Windows

Information

Windows, a Hebrew and Arabic magazine that is written by and for Jewish and Palestinian youth ages 12-15. Over the years, this project has expanded to include a video magazine for teens ages 15 and 16 and a youth leadership program for 17 and 18

Website: http://www.win-peace.org/home.html
Location: Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel and Tulkarm, West Bank, Palestine
Peacemakers: 49
Latest Activity: Dec 1, 2012

2 members like this

Windows Group Description (taken from website)

Introduction to Windows

Windows is a non-profit, joint organization of Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinians from the Occupied Palestinian territories. Windows' believes that both Palestinians and Jews have the right to live as equals with equal and comprehensive human rights. Established in 1991, Windows promotes acquaintance, and understanding between both peoples, as well as empowerment of the youth with whom we work through educational and cultural programs, media and art. Windows was established based on the conviction that educating the next generation, our children, plays a vital role in working for a just and lasting peace. To advance the process of reconciliation in our region, it is important to understand and internalize democratic values and human rights and to deepen mutual knowledge of the other. We further these goals mainly through media-related educational programs. The organization is not affiliated with any political party and we do not offer political solutions.

We began our activities with the publishing of Windows, a Hebrew and Arabic magazine that is written by and for Jewish and Palestinian youth ages 12-15. Over the years, this project has expanded to include a video magazine for teens ages 15 and 16 and a youth leadership program for 17 and 18-year olds. The magazine is primarily distributed through an in-school program which seeks to utilize Windows magazine, in addition to a variety of other media, in order to explore multiple perspectives of the conflict. Also, the organization regularly produces exhibitions of Palestinian and Israeli art. In addition to these programs, the Windows friendship center in Tel Aviv offers a wide range of activities including lectures, meetings, films, exhibitions, tours, spoken Arabic courses and more, to a wide audience of all ages and from both nations. Widows also collects and distributes food, clothing, and other household items to people living in both the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and to Israelis in need. In order to futher reduce the physical suffering of the population, Windows supports projects for economic sustainability in the OPT.

It is no simple task for Israeli and Palestinian youth to overcome the vast amount of misinformation and stereotypes they are taught about one another. The limited availability for interaction, a result of living in mostly segregated communities and exacerbated by the ongoing violent political conflict, perpetuates the historical fears, prejudice, and hatred that divide the two peoples. Windows is therefore dedicated to fostering large scale change in the way Israeli and Palestinian youth see themselves, "the other" and the conflict. Participants in Windows programs go through experiences that promote conflict transformation among both peoples, towards a peaceful reality with which both sides can live. We believe that a just and lasting peace must be based on democratic values, human rights, and mutual knowledge and acceptance of “the other.”

History

Windows began as an idea. In the summer of 1990, in the midst of the Intifada, Nina and Rutie sat together in Rutie's small kitchen. Nina told Rutie about a South African tri- lingual magazine for children, "Moloshongololo," and Rutie expressed her desire for a Hebrew-Arabic magazine for youth in the region. They decided, right then and there, that they were going to do it.

Despite pessimistic feedback and discouraging responses, they pressed on, growing more determined with each rejection. Finally, after the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, the Israeli Ministry of Education began to invest in peace programs. The Ministry enabled the creation of the first issue of Windows in January 1995, which was written and edited mostly by a group of Jewish and Palestinian kids from Tel Aviv-Jaffa.

Since then, friendship centers have been opened, numerous editions of the magazine have been written and distributed, and many projects have successfully joined the magazine.

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Comment by Tim Upham on June 23, 2012 at 10:18pm: I got introduced to this, when I taught at Portland State University. in Portland, Oregon.

Comment by Narda Azaria Dalgleish on October 30, 2009 at 1:15pm: Read Rutie's fascinating interview in Just Vision

http://www.justvision.org/en/profile/rutie_atsmon

Comment by Nicola Avery on January 3, 2009 at 8:56pm: Hi Stewart, I have a limited understanding of how NGOs operate (I've been doing some tiny bits of volunteering with Kiwanja / FrontlineSMS) but from what I understand, as long as we keep connecting people and initiatives not just amongst NGOs but also policymakers, I also believe we will get there ! We also need to find ways to help those working in NGOs communicate with those of us who are not aware that they exist - even things like an aid worker's diary on the BBC news site is something.

Comment by Stewart Mills on January 3, 2009 at 12:10pm: Chen, I agree that both Jews and Palestinians still wait for peace between the two peoples. However, I am puzzled by your question. We still have poverty in the first world countries and thiurd world countries. We still have crime. Fire mena nd women still have fires to put out. The health system is still struggling. Education system is failing many millions of stidents. Why ask NGOs working for peace and reconciliation between two peoples to admit failure? Rome wasn't built in a day. Patience, dedication, resilience, creativity, hope and sufficient finances and volunteers - this is the lifeblood of NGOs working for peace. Please Chen give credit where credit is due.

Comment by chen yehezkely on January 2, 2009 at 6:54pm: Dear Stephanie
I solute the cause and the dedication of Windows and all other grassroot peace organizations in our region. Yet I cannot ignore the observation that they all - each in its own right and all combined - fail miserably since, clearly, there is no peace as of yet. Yet they all refuse to admit their failure and ask why is it so. They are thus all irresponsible. If windows would acknowledge this unpleasant truth and ask the questions that it invites it will set itself as the first responsible grassroot peace organization in our region. It will then also attract and deserve serious attention from all over. If this has already taken place, kindly update me. Best to write directly
chenyehe@gmail.com
Thankfully yours
Chen

Comment by ClubMid on January 2, 2009 at 12:22pm: Hello Stephanie,
Windows is a great project, it shall help bring future leaders together and narrow down the differences between Palestinians and Jews. I like to invite you to visit our portal ClubMid.org which is a Social and Professional network for Middle East people. On ClubMid.org we have sub groups that deals with Women, Children, Peace, NGO’s and Friendship. I noticed that Windows “Shababik” website needs a communication and collaboration platform for all its members and for the people behind Shababik. Therefore, as the Founder and the Admin of ClubMid.org I invite Shababik to use our Children Section on ClubMid.org for free to create a social networking for its members to communicate and share ideas with others located all across the Middle East. This is a unique opportunity for ClubMid as well as for Shababik to grow and reach others around us.
Take care,
Samer Barakat
clubmid.org

Comment by Dion de Kraker on December 27, 2008 at 3:11am: I think this is an excellent initiative and hope it may grow beyond expectations in the new year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0xf7r97opw