To learn how non-formal education methods and the youth in action programme contributes wholly towards reducing exclusion and racism

More news will be added soon

Become a Member

2010-04-05T06:54:00.000-07:00

Are you a youth interested in becoming a part of a multicultural organization providing youth with an opportunity to share with other youth from all over the world their thoughts, ideas, and hopies.

Interested click here:

Become a Member

Join Volunteering for Peace in Facebook

2010-04-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

Join Volunteering for peace group in Facebook

Click here to Join Volunteering for Peace Group in Facebook

URI Executive Director Visiting VFP

2010-04-03T06:13:00.000-07:00

United Religions Initiative (URI) Executive Director Charles Gibbs Visited Volunteering for Peace yesterday
after a tour he had in Bethlehem together with Volunteering for Peace coordinator visiting different Palestinian organizations and trying to build up networking with Palestinian NGOs. He also had a chance to visit the Nativity Church during Good Friday and pray in it. Then they visited Aida Refugee camp in Bethlehem.

After the visit in Bethlehem a meeting took place in Hebron with the Palestinian cooperation Circles of URI and the different ccs members had a chance to hear from the URI executive Director about success stories from URI across the other 7 regions of URI.

Volunteering for Peace cc members had a good chance to meet with Mr. Gibbs and exchange questions and answers about URI and interfaith across the globe.

At the end of the meeting Mr. Gibbs thanks all the ccs for their presence and thanked them for their fruitful discussions

Sharing Perspectives II

2010-03-30T02:47:00.000-07:00

The exchange program sharing Perspectives II is still in the mind of the Palestinian and dutch students,
exchanges and contacts followed after the exchanges is still visable through the different contacts methods.

The students are looking forward for follow up meeting and they are looking forward to welcome the Dutch students again in Palestine and the Palestinian students in the Netherlands.

Volunteering for Peace at Anna Forum in Barcelona

2010-03-05T03:48:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Barcelona, the Capital of Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation

Volunteering for Peace is participating at the Anna Lindh Forum 2010 which take place in Barcelona Spain with participation of over 700 Organizations from across the 43 members countries of Anna Lindh Network from Europe and Mediterranean Countries.

More than 800 civil society representatives from all forty-three countries of the Union for the Mediterranean attended the international launch of the very first Anna Lindh Forum.

The four-day meeting, which coincides with the Foundation's fifth anniversary, is expected to spur cooperation between civil society organizations within the Euromed region.

Volunteering for Peace is participating with a presentation about interfaith dialogue in the region and possibilities of cooperation. VFP is also having a special corner in which we are presenting information about the organization and about URI. We are distributing information about URI MENA and URI Europe and promoting the concepts of URI to the world. So let’s expect more members CCs soon.

More updates will be soon

Learn about Nonviolence Resistance in Palestine

2010-02-21T13:07:00.000-08:00

Part of Volunteering for Peace mission is to teach about Nonviolence concept and we believe in nonviolence education and nonviolence as a tool of resistance. Read more about it in the following presentation:

Nonviolence Resistance

2010-01-26T10:44:00.000-08:00

Volunteering for Peace and in partnership with Lebanese Interfaith Initiative/Lebanon, Tolerance CC/Egypt, Jordan Association for widows and orphans and other potential and with Generous support from URI MENA AWARD 2009 is glad to report its 3 days conference which took place in Amman Jordan on 21-23 December 2009 under the theme “Toward An Interfaith Media Culture” at Sheppard Hotel.

The meeting was based on a special system which requested from every participant to present a paper related to the relation between media and interfaith in the countries they represent in the MENA region.

There were 25 participants in the program representing youth in the MENA region from (Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Algeria and Morocco).

The project already meet directly with its objective that it was designed for as follow:

1. The project already trained MENA youth and Journalists on objective media coverage in conflict zones and it developed personal and technical skills of covering intercultural dialogue and interfaith activities and human rights by being able to hear from the experience in Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria and Egypt from the papers presented by the participants and the discussion generated afterwards.

2. Every participant already presented a paper about the topic by a live example from the country they come from as this was a prerequisite and this was a direct lesson in writing reports and papers about the interfaith challenges, prospects, and initiatives in MENA region.

3. The Project already established an online network over facebook in the same title of the project “Towards an interfaith media Culture” which is included at the MENA Network for Intercultural Dialogue as well as Volunteering for Peace web Blog. The website include a reportage of the papers presented in the conference and video recording of the program, you can check the facebook group and our website http://vfpeace.blogspot.com/

4. The 3 days program was also a good chance to introduce URI PPPs and promote URI Preamble, Purpose and Principles, we were able to discuss about URI MENA future plans

5. The participants already recommended to have this meeting as an annual program and spread the experience to other youth in the region

The 3 days workshop include the following activities:

First day 21 Dec 2009: Opening ceremony of the Conference, followed by presentations about the relation between Media and interfaith. A discussion was generated about the topic and how does every person look to the relation between media and interfaith. The participants generated a very interesting discussion about the topic and it was very productive. The participants outlines their definition to interfaith and media and how does the relation between both of them can be described in their countries.

Second day 22 Dec 2009: Presentation from the participants, which include a presentation of the papers prepared by the participants followed by a discussion about every paper from the participants. The participants also enjoyed watching together in the evening a film about interfaith and media in Egypt as well as another film about interfaith in Iraqi media. The Jordanian experience also was presented by Amman Message and Kind Abdallah Initiative. The Palestinian interfaith relation were presented by a documentary speaking about this relations. The Lebanese experience were presented by a paper about the relation between the 18 faith groups in Lebanon. There was an interesting visit to URI MENA regional office in Amman and a meeting with URI office manager and knowing more about URI activities in MENA region.

Third day 23 Dec 2009: Closing ceremony inwhich the participants presented their recommendations as well as future cooperation plans. The participants recommended to make the program an annual program and to invite other youth to take part in it. The full list of recommendations can be seen in the Volunteering for Peace website.

The participants then went in a study trip to the baptism place in the Jordan river and the dead sea to be able to learn more about the interfaith life in the baptism site in Jordan followed by an interesting discussion between the participants.

Recommendations and Lessons Learnt
· The topic is interesting and it is worth to be discussed more especially in the MENA region were interfaith is not handled in a good way in the media
· The youth in the region are rich of information and ideas on developing the interfaith media culture
· There should be more attention on awareness about other religions in the local media
· The media should respect the receiver
· Youth should have more chances to be represented in the local media
· There should be monitoring over the local media
· Youth should have their own Radio and TV in MENA region (MENA Youth Radio and TV)

Sharing Perspectives II Dutch-Palestinian Student Exchange

2010-01-20T13:56:00.000-08:00

In the duration between 8-14th of January 2010, Volunteering for Peace CC Student group welcomed 20 Dutch Students in an Exchange program in Palestine.

The program was designed to provide both local students and Dutch students to visit together different Palestinian Universities as well as other holy sites in Palestine.

The program was the second phase of an exchange program that took place in Amsterdam in which 14 Palestinian students (members of VFP) visited The Netherlands in a similar exchange program.

More details to added soon

Toward ab Interfaith Media Culture Conference

2010-01-06T14:13:00.000-08:00

Toward an interfaith Media Culture Video

The video shows an introduction about Towards an interfaith Media Culture Conference

organized by Volunteering for Peace in Amman Jordan on 21-23 December 2009

Absolutism and the Culture of Tolerance- VFP Conference Amman

2010-01-02T03:19:00.000-08:00

Toward an Interfaith Media Culture Conference which took place in Jordan Amman
in the duration between 21-23 December 2009 organized by Volunteering for Peace/Palestine and in partnership with Lebanese Interfaith Initiative CC,Jordanian Association for Orphans & Widows Care, and Tolerance CC (Egypt)

The first paper presented in the conference was about "Absolutism and the Culture of Tolerance" Presented by Sherif Rizq from Tolerance CC Egypt

Clisk here to see the Presentation presented

Absolutism and the Culture of Tolerance Presentation

Click here to see the video of the lecture

Click here to see Sherif Video

Toward an Interfaith Media Culture Amman-Jordan

2009-12-28T07:08:00.000-08:00

Volunteering for Peace/Palestine successfuly organizecd in partnership with Lebanese Interfaith Initiative CC,Jordanian Association for Orphans & Widows Care, and Tolerance CC (Egypt) its first international conference Toward an Interfait Media Culture Conference in Amman-Jordan on the duration between 21-23 Dec 2009

With participation of 20 participants from VFP and its partners as well as other participants from Iraq, Morocco and other CCs in Jordan.

The program was Funded by URI MENA AWARD 2009

More News will be updated soon

2009-11-25T02:31:00.000-08:00

Volunteering for Peace would like to wish to all our friends and volunteers
a happy feast may Allah bless you all

New Volunteering For Peace Logo

2009-09-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

New Logo for Volunteering for Peace

Volunteering for Peace Celebrate IDP 2009

2009-09-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

Volunteering for Peace Celebrate IDP 2009

Volunteering for Peace CC in Palestine organized in cooperation with Watan organization The International Peace Day (IDP) Celebration in the West Bank city f Hebron in Palestine.

The event which Include Volunteering for Peace CC members as well as Watan Organization members and volunteers in addition to Palestinian children who participated in the ceremony. The Ceremony included a celebration, candle lighting and singing for Peace by the participating children. The candle lighting demonstration in which every child and youth lighted a candle to share with the world and make a wish as they were writing in the banners they were holding “May Peace Prevail in Palestine, May Peace Prevail in the World”.

The Participants shouted Palestine want Peace, they asked the United Nations in its International peace day to work for peace in Palestine and ending up the Israeli occupation. The banners which they hold included; “ Give Peace a chance”, “Happy World Peace Day”, “Think Peace, Imagine Peace, be Peace”, “We want Peace no Walls”, “End the Israeli occupation to Palestine”.

The Volunteering for Peace Supported the demonstration with the Banners as well as the candle which were used in the activity. The Volunteering for Peace members shared with other participants information about URI and Volunteering for Peace and how religions can be together to overcome conflicts around the world.

The Media were present and they covered the event and transmitted it to different local and international Media stations. The photos were shared at the Internet between different International press organizations.

The Volunteering for Peace and its strategic partner Watan Center members and volunteers express their great happiness to participate at this very important event. They asked us to transfer their call to the world to be fair and help Palestine to live in Peace, keep praying to Palestine and say “May Peace Prevail in Palestine”. This is to mention that the event was organized on 21st of September which is the 2nd day of the feast of ending Ramadan. We appreciate the presence of all the members, volunteers and children during this holyday.

"Sufism, Principles and Dialogue" - Volunteering for Peace CC -Palestine

2009-09-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

Volunteering for Peace CC in Palestine organized a conference entitled "Sufism, Principles and Dialogue" Wednesday May 6th at the Gallery Hall in Hebron.

The meeting hosted Shikha Khadija Radin who began turning in 1971 after she first saw whirling performed by the followers of Sufi Murshid Samuel Lewis in San Francisco, California. They had recently lost their beloved teacher. She was enraptured by the meditative movement which was to change her way of life. She was, at the time, a teacher and choreographer of modern dance. Formerly a member of the Lucas Hoving Dance Company in New York. Shortly thereafter she resigned from an administrative and teaching position with the San Francisco Art Commission to travel from Holland overland to India and back, searching out the mystics, especially the Dervish. Shikha Khadija was originally Jewish and she converted 30 years ago and become on of the leading teachers in her group.

The event also included; The head (Sheikh) of Al-aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the head of the Palestinian Islamic Supreme Council of the Jurisprudence, Shaikh Tayseer Al-Tamimi ( a well known interfaith leader in Palestine and a consultant to president Abbas in religious issues), a group of juries males and females from the Palestinian court ( 2 of the juries were from the women who recently appointed as high court juries in Palestine), a group of 7 Palestinian Sufis from Alqasimy Tariqa in Palestine, the vice-governor of Hebron and representative of president Abbas to the meeting, Universities professors, students, and other local leadership. This event is the first of its kind in Palestine to address the topic Sufism to the Palestinian community and discuss about it. There are small group of Sufis in Palestine who also had the chance to take part and learn about similarities and differences with other groups around the world.

The meeting was chaired by Tareq Altamimi the coordinator of Volunteering for Peace CC and the member of the Global Council of URI, the meeting started with a prayer from the Emam of Al-aqsa mosque Shekh Abd Alkareem Zurba. Then Mr. Altamimi provided an introduction to URI, its main principles and purposes and presented the members of Volunteering for Peace who were attending the meeting. After a welcoming from the chairman, Sheikh Tayseer Al-Tamimi provide an introduction about the importance of diversity in the Palestinian community and the openness to the world and to other religions. He welcomed Shikha Khadija to Palestine and her students and spoke about Sufism in Islam. He also spoke about the current situation of holy places in Palestine and the dangers it encounter due to the occupation. Then the Vice-governor of Hebron and the representative of President Abbas spoke and welcomed Shikha Khadija and the audience in the city of Hebron and spoke about the importance of interfaith and knowing about other groups and methods of worshiping He also spoke about his excitement on this event which take place for the first time in Palestine and encourage organizing this kind on conference. He also thanked Volunteering for Peace for organizing the event and move the governor blessing to this event. Then Shikha Khadija started with thanking Volunteering for Peace for organizing this event and inviting her to it and for giving her the opportunity to make this event in Palestine. She provided an introduction about the Mevlavi way of Sufism which is using the prayers and thiker as a method of worshiping to God. She started with an introduction of the existence of human being and the uniqueness of God. She provided a detailed information about the mevlavi way (tariqa) of Sufism and spoke about the whirling Dervish way which she use to reach to god. She mentioned that her way of worshiping to god is based on love and Thiker. She also gave live examples of the classes she normally provide around the world in the states, Europe, India, and other countries. to learn more about Shikha Khadija and her work check the following link http://www.whirlingdervish.org/about.htm Then the group of local Sufis of Al-Qasimy in Palestine had a chance to present their way (Tariqa) and spoke about the Academy they already established to teach Sufism in Palestine and the activates they organize in Palestine. They also spoke about many similarities with what Shikha Khadija already mentioned. Then an open discussion started, many questions were raised from the audience who raised very important points, and cleared a stereotypes which they have about Sufism and its practices. They also had a chance to hear from Shika Khadija about her experience in other countries and about the concept of Sufism. The dialogue was interactive and had many questions raised from University professors, Doctors, women leadership, Islamic Law experts, Shariaa teachers, and the previously mentioned key guests. There were many ideas and questions which was raised on Sufism and Mevlavi way through questions an answers by Shikha Khadija. The meeting language was in English with a direct translations into/from Arabic. Photos are available at Volunteering for Peace Cc on Facebook and will be available also at http://www.uri.org/community/ , will try to send the photos in another email. We wish you were able to join us the fruit of success of this very important conference which took Place for the first time in Palestine.

*Khadija Radin is also a Sheikha of the Sufi Ruhaniat International, a Sufi order founded by Murshid Samuel Lewis. She resides at The Dervish Center in upstate New York, teaching Sufi studies, the Mevlevi and other styles of turning and meditation. She is the director of the Body Mind Restoration Retreats, a cleansing and renewal program hosted at the center in the summer. Khadija Marcia Radin began formal training in meditation in 1969 with Swami Rudrananda and later with Swami Muktananda. -- Tareq AltamimiVolunteering for Peace CCHebron, PalestineMobile: +972 599870067

Nonviolent Action for Peace and Social Change

2009-09-22T07:13:00.000-07:00

Volunteering for Peace CC coordinator Tareq Altamimi and one of its members participated at the Nonviolent Action for Peace and Social Change conference which was held at Al-Watan Center for conflict resolution in Hebron. The activity was held with the presence of 35 different peace and non-violence activist in the westbank.

Altamimi, presented the Volunteering for Peace Cc activities in Palestine and the URI main PPPs and its involvement in ending religiously motivated violence. Part of the participants was from CPT (Christian Peace Makers Team) an international group working in the city of Hebron in Palestine to help the Palestinian community during this occupation to Palestine. Altamimi shared with CPT the URI involvement around the world and the need to cooperate together.

Volunteering for Peace CC participated at the International Academy of Human Right 2008 held in The Netherlands

2009-09-22T07:11:00.000-07:00

Volunteering for Peace CC participated at the International Academy of Human Right 2008 held this year in The Netherlands Tareq Altamimi, the coordinator of Volunteering for Peace CC in Palestine participated at the International Academy of Human Right which was held this year in Midelburg city in the Netherlands. The academy included fifty participants from over 30 countries in the world, including Africa, Europe. Asia, Eastern Europe, the states and the Middle East.

The academy lasted for two weeks in which lecturers from the United Nations, European Universities, American and Latin American Universities and African Universities. In the academy Mr. Tamimi presented a paper about violations of Human Rights in the Middle east and addressed the issue of non-violence and interfaith between the participants. He also promoted URI during a presentation of organizations working in this field.

The participants were very interested in the idea of URI and they showed an interest to join URI CC or establish new CCs for URI back in their countries. During the Academy the participants visited The International Court of Justice in The Hague and other Human Rights and international organizations based in The Hague. The program also included a visit to a local court in The Netherlands. The official Academy program started after a one day tour on the town of Middleburg and a reception at the city Hall with participation of 50 participants from 30 different countries.

The program included important lecturers on Human Right/charter based Mechanism, African System/Convention, Inter-American system/Convention, European System, Criminal Law, rule of law and included other interesting debates in these important topics related to human rights which was presented by experts in these topics coming from different universities and international organizations around the world.

Volunteering for Peace CC Ramadan Relief Program

2009-09-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

Volunteering for Peace CC Ramadan Relief Program
With great pleasure I would like to inform you that Volunteering for Peace (VFP) CC in Palestine conducted a relief program during Ramadan Month at Almasafera area south of Hebron on Sunday September 6th.

Before providing the food packages I went in a field visit to the area, I met with old women, children, and youth and some told me that they didn’t have a meal for the last 2 days. Some said that the live only on bread which they make from flour that they receive as donations from some neighbors. I have visited different marginalized areas but this one was the most touchy and the most marginalized which I visited. There is still much needs there and there are people who don’t have the basic needs as well who need our care. The program was conducted during Ramadan Month in one of the most marginalized area in Palestine. Almasafer area which is inhabited with Bedouin families who live in tents and they don't have the basic needs of life. The program included distribution of food packages, vegetables, sweets for children and clothes for more than 30 families from the marginalized families who live in the area. These food packages created the smile in these families as can be seen in the attached photos. The families who live there are suffering from lack of water and shortage of food and basic needs of life.

The program was implemented with a generous support from DMLBonn CC in Germany and a direct support from the members of Volunteering for Peace CC in Palestine and in cooperation with Watan Center in Palestine. This is a fruitful cooperation between two CCs Volunteering for Peace CC in Palestine and DMLBonn CC in Germany. We look for further cooperation together and with other CCs in the future.I would like to thank DMLBonn for their support and all the Volunteering for Peace members and volunteers for their support and for their help is making the smile of faces of poor families.
By Tareq Altamimi, Volunteering for Peace CC, Coordinator

Volunteering for Peace

2009-09-22T04:14:00.000-07:00

Volunteering for Peace, is a Palestinian non-governmental organization aiming to participate in establishing a bridge between the different faith groups in PalestinePurpose: Spreading the idea of peace and non-violence in the world and creating a bridge between Muslims and Christians in PalestineThe Volunteering for Peace CC, was established to participate in establishing a bridge between the different faith groups in Palestine and the world. The idea came to create a working group to discuss in a regular basis regarding the different aspects of the daily life and to encourage cooperation between the different faith groups. The name came from a Euromed program that took place in Greece in which participants from different countries met in Greece to learn about every community and every faith prospective to peace. Volunteering for Peace participated in different local and international faith groups activities. Volunteering for Peace is active in the field on non-violence and peace building. We organize different workshops, training programs and exchanges in topics related to interfaith, non-violence, peace building, conflict resolution, intercultural learning and other topics.

Volunteering for Peace deligation to Amsterdam

2009-08-22T07:10:00.000-07:00

Volunteering for Peace CC in Palestine organized a study trip for Palestinian University students to the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands as an intercultural exchange program in partnership with Amsterdam University students.

The study visit was an interfaith intercultural exchange program between the Palestinian and Dutch students. The program included a visit to a mosque, church and the Anna Frank Hausse Museum the famous holocaust museum in Amsterdam which reflect the story of Anne Frank Hausse who was living in Amsterdam during the holocaust and she wrote her diary about the suffering of her family.

The Palestinian students as well organized a presentation about the NAKBA (the catastrophe) which was caused by the Israeli occupation to Palestine upon the establishment of Israel in 1948 and its influence in the Palestinian population.The program was rich of discussions between Palestinian and Dutch students about Interfaith, religions, Islam, stereotypes, Christianity, Judaism and included visits to holy places which resulted in very interesting discussions afterwards.

We had the pleasure also to welcome Annie Imbens Fransen, from the URI council of women, and one of URI Europe activists living in Amsterdam. We benefited from her presence to know about her writings on the Interfaith subject and also her articles related to this subject. She had an opportunity as well to listen to Palestinian students who were a mixed group males and females students. The group which consist of Palestinian and Dutch students visited the International Court of Justice in The Hague and had a chance to learn more about it and its foundation. The group also visited the Dutch parliament and other important monuments in the city. The Volunteering for Peace CC coordinator Tareq Tamimi mentioned that this was the first time for Palestinian students to travel to Europe and meet with students from other cultures and other religions and to have an open opportunity to discuss together very important subjects. He mentioned that this is a beginning of a series of international exchanges program that Volunteering for Peace is interested to organize with other partners and CC of URI in other countries.