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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