[West Bank] The Palestinian Summer Celebration 2013 (Siraj Center)
From 01 July – 31 August 2013
01 – 31 July 2013 (1st month)
01 – 31 August 2013 (2nd month)
Come and celebrate Palestine! The Palestinian Summer Celebration is a unique annual program that gives people from all over the world the chance to encounter the life, culture, and politics of Palestine.
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Learn Arabic and study Palestinian history at Bethlehem University, spend time with local families and volunteer with a community organization.
The Palestinian Summer Celebration 2013 will take place in Bethlehem from July 01 to August 31. The program consists of two terms: July 01 to July 31 , and August 01 to August 31. Program participants can choose to stay for one or both terms. The celebration is organized by Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies in partnership with Bethlehem University (www.bethlehem.edu). Program participants will have the opportunity to meet and learn with accomplished speakers, experts, activists, and officials.
Read about some of our participants’ experiences:
2009
2008
Program:
Programs are subject to change.
FIRST Month (June 30 to July 31,2013):
Sunday 30 June 2013: Arrival
Guests will arrive at Siraj Center in Bethlehem, where they will be introduced to their host families. Dinner and overnight with host families.
Monday 01 July: Orientation day
We will begin bright and early at Siraj Center, where participants will be briefed on the customs of the region and the layout of Bethlehem—restaurants, health services, and public transport. We will visit Shepherd’s Field and The Church of the Nativity. In the afternoon, we will tour Bethlehem University and find out more about class offerings. Dinner and overnight with host families.
Tuesday 02 July – Friday 05 July: Classes and volunteer work.
On Tuesday morning, representatives from local organizations will introduce themselves and pick volunteers. For the rest of the week, volunteers will go to the office in the mornings and attend classes in the evenings at Bethlehem University. Dinner and overnight with the host families.
Saturday 06 July: First Day Tour – Hebron
We will tour the old city of Hebron and meet with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT Palestine) organizations committed to peace and reconciliation in Palestine. We will visit traditional glass and pottery factories, Ibrahiemi Mosque, The Tombs of the Patriarchs, and converse with locals. On the way back to Bethlehem we will stop at the Tent of Nations to hear stories about the conflict. In the evening, we will have a barbecue in Beit Sahour. Overnight with host families.
Sunday 07 July: Free Day
Monday 08 July – Friday 12 July: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University or private class.
Saturday 13 July: Second Day Tour – Jerusalem
We will explore the Mount of Olives and the Old City of Jerusalem, Al Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In the afternoon we will meet with the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) for a tour and lecture regarding the geo-political situation in Jerusalem. After that we will go to B’Tselem—an Israeli NGO committed to documenting and educating the Israeli public about human rights abuses in Occupied Territories—and meet leading figures in the fight for human rights. Dinner and overnight with host families.
Sunday 14 July: Free Day
From Monday 15 July – Friday 19 July: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University or private class.
Saturday 20 July: Third Day Tour – Jericho and the Dead Sea
On this day-trip we will visit the world’s oldest continuously thriving city—Jericho—whose settlements date back to 9000 BCE. In the early morning we will hike Wadi Qelt, the Mount of Temptation, and Tel Jericho. In the afternoon we will float in the famous, salt-dense and mineral rich Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight with host families.
Sunday 21 July: Free Day
Monday 22 July – Friday 26 July: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University or private class.
Saturday 27 July: Fourth Day Trip – Ramallah
We will tour the city of Ramallah—an exciting political scene, home to many human rights organizations, broadcast centers, and artists. We will meet with students of Birzeit University and representatives from The Right of Education Campaign. In the afternoon there will be time to visit galleries, eat ice cream, and stroll Rukab Street. Dinner and overnight with host families.
Sunday 28 July: Free Day
Monday 29 July – Tuesday 30 July: Classes and volunteer work.
Wednesday 31 July: Departure Day
SECOND MONTH (August 01 – August 31 2013):
Wednesday 31 July: Arrival
Thursday 01 August: Orientation day
We will begin bright and early at Siraj Center, where participants will be briefed on the customs of the region and the layout of Bethlehem—restaurants, health services, and public transport. We will visit Shepherd’s Field and The Church of the Nativity. In the afternoon, we will tour Bethlehem University and find out more about class offerings. Dinner and overnight with host families.
Friday 02 August: Free Day
Saturday 03 August and Sunday 04 August: Fifth Day Trip – Nazareth and Galilee
We will travel to Nazareth and Galilee for an overnight excursion, and participants will learn about the current state of Israel and the 1948 catastrophe. Along the way we will meet with Ittijah, a coalition of Arab community organizations, tour destroyed and unrecognized villages, see Haifa, Jaffa, and Akko, and visit a number of holy sites. We will return to Bethlehem late on Sunday night for dinner and overnight with host families.
Monday 05 August – Friday 09 August: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem Universityor private class.
Saturday 10 August: Sixth Day Trip – Negev or Jericho
On this day trip we will be escorted by an Israeli organization to the stunning Negev desert, where we will learn about the Bedouin culture and visit unrecognized Bedouin villages. While in the Negev, we will see holy and historical sites, too. Dinner and overnight with host families.
Sunday 11 August: Free Day
Monday 12 August – Friday 16 August: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University or Private Class .
Saturday 17 August: Seventh Day Trip – Northern West Bank
In the Northern West Bank, we will tour the cities of Qalqilieh, Tulkarem and Jenin. In Jenin, we will visit the Arab American University. We will also meet with local organizations and officials, see refugee camps, and learn about regional living conditions. Dinner and overnight with host families.
Sunday 18 August: Free Day
Monday 19 August – Friday 23 August: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University or Private Class .
Saturday 24 August: Eighth Day Tour – Jerusalem
We will explore the Mount of Olives and the Old City of Jerusalem, Al Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In the afternoon we will meet with the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) for a tour and lecture regarding the geo-political situation in Jerusalem. After that we will go to B’Tselem—an Israeli NGO committed to documenting and educating the Israeli public about human rights abuses in Occupied Territories—and meet leading figures in the fight for human rights. Dinner and overnight with host families.
Sunday 25 August: Free Day.
Monday 26 August – Friday 30 August: Classes and Volunteer work.
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University or Private Class (private tutor for learning Arabic)
Friday 30 August: Siraj will host a farewell dinner party for guests and host families.
Saturday 31 August: Departure.
Other Activities:
Hiking. Participants will be able to take short and long hikes while in Palestine, enjoying wonderful outdoor experiences.
Half-day trips. During the week, participants can visit the rural areas of Bethlehem and other parts of Palestine for authentic village experiences. All visits will be organized by Siraj Center.