The Challenge

For generations, children on both sides of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict have witnessed and suffered trauma.  Though most have never met their Israeli or Palestinian counterpart, they have come to see each other as “the enemy.”  There is no trust, and no sense of understanding for the lived experiences of those on the other side.

Many Palestinian and Israeli youth have difficulty imagining a future that includes peace and coexistence with their neighbors.  As hard as it is to imagine peace and coexistence, it is even harder for them to recognize they have the potential to bring about positive change in their environment and their future.

Our Solution:

Israeli and Palestinian youth who participate in Artsbridge will discover a process that facilitates the safe expression of their desires and fears.  Through Artsbridge these youth will be introduced to the tools that can help then envision the prospect of a future which includes peaceful coexistence.  They will learn to see themselves as creative, empowered individuals with the ability to enact progress in their environment, while developing leadership skills that will help them empower others.