MCGILL HOSTS MIDDLE EAST FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM TEACHES GRASSROOTS STRATEGIES

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McGill hosts Middle East fellowship; Program teaches grassroots strategies to aid region's poorest citizens

McGill hosts Middle East fellowship; Program teaches grassroots strategies to aid region's poorest citizens


The McGill Daily
By Naomi Lightman

Montreal, September 13, 2004 -- At a time when optimism about the Middle East is waning, a McGill program is opening doors to development and cooperation in the region.

The McGill Middle East Program (MMEP) has invited eleven Fellows from the politically divided nations of Israel, Palestine, and Jordan to spend the year studying social welfare, housing issues, equality and human rights with the goal of improving conditions in the poorest areas of their homelands.

McGill Chancellor Emeritus Gretta Chambers hosted an event for the Fellows last Wednesday at Wilson Hall.

"This is the only program I know of that actually focuses on peace building, civil society and living together and not on politics," she said.

The Fellowship is a two-year program, the first of which is spent at McGill studying alongside other students and observing Montreal-based community agencies. The second is spent in the Fellows' home countries doing practical work in fields such as legal aid, literacy and women's advocacy. At the end of the program, participants will obtain a Masters Degree in Social Work from McGill.

Jamal Alkirnawi is an Israeli Bedouin participating in the program. In Israel, he was a special education and Bedouin youth coordinator for underprivileged communities.

"For me, this is the first time that I can meet with people from Jerusalem, Palestine and Jordan. It's a good opportunity to be together and to study together and maybe to do networking in the future," he said.

Guests at the reception included a representative from the Canadian International Development Agency, which is helping to fund the program, and various government officials from the countries involved. After welcome speeches and introductions, McGill Middle East Program organizers previewed the group's new website, which will be launched on October first. Afterwards, both Kosher and Hallal food was served while guests socialized.

Professor Jim Torczyner, the Director of MMEP, said that the program is unique because it allows participants to work at the grassroots level.

"It's all propelled by the idea of empowering people so they can change their own conditions," he said, adding that he believes there have been numerous successes in programs created in the past.

"In Israel, we had a law passed that allows people in public housing to buy their apartments using their past rents as down payment. We've set up food co-ops run by Arabs and Jews together. In Nablus (a city in the West Bank) we have a whole housing program that goes into the worst houses and reconstructs them together with the people."

Randa Abu Rabe, a 40-year-old physician from Palestine, is also participating in the program. She was optimistic about the program's potential to transcend political barriers.

"The situation is getting worse and the political level can't seem to really achieve anything. I prefer to have community based peaceful programs like this, that can put real pressure on the two governments to make one step forward for peace."

Amaya Galili, is an Israeli Fellow who has been doing development work in Jerusalem since 2003. She thinks the program will give participants the skills to empower and improve disadvantaged regions in their home countries.

"It's a great model; I really believe in it. It really fits what I think needs to be done in the Middle East now -- a connection between inequality and peace-building and to create solidarity between communities."



INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD FACULTY OF MEDICINE MCGILL
JORDANIAN MCGILL PEACE PROGRAM MEMBER BRINTERVENED ON CAPTIVE’S BEHALF
MCGILL HOSTS MIDDLE EAST FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM TEACHES GRASSROOTS STRATEGIES


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