I am finally settled in Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem. In the camps you can see poverty and the poorest living conditions in the town, but living in the camp builds a sense of community with those I will be working with.

Last week I arrived safely in Tel Aviv, Israel and traveled from there to Jerusalem and to the checkpoint for Bethlehem. The checkpoint was no problem for me as an American, I breezed right through after they called for all tourists to come forward. Many Palestinians had to wait, who knows how long. As a tourist I have more access to their land than they do. I wanted to wait along side them in solidarity until they too gained entry, but I kept walking through the terminal not acting upon this guilt. I made it finally to my destination Bethlehem, Palestine in Dheishah refugee camp where I stayed temporarily in their guest house. I met with directors from Al-Rowwad(http://alrowwad.virtualactivism.net/) in Aida refugee camp shortly after recovering from the 7 hour difference and jet lag. This is where I’ll be living for three months in their guest house with three women from France (not only will I be learning Arabic, but I will able to speak French, a skill that has not been used in years). It is exciting to finally be settled and begin work today! Al-Rowwad is a theatre training and educational center for children living in the refugee camp. They are developing a forum theatre program to be launched in the upcoming year. Similarily, BuildaBridge successfully piloted a drama program in Philadelphia over the summer called “Act Out for Peace”, forum theatre based on the Theatre of the Oppressed and teachings of Augusto Boal. Youth in Philadelphia gained skills in non-violent resistance and the ability to deal and cope with violence through peaceful means. Al-Rowwad will do similar programming to deal with life as a child in a Palestinian refugee camp developing ways for children to resist the oppression of their situation through peaceful methods. Life in the camp is difficult, over seventy percent of people are unemployed and the majority of those living in the camps are under the age of 18. It is crowded. Since 1948 people have been living here, unable to expand in borders, but only build upwards, one house on top of the other.

While the exact details are still being discussed, during my time in Palestine I will be helping with the drama program in the center. Drama is a safe forum for the children of the camp to express themselves and it also gives another face to nonviolent resistance in the West Bank. They call it “Beautiful Resistance”, if change is to be achieved it must start with the children.

BuildaBridge readers will be kept informed of the Beautiful Resistance I am taking part in and my direct work with refugee children in Bethlehem.