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Project: Leadership in a multicultural society
The rationale
The organization sees in the young pupils a target population for experiencing joint meetings, so that afterwards they will be ambassadors and promote the idea of coexistence in their schools and in the community.
A group of pupils (accompanied by their teachers and parents) which has been participating in the project for the past two or three years is undergoing a process of change due to the very fact of the intensive meetings with 'the other', via a program which provides tools for leadership.
The activity of the pupils is backed and supported by the teachers. The teachers, with the help of the professional staff of the organization, learn to gain insights and tools from this activity.
The parents are also a significant sector and a permanent element in the program of the project. Parents who have experienced a positive meeting with members of the other culture can provide positive support for their children, for the school staff, for the teachers, and for the administration.
The project aims at instilling the idea of the coexistence of Jews and Arabs in the school and in the community, and at offering a positive model from their experience. A New Way works in such a way that after a reasonable time the school will be able to ensure continuation of the project on its own and the organization will gradually reduce the extent of its involvement. The training of young pupils for leadership will help the school to ensure continuity and to work independently in the future.
Aims
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The pupils will gain a basic knowledge about the characteristics of both cultures: art, customs, behavioral codes, and ways of life.
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The pupils will develop tools for leading and directing an intercultural dialogue in their own surroundings (equal members in a multicultural team, the process of reaching decisions, planning and realizing group aims).
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The pupils and teachers will be able to promote initiatives for various forms of cooperation, educational or other, between the schools, beyond those of our project.
Summary of activity
The project is based on meetings between two classes, one from a Jewish and one from an Arab school, with eight meetings in a year over a period of two or three years. At meetings based on drama, music, art, and sport the pupils acquire abilities of leadership as well as cultural and social abilities such as respect for the other, friendship, and openness. The project is run in the two languages, in mixed groups and by two leaders, one Jewish and one Arab, who have had training by A New Way for work with mixed groups.
Every year there are the following activities:
- Unicultural meetings for the pupils, preparation and matching expectations
- Unicultural workshops for the staffrooms at each school
- Eight joint meetings for the schools (seven meetings at the schools and one meeting in the form of a nature workshop out-of-doors, with challenges aiming at bonding and leadership
- A meeting of pupils and parents (evening)
- A workshop and a meeting of the staffrooms at both schools
- A unicultural meeting for feedback and questionnaires
Pupils' meetings
These are held in the mornings and last for about three hours. They are held at the schools, each hosting the meetings in turn. The activities are held in small groups of about 17 pupils.
Once a year a bonding activity is held outside the schools: an outdoor workshop to develop a team spirit, trust, and leadership. Towards the end of the project the pupils will gain experience in independent activity and planning a development which aims to help the community.
Parents' meetings
A parents' meeting is held once a year, consisting of a workshop for getting to know each other and the other's culture, while the pupils work separately with instructors of the organization. The evening ends with joint activity for both parents and pupils.
Teachers' meetings
An introductory meeting: At the beginning of each project there is a meeting with each staffroom to present the aims of the project and the working methods, in order to get the team ready for joint action and to give support to the teachers and pupils.
Unicultural workshop for the staffrooms: A dialogue between groups on the coexistence of Jews and Arabs in Israel.
Meetings of the staffrooms: from the two schools to get to know each other and thoughts on possible ways of cooperation
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