ARK III
Together on our way
ARK III in Bethlehem
Beginning on the 8th of August and continuing until the 22nd, young people from Guatemala, the USA, and Palestine are meeting in Bethlehem to build bridges of peace, tolerance, and understanding between people and cultures. ARK III, the third installment of “Art Resources for Kids,” a program designed to give young people a chance to meet others whom they would normally not have the chance to, and to develop relational skills through art, music, dance, and celebrating each other’s cultures. By learning how to relate to people of different backgrounds, it is hoped, the seeds of peace, tolerance, and creativity can be sown in the communities in which the ARK participants live, and out of that can spring progress and a better life for everyone.
ARK meetings convene in the hometowns of the participants: the first meeting was in San Lucas, Guatemala, and the second was in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. The participants have enjoyed local food, activities, and fellowship, but there is also a lot of hard work involved in the ARK events. Participants spend hours in workshops, learning to relate to one another through play, art, and storytelling. As a result, strong friendships have been forged, and world views have changed.
“I will be going to University [next year],” says ARK participant Teresa Capecchi (18, USA), “and ARK has influenced every aspect of what I am choosing to do with my life. I will be helping to coordinate mission trips, both nationally and internationally. ARK showed me that it is important to experience new ways of life.”
Learning to communicate with others is one of the goals of the ARK program. Sharing one’s ideas and dreams with others can be challenging in one’s own language, but when a language barrier is present it can be even more difficult! Fortunately, the ARK kids are resourceful and really want to communicate with each other, so they have found ways to do so. Walid Issa (18, Doha) says, “I talked with the Americans in English, but with the Guatemalans we communicate by other means, like singing, acting, with signs, and other things.”
The value of different perspectives in problem solving is something that has grown among participants in the ARK program. Walid remarked, “In Bethlehem, we can’t solve our problems if we stay looking at it from one perspective only, we must discuss and analyze the problems and know the other person’s perspective as well. That’s how we can solve our problems." This comment was echoed by Shadi Ghawli (18, Beit Jala): “We went to Guatemala and the US, we saw the suffering in Guatemala and freedom in the US, and we knew that we alone as Palestinians can’t solve our problems and we must work together and cooperate with others.”
The Americans in the group have been particularly struck by how the situation in Palestine differs from how it is shown in the American media. Kate Wolff (18, USA) says, “I came here with ARK because I wanted to see my friends in ARK and know more about Bethlehem. We don’t get the full story [in the US], and I wanted to see for myself what life is like here. Bethlehem is culturally alive: I love the people and the street. [But] I noticed that there is a big difference between Jerusalem and Bethlehem because of the checkpoints and the wall is so big.” Teresa noticed, “the disparity between Israel and Palestine shows me how Palestinians should be living, [a way of life] that was robbed from them. The funding from the US shows ulterior motives. If the US wanted to help those who need it, they would be helping Palestine and not Israel.”
All in all, it has been a positive experience so far for the ARK participants in Palestine. They have been welcomed and encouraged by the people here in Bethlehem, and the hope that they hold out for a peaceful and just future for the Palestinian people. Kate says, “ARK inspires me to push for changes, and to work with the youth in Palestine who fight against a bigger power than I ever imagined.” Teresa sums up her thoughts by saying, “if the Palestinians can have hope, everyone should have hope.”
ARK runs through the 22nd of August, though some groups will stay until the 24th. We wish them a pleasant stay in Bethlehem, and God’s blessings in their work!
Written by: Faith Rowold
17/8/2005
