Events & Activities Highlights 2025 Youth Peace Camp Amid ongoing violence, we did not give up on our youth and our annual summer camp this year. We pivoted and took 40 Israeli and Palestinian teenagers to Cyprus for a week of dialogue, cultural exchange, and healing. Removed from the immediate pressures of the conflict, they formed bonds through team building exercises, cooking workshops, and deep, meaningful conversations. The camp became a sanctuary of connection and a testament to the enduring power of shared humanity. This is not just a summer camp. This program provides a safe space for Israeli and Palestinian youth to connect and build a future of hope and reconciliation. It includes hard conversations but also gives them space to just be kids! The teenagers find out in a direct and intimate manner how their peers on the other side of the fence live – their hopes and fears, and what they have in common. For many, this is the only place where they could meet ‘the other side’ in person – not as the enemy, but as a fellow teenager. That’s not to say it’s all simple. All of the participants have endured traumas of war. Many come with high emotional walls, and we work together to bring them down. The program was supported by Peace by Tourism and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Tel Aviv. Usually, the summer camp is held in Israel or Palestine but after the events of October 2023, it was impossible to hold the camp in its usual location. The logistics of moving 20 Israeli and 20 Palestinian children and young adults, along with 30 staff members, to a foreign country were challenging. Program Activities Field Trips and Community Connection Usually, each youth camp is held in a different location in Israel or Palestine, exposing the participants to the history, the narrative and the unique culture of the place. Participants engage in activities in the community they are visiting, while expanding the outreach of the Parents Circle’s activities. Outdoor Training A special ice-breaking activity that relaxes and empowers the participants. Through group games out in the open air, these teenagers merge as a group, their trust strengthens, they work in teams, develop leadership skills and much more. The Colours of Life Game A board game specially designed by the youth programs staff, The Colors of Life aims to forge a “team spirit” and helps participants get better acquainted with one another. The game includes cards with different topics, personal questions, general knowledge questions and group tasks. The game was created with the support of the Spanish organization Irenia, Peace Games. Dialogue Meeting A meeting with two Parents Circle members — one Israeli and one Palestinian — who share their personal bereavement story and their journey to chose reconciliation and dialogue over hatred and revenge. In the discussion afterwards, the teens can ask the members questions, and at the end of the meeting the participants have time for emotional processing of the discussion and experience. At the Beach and Pool Every year, participants also enjoy visiting the swimming pool and the beach. For Palestinian members, it’s an especially exciting and happy experience, since most of them don’t have access to the beach. Manage Cookie Preferences