Resilience and Re-mobilization towards World Heritage

The work will include the following activities: 1. Assisting the renovation of the ancient (3000 years old) water canals and cleaning the water harvesting pool. 2. Rebuilding of a wall (using old stones from the location) that leads to an ancient water cistern at the edge of the village. This wall will help locals and internationals to reach the water cistern that is planned to become a touristic attraction. 3. Renovation work in several locations close to the railway line that was established during the Ottoman Empire era and that connected Turkey with Palestine. The railway (completely dominated by the occupation- Palestinians are not allowed to use it. 4. Workshop on employing media as a tool to document historical and heritage sites that are in danger.

The volunteers will be hosted at either the a local partner organization at Duheisheh camp near Bethlehem (Alfineeq organization) or at IPYL volunteers’ dormitory in Hebron (20 KM south city of Bethlehem) men and women will stay in separate rooms. The accommodation includes hot water, kitchen and hangout space. The place has fast internet connection and presentations equipment (the media center of IPYL is beside the flat). The volunteers will cook breakfasts and dinners by themselves (daily cooking teams to be established). Lunch will be served during the work time. Tea and coffee will be available all the time at the dorm and the hangout space. There might be curfew for the work camp, which would be around midnight, unless we have some activities around outside that night/evening. The camp is alcohol and drugs free, volunteers can’t drink alcohol during the camp duration. The camp leaders will designate some local bars (Bethlehem only) where volunteers can drink.

This work camp will expose volunteers to daily life in the Occupied West Bank. Volunteers will conduct renovation at Battir town South West Jerusalem and west the city of Bethlehem at which is on the WHL This World Heritage Site is in danger due to the Israeli military occupation measures to destroy parts of the site to build a separation wall and expand the railway that passes through the site. The work in this location will include, renovation of old and restoration of very ancient water canals, preparing ground work to build tourism tracks and routes that leads to the attractive places within the site, planting trees and finally learning about how to use digital media to document world heritage sites through intensive training workshop conducted on the site. Finally, volunteers will learn about the daily challenges facing the Palestinians people from the occupation and the Jewish settler’s militia. The afternoons of the work camp will be dedicated to an educational, social and cultural program of activities. The aim is to expose volunteers to the reality of life in Palestine in the context of the ongoing Israeli occupation and the Palestinians people resilience. The program will educate volunteers on Palestinian culture and history, and the origins of conflict in the region. The program will introduce volunteers to various civil society entities who are working towards a future Palestinian state. Civil society plays a crucial role in Palestine, helping people to stay resilient in the face of the many challenges brought about by the occupation.