Group 31: April to June 2009

 

FINLAND

Anna (27)

Anna has a BA in journalism and media from the Turku Diaconia University of Applied Sciences. She has attended a programme between her university in Finland and Bethlehem university several times. She taught media skills to Palestinian students and made short documentaries with them. Anna has been working as a journalist in the region several times and has also lived in Bethlehem for six months. Her passion for the Middle East is endless and she finds the EA work very important and rewarding. This is Anna's second term as an EA.

Anna has been placed in Hebron.

GERMANY

Johanna S (53)

Johanna holds a Masters degree in Middle East Archaeology, Cuneiform Letters and Islamic Studies. She was always interested in the Middle East conflict and its developments and now wants to contribute with her share to support the Palestinian people and in doing advocacy work back home in Germany.

Johanna has been placed in Tulkarem.

 

Leila (26)

Leila holds a Masters degree in Catholic Theology and Adult Education. After her stay in Palestine she will work as a pastoral assistant in Switzerland. She joined the EAPPI because she wants to learn more about the situation of people living under occupation. As her father originally came from a Palestinian town in Israel she feels connected with the people in Israel and Palestine.

Leila has been placed in Jayyous.

 

IRELAND

Joe (31)

Joe is a Policy Officer with an immigrant rights NGO in Dublin. He has a Masters in Ethnic and Racial Studies from Trinity College Dublin. Joe has been involved in developing interfaith relations between Catholic and Muslim communities in Dublin. He has been published on the issue of institutional racism in the Irish education system and has with Crosscare Migrant Project completed a comprehensive critique of the Irish immigration system.
Joe has been placed in Bethlehem.

 

Josephine (60)

Josephine has recently retired from her role as head teacher in a school in London. She has been a head teacher since 1979. She is a Catholic religious sister and she is Irish, although she has lived most of her life in the UK. She decided to apply to participate in the programme after she heard a previous EA, Mary Clarke, speak of her experiences.

Josephine has been placed in Jerusalem.

 

Phelie (25)

Phelie holds a degree in History from Trinity College Dublin, and is currently finishing his Master in International Security and Conflict Studies in Dublin City University. Phelie completed a five month internship in Brussels last February in the European Parliament with the European Socialist Party (PSE) following the work on the Committee on Constitutional Affairs. Phelie is also a current member of the Irish Senior Men’s Hockey team. Having studied the conflict in university he felt the need to experience the situation on the ground first hand.

Phelie has been placed in Hebron.

 

NORWAY

Camilla B (26)

Camilla has a BA in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Bergen and an MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. She has spent one year in Cairo studying Arabic and has also lived in the United Arab Emirates. After graduating she worked for a while in London as an editor for an online news service with a Middle East focus. After having studied the situation in Israel and Palestine for several years, she decided it was time to come and see what life is like for the people who live here, and to use her academic skills in a meaningful way.

Camilla has been placed in Bethlehem.

 

Camilla M (30)

Camilla is born and raised in Oslo. She holds a Masters in Resource and Development Economics, as well as a degree in journalism. She has been working as a teacher, a journalist and a communication officer for the last five years.

Camilla has been placed in Tulkarem.

 

SOUTH AFRICA

Deborah (36)

Deborah has studied liberation and feminist theology and is currently focusing on interfaith spirituality. She is an Anglican priest and mother of 4 and resides in Durban, South Africa.

Deborah has been placed in Bethlehem.

 

Simphiwe (26)

Simphiwe originates from Umtata, South Africa and is currently living in Cape Town. His interest in the EAPPI developed from interactions with the Muslim and Jewish communities of Cape Town and the different personal stories that the members of these communities told of people they knew who were living in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Having followed the story of Palestine and Israel on and off for many years through traditional media sources, he became exposed to former EAs and their advocacy work which created a deeper awareness of the social impact of the occupation which he felt was not being depicted to its fullest extent in the media. Fuelled by a natural interest in the development of societies in the modern global context, a Christian background and a desire to assist those affected by the occupation, Simphiwe hopes to engage all sides involved in the current situation and take their stories of the social impact of the occupation to the international community.  

Simphiwe has been placed in Hebron.

 

Vuyani (30)

Vuyani was born in Gopane in the North West Province of South Africa next to Zeerust town. He is a university graduate in Business Studies. Since his days in the university he has been involved in the ecumenical movement serving in various capacities, nationally and internationally. He has been a national coordinator of the Student Christian Movement in South Africa. He has also been involved with the NGO called South Africa Civil Society Election Observation (SACSEC). Their role was to ensure a credible electioneering in South Africa through free and fair practice. He has been serving as the chairperson of the South African Council of Churches Youth Forum which is the youth wing of SACC in South Africa. As a second time EA, he has come to reaffirm his support for the persuit of Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict through non violent means. 

Vuyani has been placed in Jerusalem.

 

SWEDEN

Elaine (29)

Elaine holds a Masters degree in Political Science, Theology and Spanish from the University of Uppsala, Sweden. Since her graduation in 2005, she has worked mainly with adult education, among other things teaching about similarities between Judaism, Christianity and Islam in a project called "The Children of Abraham". 

Elaine has been placed in Yanoun.

 

Jamie (26)

Jamie has a Bachelor degree of Social Science focusing on Migration and Language from Malmö University. Currently he works part-time for the media company Nexusifc.com. Seeking a way to further his knowledge of Israel-Palestine, he visited the EAPPI in 2007 and found the principles most appealing. He hopes to learn about reconciliation initiatives in the Middle East as well as the region’s history, languages, arts and cultures.

Jamie has been placed in Jayyous.

 

Jonas (28)

Jonas holds a Master in Law and a Master in Eurasian studies with focus on Constitutional law and Islamic legal culture. He has been a trainee at the Embassy of Sweden in the United Arab Emirates and has studied Arabic at the University of Damascus. Prior to joining the EAPPI Jonas has worked with development aid projects for the Palestine Solidarity Association of Sweden. Jonas has undergone additional training as a Civilian Observer at the Folke Bernadotte Academy in Sweden.
Jonas has been placed in Bethlehem.

 

Lars-Gunnar (58)

Lars-Gunnar has been placed in Jerusalem.

 

Lena (55)

Lena has a degree in Law from the University of Lund 1982, studies in administration at the University of Gothenburg and supplementary studies in EU-law. Her professional background is mainly municipal such as within the Planning and Building sector, as a Chief Guardian and within Municipal Audit. Her first visit to the Middle East took place 10 years ago in Israel and Palestine. She considers it a gift to be able to join the EAPPI as an accompanier at this time. Her motivation is to be one of the snowflakes that eventually will break the branch. Lena lives in Vallda, Kungsbacka on the west coast of Sweden and occasionally sings songs of praise and gospel in a small group in her parish.

Lena has been placed in Yanoun.

 

Maria (29)

Maria has a degree in English Cultural Studies with a minor in Migration Studies. She has studied Hebrew, Turkish and Middle Eastern Politics, amongst other things. Maria has worked in Israel and Palestine before. Currently she works at a tourist office in Malmö, Sweden, where she has lived for the past five years. During those years she also travelled and lived abroad for longer periods, in Turkey, the Caribbean and the United States. Maria is interested in the Middle East region in respect to its religions, languages and cultures, and wishes to learn more in all their respects.

Maria has been placed in Tulkarem.

 

Michaela (31)

Michaela holds a BA degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the International Crisis- and Conflict Management Program, Umeå University in Sweden. The program is taught in collaboration with Academy North and the Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA). Michaela has been trained by the SRSA and the Swedish EOD and De-mining Centre (SWEDEC) in humanitarian de-mining and has living and work experience from engaging in a variety of areas internationally. Michaela first came to Palestine in 2002 when she took part in solidarity work and is now continuing her engagement as an ecumenical accompanier in Israel and Palestine.

Michaela has been placed in Jerusalem.

 

SWITZERLAND

Jael (29)

Jael has a degree in special pedagogic from the University of Fribourg (Switzerland). During her studies and in the practical work, she set the focus on accompanying and supporting people with autism. Already some years ago she read the first time about EAPPI. Since then, she has been interested to join the programme. She looks forward to dealing with human rights and the political situation and culture in Palestine/Israel by being on the spot.

Jael has been placed in Jayyous. 

 

Joëlle (26)

Joëlle lives in Lausanne and has a Masters in social sciences. She finished her studies last summer and worked temporarily in the human resources department of a computer company before coming to Israel/Palestine, although she would like to become a social worker or educator when she goes back home. Her interest in the region of Israel/Palestine, its history, political situation and social implications comes from a university class. The EAPPI seemed like a great opportunity for her to be on the ground and give more sense to all that she had learned and read about. She is also eager to live in another cultural environment and, if possible, to learn some Arabic!

Joëlle has been placed in Hebron.

 

UK

Jane (65)

Jane is a consultant in and author of  books about adult education. Having lived in London for many years, she has worked as manager of adult literacy and community education programmes and as teacher trainer of further and higher education lecturers. As trustee of the former World University Service, she has been an evaluation team member with education projects in Sudan and Uganda. Jane has two children and five grandchildren. Now living in Gloucestershire, she is supported in her service with the EAPPI by them and by her Quaker faith and community.

Jane has been placed in Tulkarem.

 

Johanna A (68)

Johanna was a school teacher and then lecturer in History until her retirement which took place after she returned from her first experience as an EA in the winter of 2004-5 when she was placed in Jerusalem. The history of Palestine and Israel has always gripped her, and her stay here made this engagement deeper so that she was happy to return when suddenly asked to do so. She is particularly happy to be placed in Yanoun whose beauty and vulnerability drew her to it on previous short visits.

Johanna has been placed in Yanoun.

 

Peter (69)

Peter is a retired Senior Lecturer in motor vehicle subjects. Career activities include apprenticeship; Rolls Royce and Bentley trained technician; industrial engineer with truck and tractor manufacturer; 30 years lecturing in motor engineering theory and workshop practice and motor trade law – 4 years in Zambia and 3 years in Kenya.

Peter is a lifelong Salvationist and married with two sons. He served two years as an SA pastor and in a wide variety of lay positions. He has also been a member of the ACTS Peace and Justice Commission; Children’s Panel and Victim Support agencies. Peter is currently engaged in prison visitation in conjunction with SACRO/SA and will soon complete training as a Street Pastor.

Peter has been placed in Yanoun.

 

Sharen (63)

Sharen is placed in Jayyous where she hopes to deepen her understanding of how the Separation Barrier and its frequent re-routing are affecting the farmers. A former journalist on a regional daily paper in England, she served as an EA in Tulkarem in 2006 and is delighted to be back. Following graduation in 1968, Sharen spent two years teaching at the University of Jordan where she first came across the Palestine problem.

Sharen has four grown-up children and has abandoned her husband, a much-loved cat and a train trip to Iran to return to Palestine at short notice.

Sharen has been placed in Jayyous.