The "My Galilee Leadership Program" is a unique cultural exchange program that educates participants about the Arab/Palestinian communities in Israel. From August 1st until August 18th selected participants will travel to the Galilee, where they will have the opportunity to learn about the complexity of the Arab society and explore the culture and lives of various minorities such as the Muslims, C
hristians, Druze, Bedouins, and other communities. The two and a half-week leadership program partners participants from different continents and encourages them to explore and deconstruct the stereotypes, prejudices, and social issues facing their respective societies and their relationship to each other. Through a series of open dialogue sessions, cultural excursions, meetings with prominent individuals in business, politics and society, and team building exercises the participants come to develop a greater appreciation for each other and the nuances of the challenges facing this particular part of the world. The program provides the opportunity for the participants to stay with families, and in doing so offers a valuable opportunity for them to network and build bonds that may endure long after the conclusion of the program. Participants, through direct exchange with their Arab peers in the Galilee, will act as civic ambassadors on behalf of their country, exploring and confronting the issues that define US-Mideast relations. They will develop the skills, knowledge, and relationships to become leaders who can build bridges of cultural understanding. Furthermore, they will have the unique opportunity to interact with elected officials, heads of NGOs, community and lay leaders, clergy, business leaders, educators, artists, and students to develop a better understanding of current events in the Middle East. Participants will have the opportunity to enrich their knowledge of the region by visiting various places of historical and religious significance including Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Haifa, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Acre, Cana, and many others. They will experience the history, culture, and traditions of these unique places and obtain a deeper understanding of their past and present.
