peacecamp 2011

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This was peace camp/Amir Adar

Peace camp was for me more than good experience, even more than outstanding experience - it was a very important lesson for me and for my life.
I chose to do not focus on the fun and the great social experience (that was speechless) I had in this camp, I chose to focus on the lesson I had. The lesson I had, was a lesson about people and about human nature.
The first thing I have learnt is that even people are very different, and even if they have different cultures, and they do not speak the same language, and even if they hate each other, after all, they are human beings! And all the human being are very similar, because they are all human beings; and to be a human being means to be good, to want peace and quiet, even if some times there are thousands of black layers that do not let the human being and to anybody else to see the light that exist inside.
The second thing I learnt in the peace camp was that any one could take those layers off! I am not enough naïve to say that this action of taking those layers off will take the same efforts from everyone, but I enough believe in the human race to say that there is no one who can not take those layers off (even if sometimes there are people who has a lot of them).
And to the question what was peace camp? I can answer that it was an experience that let me say the thing I said.

in Newsletter 08/2011

http://www.rm-waldviertel.at/content/Lang_1/3888.asp

I really don‘t know what to write. It‘s so hard to put those amazing days into words.
The peacecamp has always its own spirit and there is always the great feeling of being connected to each other. You can‘t describe it to someone who has not made this experience. After the peacecamp I just talked and I‘m still talking about the peacecamp, getting on everybody‘s nerves with my peacecamp stories.
The peacecamp started at the airport and ended there. But between those days many, many, many things happened. At first everyone was a bit shy but over the next days we got to know each other and each others culture. I really love all of the culture evenings because it is a great ability to learn about other cultures. I‘m singing the songs I‘ve learned all the time and I‘m still able to dance the dances we learned.
What I really liked this year was the history session because it was well organised by Markus and Ilan. Thank you to them :) I‘m also a fan of the large group because I think it‘s important for everyone to say what he or she thinks.
But the most important thing is that we all found out that the others are not that different. We are all teenagers with the same problems and hopes and dreams.
Maybe this camp helped the Israeli and the Arabs to find a way to live together. Because I believe that everyone is able to change the world a little bit and together even more.
Thank you to everyone who has participated: teachers, students and artists And above all thank you to Evelyn and Ronny who organised the whole camp for nearly 10 years and who were always there for us.
Thank you.
Anne-Sophie Rauch=

This was Peacecamp 2011

When my teacher told me, that I can go to the Peacecamp, at first I didn’t understand why I was chosen, because I found my english not good enough, actually I’ve been learning english only for 2 years, so I was a bit afraid it. Nevertheless I was of course very happy to go.

When I got of the bus I feel a bit alone and I didn’t know, what will be my partners like.
Honestly I have had some prejudices Jews and Arabs before the camp, but some days later I found out that I have no reason for that. All people in the camp were very friendy, helpful and tolerant.

At first I supposed that we can’t solve the ancient problems between the Jews and Arabs, but when we spend some days there, I found out that these people really want to find a solution this situation, but I didn’t dare always express my opinion in the large group.
I found the Jews history very interesting, so I’ve started to deal whit it.

I found most of programmes very intresting, like yoga and the evenings, although I found a bit unneccecery some programmes, for instance mandela, and we should have hiked more in the beautiful landscape. Some night was a bit disturbing, when one tried to sleep, and couldn’t because of the loud noise. I think we had enough time to get to know one another.

Overall I think it was great 11 days for everyone. We made great friends. If I could, I’d go again.