Save the Jordan Valley Campaign organized the first learning-camp in cooperation with the Federation of New Trade Unions in Palestine and with the support of international solidarity groups.

The camp took place from 15th to 19th of July and involved teenagers aged between 14 and 19, coming from the village of Bardala and other communities in the north of the Jordan Valley. Activities ranged in different areas.

The first day teachers Rana and Maha explained the importance of working as a team, and taught some techniques on how to focus and put effort together.

The second day was dedicated to speaking about the importance of the Jordan Valley in many respects. Rashid Khudairat explained that the Jordan Valley is a strategic area for Palestine due to its border with Jordan and the potential connection with bordering countries, as well as its extensive land and water resources, which would make it the Palestinian bread-basket without the constraints of the occupation. The preservation of the Jordan Valley from the depredation of Israeli policies is therefore crucial to the future of all Palestine.In this context, the activist Abu Sari explained the importance of the international solidarity committees and the work they are doing in supporting the Palestinian cause. He also explained about the boycott Israel campaign at an international level.

The third day, activists Kamar and Ferial held an English course for the participants.We also received our partners from the Al-Awda Center in Tulkarm and with them a group of clowns. The clowns exhibited themselves in four shows, all in different villages of the Jordan Valley, including the villages of Fasayil, Arab Kaabneh, Abziq and Bardala. The clowns performed entertainment as well as educational shows on how to behave and protect ourselves from the Coronavirus, helping children to relax, discharge negative energy and learn protective measures at the same time. The shows involved around 200 children, who were distributed gifts in the end.

The fourth day was an open day for volunteering at the Save the Jordan Valley Campaign community center in Bardala, where volunteers split in different teams. A first team painted the Palestinian flag on the center’s walls. Another team recycled used tires to make little flowerbed out of them, painted and filled with different plants and roses. The last team worked on cleaning around the center and in the surrounding farm.On the fifth day, Iman Aoun from Ishtar Theater trained participants on storytelling, teaching them how to perform and tell daily life stories as well as fiction stories.

On the same day there was an evaluation moment gathering organizers and participants, where all participants were very happy with the camp and the hosting. They were especially happy about having a dedicated place to play in and to spend time together. During the gathering it was agreed to continue activities which are of benefit for the village. In particular, an activity about improving and cleaning Bardala’s Girls Secondary School was already planned for the coming weeks.

Rashid Khudairat highlighted the importance of working with the youth, since local organisations do not properly offer dedicated activities for them. It is important to develop their knowledge about what is going on with the policies that threaten their future, so that they can monitor Israeli violations and spread them internationally. Also, it is important to let them play, to learn new skills and improve their capabilities and to support the creation of volunteers’ teams helping their own community. In general, the aim is to fight a marginalization of the youth by institutions in terms of making decisions or participating in community work.We as Save the Jordan Valley Campaign will continue to work with the youth and to be active in all societal issues in the Jordan Valley, as the youth are the future and it is our responsibility to support them.