dialogue 4 the future - Summercamp

2 pics from the trip to vienna

2009-07-25T10:13:00.007+02:00

Im Haus der Musik - Photos: Agnes Ackerl

July, 18th

2009-07-22T22:42:00.005+02:00

Today we have continued with the analyzing of the conflict. Klaus played us a game as a warmup activity for the serious issues. There was a covered box in the corner, with one side blue and the other green. After revealing it from one side of the corner, we could only see one side and when we were asked what colour it was, we said it was green but the other side said it was blue, so we all had to check the other side, that it was not green or blue but both…

Then we started to talk about more serious things with Michael. We continued clarifying the terms about the conflict. Michael tried to talk about the most important issues in this complicated conflict. We also had to consider the definition of our nations.

Then, in the afternoon it was the time for workshops. There were many opportunities to have fun and do exciting and interesting things. We could have a chess workshop with Gábor Ősz, the Yoga workshop with Julia, jewellery-making with Resi, football with Klaus and creative drumming with Rita… Since the weather wasn’t that good all these workshops have been held indoor.

The evening was all about the Austrian team. They prepared us their food, we had some delicious soup and meatballs plus a so called Apfelstrudel for dessert. The night went on with cultural presentation. An Austrian folklore dance team and an old musician came and showed us some national dances, but they also asked us to participate in the dances. It was so great that even those who can’t dance (like me) tried to dance and had a great time! We also played some dance related games so everyone could find the taste of their own. There are some pictures, even though they cannot give back the real feeling of that night…

Chess in the camp

2009-07-20T17:57:00.012+02:00

Chess is one bridge of the dialogue for the future. The chess is an international game. It is not only a game, but also science and art.
When I came to this camp I wanted to see another culture. I believed chess can bridge gaps. Chess does not have ethnical or politics problems. Chess can help to understand the logical problem on the chess table, and can help to learn the strategic and the tactical way of thinking.
When the workshop started I asked if anyone would like to play chess with me. Some students wanted to play, and we made simultan.
Simultan is a special form in playing chess. The chessplayer can play with several opponents at the same time.
I played with them and it was very interesting. When we played time stopped, and Palestinian, Israeli, Austrian and Hungarian students gathered around the players and supported them.
First time I played 16 games and Sagi made remis (draw/patt), and Arthur won of his games.
The second time I played 20 games, but none of the students could win.
The students were very happy, and would like to play with me another time.
This is the way how I can help the dialogue for the future.

Ösz Gabor
Hungarian groupleader

Safa wrote on facebook

2009-07-18T01:03:00.004+02:00

Hey :D how a great time we had in this camp !!! hey guys have fun :) it's the great moments u will have ever :) nice to see the photo to keep in touch :):) wish for u all the best :D

July 15th, 2009. Wednesday

2009-07-17T01:19:00.008+02:00

Today was the second full day when we were together in Rechnitz. The time was beautiful as well as the meal.

After breakfast we continued our session with Manfred. First, we needed to find our personal goals, which we plan to reach in this camp.
Then the four country-teams talked about their team-goals, which are the following:
Palestine: „To make the people from other countries know us as people full of hope and deserve to live.”
Israel: „To have a true meaningful encounter that deals with important matters.”
Austria: „To get to know the cultures and understand the different points of view.”
Hungary: „To feel each other well. Listen to and understand the others and support them.”

We also planned to create the camp’s goal but in the end we were all tired and hungry and the sun was shining bright outside so Manfred said we would finish it tomorrow morning.

After lunch we had some time to rest and in the afternoon we went to the lake where we could do many different activities, for example swimming, special drumming with Rita, chess with Gábor Ősz, yoga with Julia and volleyball with Klaus. I think the drumming must have been heard even from 5 kilometers away.

We had dinner at 7 p.m. (Everybody was really hungry), and in the evening we made a beautiful campfire. Everybody got a stick and some dough so we could do our own bread which tasted like “langos”.
That was a tiring but also a very good day!!!

Getting to know eachother - impressions 3

2009-07-17T00:30:00.005+02:00

Still the secound day:
In the evening we met the major of Rechnitz at a "Buschenschank"
as yo u can see on the photos:

Getting to know eachother - impressions 2

2009-07-16T17:00:00.020+02:00

Tue, July 14 - Getting to know eachother

2009-07-15T12:40:00.032+02:00

We started…
Yesterday we got to know eachother. Now we know the names and a little bit more about all participants. In the morning we started with Manfred Rühl our outdoor-expert.

Some impressions from our indoor – activities to get to know each other:

Some very interesting details about our outdoor - activities in the afternoon:

After the task with Manfred we check our first steps to our goal "dialogue4thefuture".

We all are sure that we are on the right path.

2009-07-13T22:41:00.012+02:00

Everything started with the arriving from the palestinien group at 10 p.m. on Sunday.

After having almost lost their luggage at the airport they came to Rechnitz and went to bed after a little chitchat at 3a.m. (So no surprise that they slept until 11 a.m) After their late breakfast they immediately were- due to the final arrival-of the Israeli Group- forced to lunch.

By the end of their lunch the Hungarian group came on stage and continued.

Klaus and Resi (our camp leaders) showed the groups around the house and the yard, as well as they introduced them to the important role of Rechnitz as the centre of apricots.
But only the lake could draw the attention of the semiconscious group. (the Israeli group literally skipped the sleep of the previous night)

Considering the exhausted condition of the groups it was collectively decided to quit the evening programm and spend- after the well-received presentation of the house and camp rules with playing table soccer, table tennis, hanging around and getting to know each other.

All in all, there are two interesting weeks with lot of exciting challenges ahead of us.

Hello and welcome to our blog!

2009-07-03T10:19:00.012+02:00

The peace camp „dialogue4thefuture“ is about to begin. Just a few final arrangements need to be done and then 2 exciting weeks in one of Austria’s sunniest regions are ahead of us.

We will be staying in the Youth Hostel Rechnitz
from 13th until 26th July 2009.

The participants are coming from Israel, Palestine, Hungary and Austria.

In these 2 very special weeks they will learn about the history of Israel and Palestine and the role of Europe in the conflict in the Middle East. They will share their experiences concerning their history, culture, religion and personal background.

They will get to know each other really well through outdoor activities, interesting workshops (e.g. creative drumming), sitting at campfires at the lake or trips to Vienna and the Alps, having fun together and much more.

Getting interested?! - GREAT!

Read about our last camp two years ago: „dialogue4thefuture“ 2007 - dialogue4thefuture.blogspot.com

If you want to give a donation: „dialogue4thefuture“2009 - download
Diakonie Auslandshilfe
account: 23 13 300, bank code: 60000, PSK
password: Youthcamp