NSWAS Memo

Date: February 11, 2011
To: English 1311 Students
From: Monica Ferguson
RE: Neve Shalom/ Wahat al-Salam

Many of us are unaware of the constant political and humanitarian battles currently existing in Israel and Palestine.  Due to the region's cultural intolerance, security barriers and road blocks have sealed off many Palestinian villages, consequently preventing these villagers from receiving any medical care or even schooling for their children.  In some remote locations, unemployment is a common problem because the villagers are unable to cross the barriers to get to work or find jobs. The result of such obstacles is extreme need and poverty.  


Although realistically aware of the existing conflicts in Israel and Palestine, the organization Neve Shalom/ Wahat al-Salam aims to make a difference in as many lives as possible.  The name Neve Shalom/ Wahat al- Salam means Oasis of Peace in Arab and Hebrew and the title itself describes the objective of this organization; to provide an efficient, though small, peaceful retreat in an area plagued with turmoil and despair.  Located right in between Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv, NSWAS is a village that houses over 50 Jewish and Palestinian families. The primary focus of NSWAS is to educate its residents and promote tolerance between the Palestinian and Jewish cultures. By having these two nationalities living among one another, the residents are able to get an understanding of people they had been raised to believed were their enemies.  NSWAS provides different programs, such as The School for Peace, Children's Educational System, The Pluralistic Spiritual Center and a Youth Club as a means to assemble and educate Palestinians and Jews. In addition to their educational work in the community, NSWAS recognizes the importance of medical relief. The organization has raised funds to provide medicine and food to those in need, particularly to Palestinian villagers affected by the conflict.  Many of the organization's residents, along with doctors and medical staff, volunteer to provide medical assistance by distributing medication and holding medical treatment days in local towns and villages.  


Neve Shalom/ Wahat al-Salam depends on help from volunteers as well as material and monetary donations.  Their website provides information on how to become a donor or visitor, and an application to become a volunteer; as NSWAS would not be able to continue its endeavors without the support of others.  In addition to details on how to help, the website gives a full description of each of the programs and schools, background on the community, and information on humanitarian aid.  There are also numerous articles, photo albums and videos showing the progress of the organization's work, a link to "friend" them on Facebook, and even a Twitter feed with recent news updates.  Additionally, the page includes contact and booking information for perspective guests of the Neve Shalom/ Wahat al-Salam along with the ameninities provided. Visitors are invited to stay at the NSWAS Hotel and enjoy the facility's pool, restaurant, and cafe, and are encouraged to participate in any activities that the village has to offer. The Visitor's Center has a variety of workshops, lectures, discussions, and activities available to any guests interested in learning more about NSWAS.

The documentary about the Central Asia Institute titled Building Peace was an inspiring film that described how the founder Greg Mortenson started the school and explained his goals in building it. The founder believes that in order to combat terrorism and hatred, the people of these communities must be educated, particularly the girls. The film introduced the idea of educating females, and how Mortenson was able to achieve this. The importance of education was focused on throughout the film, and the narrator at one point explained how significant education is for girls, at least up until the fifth grade level.  The documentary raises awareness of the lack of schools for girls in the middle east and the failure of the culture to identify the need for females to be educated. 

The film was enlightening in the fact that as Americans, we become so engrossed in our daily lives that we tend to forget about the people struggling just to survive in so many non-industrialized countries. Here in America, students tend to take education for granted. Growing up, I often pretended to be sick so I wouldn't have to go to shool, and then started ditching in high school. The children in the film clearly had the desire to attend classes, even though the elements were against them. I found Mortenson's selflessness inspiring because he did something that so many people are unwilling to do, regardless of the cost. Mortenson recognized the children's devotion to receiving an education and felt that they deserved better access to the tools necessary for learning. He is now making a colossal impact on their futures.

Peace

The word peace brings to my mind a picture of myself in a hot tub with a glass of wine and a cigarette. I think of peace of mind, being stress and worry free. Peace means my roommate's psychotic kids aren't running around the house arguing over what to watch on tv or fighting for attention.  To me, peace is quiet solitude that lasts for more than just a few moments. Peace is no texts from my sister asking to borrow money, and no hour long phone calls from my grandmother giving me the play by plays of her fascinating day.  It's waking up to an empty house on a saturday morning with no errands to run and nothing to do but relax and enjoy life. It's doing what I want to do when and where I want to do it, and no one else having a say in it. Peace is inner calm and serenity, feeling as if I don't have a care in the world. Peace can be elusive, a concept that must not be taken for granted becuase it is often so hard to come by. Our lives are a constant hustle between work and school, family and friends, many of us don't have the luxury of spending any time alone.