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September 18, 2015 4:24 am
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Israeli Schools Use Google Hangouts to Bring Jewish and Arab Students Together

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avatar by Michael Bachner / Tazpit News Agency

Peres and ORT

Former Israeli President Shimon Peres with students in the ‘Hang Out for Peace’ program. Photo: ORT website.

A unique program in Israeli schools is bringing Jewish and Arab students together by utilizing technology to break down barriers. The effort is led by former Israeli President Shimon Peres, and is active in 14 schools.

The program, called “Hanging Out for Peace,” is now in its third year and was initiated by the ORT School Network, the Peres Center for Peace and Google Israel. This year, more than 1,000 male and female students from around the country will participate, with an equal number of Jews and Arabs.

“It’s hard to break barriers when meeting face-to-face, because of stereotypes that prevent sincere discussion,” Efrat Duvdevani, director general of the Peres Peace Center told Tazpit. “That’s why the initial interaction is done via video-chat, which is more in the teenagers’ comfort zone.”

“I’m sure this project will create much-needed dialogue and friendships between people who, despite their physical proximity and shared interests, rarely interact,” added Duvdevani.

During the program, each Jewish participant is matched with a Muslim, Druze or Bedouin student. The participants first talk via Google Hangouts video-chat sessions, before eventually meeting in person. Students who participated in the program last year strongly recommend the experience.

“I was afraid at first because I’d never had any contact with Jewish students before, but when the program began, it became easier. When we worked together I discovered how much we have in common,” said Rana Zoabi, a student at the Arab ORT Bustan al-Marj High School.

“The program gives us connections with people we don’t normally meet,” said Dana Honen, a participant from the Jewish ORT Binyamina High School. “The experience definitely changed my views. I understood that it’s possible to talk to them, and that it’s fun to break down prejudice we have against them.”

After about two months, all the participants meet at the Peres Center, where they take leadership classes and work on joint projects. At the end of the year, the participants prepare a final event, such as a joint sports day or a cooking workshop in which Jewish students make Arab food and Arabs prepare Jewish food.

“I think it’s a very important program, because peace begins with the young generation, and from them it can spread out to everywhere in the country,” said Zoabi.

Not everyone welcomes this sort of program, though. Honen said that she got both supporting and disapproving reactions. “My father was afraid at first and worried for me, but my mother was supportive,” she recalled. “People don’t like to change their views. [But] they would [have[ change[d] them had they participated in the program.”

Duvdevani said that the Peres Center is working with the Israeli Ministry of Education to make the program national, and incorporate it into all Israeli schools. “We believe this could be a game changer for the Israeli society,” she told Tazpit.

The effort to nationalize the program is being led by Shimon Peres himself.

“To achieve real coexistence we need to bring science to everyone — Jews and Arabs,” said Peres. “The young generation is our future, and we should join hands with the government to get more Jewish and Arab students to meet together using advanced technology. Together we’ll make Israel a better place.”

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