Guideline for Applicants
～Youth Exchange for Peace 2018～

Israel, Palestine, Japan ”LET’S MAKE A PEACE BRIDGE IN JAPAN!”

About The Project

The peace in the Middle East is very often at the mercy of the uncertain and confusing international political situations. But we firmly believe in the power of grass-root movements that could have sometimes a great impact on the whole world. And we have also hope and complete confidence in the eagerness and capacity of the young generation to realize a real and true peace in the future.
Therefore, the organizer of the Project, “HELPING CHILDREN IN THE HOLY LAND”, Japanese Non Profit Organization (NGO), and the co-organizer “JOHN PAUL II FOUNDATION FOR THE MIDDLE EAST” (NGO), invite you, Israeli, and Palestinian youth, to come to Japan this summer and to take part, with Japanese students, in a very challenging adventure for peace building, action, sharing, commitment and togetherness.
This Project has been providing every year a very special and unique exchange opportunity for the youths of the 3 countries. Since 2005, it has been continuing in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, also in the Holy Land. Additionally, for the five consecutive years (2011~2015) after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake, the project members have served as volunteers in the affected area in Tohoku.
This year, the Project will be held in Nagano City and its beautiful nature as well as Tokyo JICA International Center from the 5th to the 21st August, 2018.

BE PEACE BUILDERS !

You will live a communal life of 2 weeks, overcoming and accepting each other your diversities in many aspects. The key words are mutual respect and consideration. You will participate to dialogues and workshops and also share each other your own stories of the conflict so that you could understand and considerate “the other side’s situation” better. Thus you will deepen your understanding of the present conflict. You will also experience the joy of togetherness doing some volunteer activities for children or senior persons and outdoor activities in the beautiful nature.
Through the challenging and intensive experiences of 2 weeks, you, the youngsters of the 3 countries will find together “A Way for Peace” and cultivate a life-long friendship.

BE PEACE MESSENGERS !

Besides an international cultural exchange with Japanese citizens, you will have a chance to give them “peace messages” showing your eagerness and determination to achieve peace based on the human rights in your countries. Thus you will help them to open their eyes and hearts to the necessity to support you in your peace building efforts.
And once back to your country, you will share your precious experiences in Japan with your friends and with your families in order to tell them that a peaceful co-existence on the basis of mutual understanding and reconciliation is possible.

We have strong hope and confidence in you, youngsters of Israel and Palestine, that you will be able to assume the important role of peace building together with Japanese youth, not only in the Middle East and but also in the world.

LOCATION

1) Zenko-ji Temple, Nagano, Nagano Prefecture　➤ Link1, Link2, Link3
2) JICA Tokyo International Center

DATES

Project

From the 5th to the 21st (or 23rd) August, 2018

Departure from Israel: 5th August
Arrival in Japan: 6th August
Stay in Nagano: 6th ~ 14th August
Stay in Tokyo: 14th ~ 19th August
End of the Project: 19th August

Special Program

“EXPERIENCES OF JAPANESE CULTURE”: 20th ~ 21st August
Dep. from Japan: 22nd August
Arrival in Israel: 23rd August

For those who have to come back at once
Departure from Japan: 20th August
Arrival in Israel: 21st August

Possibility of longer stay in Japan
* On your own expenses.
* Please consult us just after the selection about the return date.

ACTIVITIES

Sharing your daily life during the project: you eat, sleep, and spend other time together.
Dialogue, reflection, workshop, discussion on the peace-building.
Sharing about your personal experiences of the conflict.
Sharing about your experiences of volunteer activities and day-to-day cohabitation.
Various volunteer activities in Nagano, Zenko-ji area. They will include manual work and social interactions with the people and with the youth and children of the area.
Homestay in Nagano
Open-symposium in Nagago and JICA Tokyo:
1) Presentation of your learning through the experiences of the Project and declaration of your “Peace Messages”
2) Cultural exchange of the 3 countries with the citizens (adults, youngsters and children): traditional music, dance and foods.

We propose you in addition a supplementary but important program as a part of the Project:
“2 DAYS EXTRA EXPERIENCES OF JAPANESE CULTURE TOGETHER”
20th ~21st August

NUMBER AND AGE TO BE ADMITTED

NUMBER: 9 participants will be selected (Israelis & Palestinians).
AGE: from 18 to 25 years old.
(There will be 6 to 8 Japanese participants plus staff members)

REQUIREMENTS

– Agree with the purpose and the spirit of the project.
– Interested in building peace and peace talking with open heart.
– Continue to be part of a peace process after the project:

* Ready to participate in our exchange programs after going back to your country.
* Ready to participate in our exchange programs and activities for Japanese study tour group in March every year.
* We greatly appreciate your hospitality accepting Japanese student(s) as host family in March 2019 (accommodation and meals) and also all your efforts of finding host families for them.

– Take part in the preparatory seminars (twice) in Jerusalem (compulsory)
– English conversation skills.
– Adaptability to live together with others.
– Follow the rules of conduct during the project.
– Readiness to communicate with others and to cooperate with others for various activities and cohabitation.

APPLICATION and SELECTION

APPLICATION:

Please prepare the following documents.
・Application form: Fill in the application form that includes personal details and to answer some key questions. Selection will be conducted based on the submitted application.
・Your Profile Photo
・Copy of your passport and ID
Please send your application documents by the 25th February, 2018 to the following address by email.
・TO: Hiroko Inoue Mail: ispalejpn@gmail.com
・CC: Yacoub Ghazzawi Mail: yacoghaz@hotmail.com
Please contact Mr. Yacoub Ghazzawi, our local staff, for any further information.
・Mobile No : 050 784 2440

SELECTION:

For a first contact with us, all the applicants and all those who are interested in this Project can participate in “One-day Dead Sea Excursion” on the 3rd March, in occasion of the Japanese Students’ Study Tour. We will be very glad of your participation in order to know you better.The activities will be dialogue, exchange of the Israeli, Palestinian and Japanese youth, and of course swimming in the Dead Sea.
If you want to join this excursion, or to have more information, please send your email to the above addresses by the 28th February.
* Participation fee for the Excursion: NIS 100 (non refundable)
This fee covers the entrance fee for Qalya Beach and the lunch. We, the NGO offer you the transportation from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. Your participation could be taken into consideration for your acceptance in the summer project.
An individual interview will take place in Jerusalem on the 4th (Sun), 5th (Sat) and 6th (Mon) March, 2018. Yacoub, our local staff will contact you for the scheduling of your interview.
An interview on the skype is also possible.
The final decision will be made in the midst of March by the committee of the selection.
Hiroko Inoue, the President of the NGO “Helping Children in the Holy Land” will contact with you, as soon as you are selected as a member of the Project and inform you about the details and the conditions of the participation. She will also contact with those who, unfortunately, will not be selected this time.

PARTICIPATION FEE: $ 900

Your own confirmation to participate in the Project should be made through the payment of US$ 450 (non-refundable) by 26th March, 2018, as a part of the participation fee.
The second payment of US$ 450 is to be made by the 13th April, 2018.
The participation fee is requested as your contribution to cover a part of the expenses for your flight ticket and stay in Japan.
In case of cancellation after the issue of the flight ticket, you will have to pay a cancellation fee. The amount will vary according to the period of your cancellation.
The method of payment and our cancel policy will be communicated later.
The following fees are not covered by the organizer and should be paid by each participant.
> Compulsory travel insurance
> Visa fee for Palestinian passport and Israeli travel document holders
> Transportation fees between home and airport
> Meals and transportation fees during the free time
> Personal expenses
> Expenses for the 2 days seminar “Extra Experiences of the Japanese Culture Together”:
(1) Accommodation (2 nights at JICA on the basis of BB: US$ 60) , (2) meals, (3) transportation fee