Together We Can: Summer Camp 2020
The Musalaha Summer Activities 2020 project is a creative adaptation of the organisation's traditional children’s summer camps, redesigned to comply with the safety regulations necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. While standard camps involving swimming and overnight stays were cancelled due to health mandates, these weekend-based activities provide Palestinian children from both Christian and Muslim backgrounds with a legal and safe environment for summer fun and reconciliation education. Hosted in Bethlehem, the program invites small groups of 25–30 children to rotate through various stations involving crafts, music, and sports, alongside dedicated story time and study sessions.
Under the theme "Together We Can," the project aims to address global unrest by teaching the values of mutual acceptance, support, and the fight against discrimination. By engaging 220 direct beneficiaries at a young age, Musalaha seeks to foster long-term bridgebuilders and peacemakers within the community. This initiative also provides a leadership platform for youth and young adults, many of whom are former participants themselves, to serve as counsellors and volunteers. The program serves as a critical continuation of Musalaha’s reconciliation curriculum, ensuring that the journey toward conflict transformation remains a constant in these children's lives.
To manage external risks, Musalaha operates under a document approved by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which mandates strict protocols including temperature checks, sanitisation, and social distancing. By limiting group sizes and requiring children to bring their own meals, the organisation prioritises health and safety while maintaining its mission of reconciliation. Despite the financial impact of the pandemic on traditional donor sources, this project remains a high priority for cultivating a sustainable and healthy future through the education of the next generation.
