Help put Battir on the map of World Heritage Sites
Bethlehem
August 15 - August 25, 2013
Volunteer project: This project is
connected to the
World Heritage program and the Land of Olives and Vines: Cultural
Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir. The project seeks on the first
place to protect and renovate old Palestinian sites, and in particular,
Battir - an ancient village with wonderful landscape and nature, just
outside the town of Bethlehem, which has been inhabited since the Iron
Age. Battir has a unique irrigation system that utilizes man-made
terraces and a system of manually diverting water via sluice gates. The
old monuments and water canals of Battir date back to thousands of
years, and the landscape resembles the one of the Babylon gardens.
The place has been nominated by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO
to be included in the List of World Heritage Sites and we are inviting a
group of international volunteers to help make this a fact. The project
is organised in cooperation with the Bethlehem Centre for Cultural
Heritage Preservation, Battir Landscape Eco-museum and the Palestinian
Ministry of Tourism.
The work will include the following activities:
- Rehabilitation of old places in Battir, including the very ancient
water canals. This special water system is connected to several natural
water sources.
- Help rebuilding an ancient wall that leads to the very ancient water
well at the edge of the village. This wall will help visitors reach the
water well, which is hoped to become a historical and natural tourist
attraction.
- Working on several locations beside the ancient train railway, which
at the time of the Ottomans Empire was the main line that connected
Turkey to Palestine. The location of the railway is the borderline
between Palestine and Israel.
Language: English
Cultural activities: The afternoons will be used to give volunteers an intercultural learning experience, with a focus on showing them the Palestinian culture within the context of the occupation and hopes for the future. This will involve visits to refugee camps in the area, tours of places of interest, lectures, and most importantly, interaction with the local people. The volunteers will be able to visit different associations and centers where they can watch documentaries about the situation in Palestine and the Middle East. They will also have the opportunity to speak with Palestinian politicians and activists to open the space for finding answers of all the questions they want to ask. The volunteers will also have the opportunity to visit other cities in the West Bank.
Accommodation: The volunteers will be hosted in rented flats in Bethlehem, and will be transported daily by bus to the work location in Battir village.
Location: Battir Village, South Jerusalem, West Bethlehem
Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 250 Euro
The extra fee is intended to support the hosting organization who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival on the project.
Restoration of ancient sites and celebrating Christmas in Bethlehem
Bethlehem
December 22, 2013 - January 1, 2014
Volunteer project: The project seeks to bring people of various cultures together to build bridges of understanding, reconciliation, and peace. The long term goal of the project is to prepare youth to make positive contributions to their future and society through the values of understanding, helping, contributing tolerance, and respectful coexistence. These goals are achieved through education, awareness, youth empowerment and international volunteer projects.
The volunteers will work in different areas in Bethlehem city. The work includes renovation of old sites near the Church of the Nativity and assisting the Bethlehem municipality in preparing for the Christmas season. The activities involve painting the streets, distribution of booklets and flyers to tourists, decorating walls, etc.
The volunteer project will be running at Christmas time, and Bethlehem is the best place to celebrate Christmas in. The volunteers will have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with the Palestinians and express their solidarity with them.
Language: English
Cultural activities: The afternoons will be used to give volunteers an intercultural learning experience, with a focus on showing them the Palestinian culture within the context of the occupation and hopes for the future. This will involve visits to refugee camps in Bethlehem, tours of places of interest, lectures, meeting Palestinian politicians and activists and most importantly, interaction with the local people. The volunteers will be able to visit the different associations and centers in the city where they can watch documentaries about the situation in Palestine and the Middle East. They will also have the opportunity to speak with Palestinian politicians and activists to open the space for finding answers of all the questions they want to ask. The volunteers will also have the opportunity to visit other cities in the West Bank.
Accommodation: The volunteers will be hosted in flats in the city of Bethlehem, near the Manger Square, at a walking distance from the Nativity Church. Men and women stay in separate rooms. The accommodation includes hot water and kitchen with basic equipment.
Location: Bethlehem is considered a central hub of Palestinian cultural and tourism industries. The city has significant value for Christians as it is considered the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth according to the Gospels. Bethlehem is also home to one of the largest Palestinian Christian communities in the Middle East. In addition, Bethlehem has three Palestinian Refugee Camps (Dhisha, Al-Azza and Aaida). The construction of the Israeli apartheid wall has had a severely negative impact on Bethlehem politically, socially, and economically. The wall runs along the northern side of the town's built-up area, within meters of houses in 'A'ida refugee camp on the one side, and Jerusalem on the other.
Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 250 Euro
The extra fee is intended to support the hosting organization who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival on the project.
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