ecome_first 6 weeks report

8/7/2019 EcoME_first 6 weeks report

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Launching EcoME Centre

A model for social and environmental sustainability across dividesUpdate about the first 6 weeks

Dear friends,

We are happy and excited to share with you this first report about the launching of the EcoME Centre.After 6 weeks at the temporary site in Almog/Jericho junction (mutually accessible to Palestinians andIsraelis) we wish to express our deep gratitude for all the help we have received thus far. We are

astonished how fast our experiment became a place for people to come in contact with each other,with themselves and with the healing power of nature. We are aware that without such wide support,this dream could not come true. Thank you, Toda, Shukran!

Let us celebrate with you some of the things that we managed to do in this short time and for morepictures to tell the story please go to:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Ilana.S.Meallem/EcoMECentreFirst2Months?authkey=Gv1sRgCIfK_7qd0_aK8wE#We gathered local and international support andpartners for the project. In addition to the 5 coregroup members who are the founders of the Centremany people joined in a committed way taking activeroles in building and designing the vision and the placeitself. An inspiring community was establishedbetween people from different countries likeSwitzerland, Germany, France, Italy, USA, Chile andUK. Almost every day we are visited by people whowish to volunteer in EcoME.We are especially happy with the local support forthe project. From the first week we are honored tohost here guests (who later on became real partners ofthe project!) from Jericho, Nablus, Bethlehem, Hebron,Ramallah, Jenin, Kalkylia, Tul Karem and other placesin the West Bank. Almost every night around the firewe experience simple and deep meetings between Israelis and Palestinians who have finally found aplace that feels warm and welcoming allows for spontaneity and does not need necessitate travelpermits or entering areas illegally.

We are building community: Knowing that social sustainability is the base for ecological

sustainability, every day in EcoME starts with a common morning attunement in which we attune ourbodies and minds together for the new day. After this, we are ready for the morning circle in which we

Friends from Bethlehem, Jericho and Tel Aviv

working together


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share the information for the day and divide the work that needs to be done. The meals are anotheropportunity for the group to be supported by the knowledge and wisdom of the circle. Twice a weekthe core group members and the regular residents are gathered for an hour of Forum - a tool for

building trust, transparency and truth in a

committed group, inspired by Tamera communityin Portugal. In order to create a safe and inclusivespace we decided not to enter alcohol, illegalsubstances, meat/fish and weapons to the Centre.We provide practical experience in ecologicalliving. That's why we decided not to be connectedto the electricity grid, and to enjoy the electricitythat we gain from the sun thanks to the loan ofsolar panels from GreenPeace Middle East. Wealso chose not to be connected to the sewage

system and built 4 compost toilets and a compostrecycling system for toilet and kitchen waste. Thewater in our showers and sinks is recycled forirrigation and we are putting efforts into designingand planning the architectural, economic andenvironmental aspects of the place according tothe Permaculture design concepts.

We are bridging between cultures by hosting events and groups: After few weeks of cleaningand building we are now able to host events for up to 200 people with Bedouin tents that can sleep 80

people. More and more groups and organizations contact us in order to enjoy the accessibility andthe message of EcoME. Here are some of the eventsthat we were honored to host or organize in the last 6weeksArava Alumni Social Networking Weekend - Justtwo weeks after arriving at the EcoME site we hostedsome 80 graduates, current students and friends ofthe Arava Institute for Environmental Studies (AIES)for a 2 day gathering. Participants came from JordanIsrael Palestine and abroad to connect, create new

and nurture existing relationships and think of waysthe EcoME Centre can serve the Arava Alumni Peaceand Environmental network (AAPEN). Over 2 daysthe group took part in sharing circles, building/cleanup and arts projects, a New Years Eve celebration, ahike to the Judean Desert and follow up discussions.The event was the outcome of the Alumni meeting inJordan in Nov 2010 also organized by some of theEcoME founders (four of which are AIES alumni).

Inter-Generational Weekend - 60 key professionals and leaders from a variety of age groups andfields (social, political, business, environmental, citizen diplomacy, NGOs etc) were invited to EcoME

Solar panels and explanations in Arabic,Hebrew and English the Centre is designed toalso model environmental sustainability

Eating and networking - the unique location ofEcoME means Israelis and Palestinians can meetwithout necessitating travel permits, of thepassing through humiliation at check points.


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to hear about the project and help guide this unique project in its first steps. Over 2 days the EcoMEcore group shared some of their initial dilemmas and questions and received feedback on the nextsteps. In turn possibilities for future organizational collaboration were discussed and time wasdevoted to quiet and rejuvenation through 2 outdoor desert activities facilitated by the EcoME staff.

Sulha Tribal Fire - more than 120 Palestiniansinternationals and Israelis attended this monthlyevent. This time there wasn't any need for askingfor permits for the Palestinians to come, an oftentiresome and challenging process for the Sulhateam. Over the course of the evening, Palestinian/and Israeli musicians performed together, andthen participants divided into small groups toshare about their lives and the things they wouldlike to change. After the sharing circles, everyone

ate together and enjoyed some fun time by thefire, before closing the event in a huge circle witha common prayer for peace.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Workshop Building Inclusive Community - in addition to a 2days workshop that the residents of EcoME went

through in the issue of Nonviolent communication, wehad the great opportunity to host here more 50Israelis and Palestinians aged 15-60 for a 2.5 daysworkshop. Here they studied new ways ofcommunication that take into account the needs of theother, and find win-win solutions where all needs canbe met. The workshop as facilitated by Roberta Wall,Hagit Lifshitz and Hilia Zedaka and different breakoutsessions focused on using NVC within family andprofessional relations, in Palestinian and IsraeliDialogue and for social change activism. It was a huge

success, and following high demand a secondworkshop is being planned for March 2011.

In addition EcoME has been used by numerousNGOs for meetings, such as the Sulha steeringcommittee, the Wounded Crossing Borders Palestinian uni-lateral meeting, Time is Now jointcommittee meeting, EcoTour debrief, Tich Nat HanMeditation and Peace Research Village intensivetime. We have also several groups from variousbackgrounds sharing the vision of the EcoME Centre,

and the success/lessons of these first weeks

Unique to EcoME, meetings can happen outside underthe warm winter sun, and around a fireplace.

Learning how to use Nonviolent Communicationskills within the context of Israeli =Palestiniandialogue

Change will come from the children we are nowplanning a familys weekend for the beginning ofMarch!


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We are proud to have a safe space for unique meetings between children - the nextgeneration: In addition to Eden, our youngest resident (1.5 yrs. old) and the hearts opener of EcoME,we have been visited by more and more children from the West Bank and from Israel. To see themplaying together, speaking with each other in Hebrew and Arabic gives us hope and a family

weekend is now being planne, where activities will be offered for children, women and men.After the success of the first 6 weeks it is clear now that we will stay at this location at least till mid-May, whilst we continue to research the intricacy of such a unique Centre, clarify the vision, build andstrengthen relationship and partnerships, support the core group process and look for permanentland. We continuously learning the complexity of creating such a project and the deep need it isanswering.

- We welcome all kinds of support; monetary donations can beSupporting the EcoME Centre

sent through the 3 channels detailed below. In addition we are looking for furniture, tables,chairs, sofas, pillows, cloth and wall hangings, blankets, work materials, tools, Solar panels,

batteries, arts supplies and anything that can help make this a warm and cozy Centre. If you

wish to host an event here, come visit or work with us, you are welcome to contact us!

1. Tax deductible contributions less than $5,000 can be sent to the Yesod Foundation with an

attached note clearly stating "EcoME Centre Project". Checks should be made payable to the

Yesod Foundation.

Yesod Foundation

525 Canyon Blvd.Boulder, Colorado 80302

303-444-7575www.yesodfoundation.org

2. Tax deductible contributions above $5,000 can be sent to Friends of the Arava Institute with

an attached note clearly stating "EcoME Centre Project". Checks should be made payable to

the Friends of the Arava Institute.

Friends of the Arava Institute2041 Herr Street, Suite 18 Harrisburg, PA 17103

Tel. 1.866.31.ARAVAwww.friendsofarava.org

3. Donations through paypal www.paypal.com can be sent to [email protected]

For more information please contact:

Ilana Meallem EcoME PR Dept.

[email protected]

Pelephone 050 873 7911 Jawal 059 520 6598

ecome_first 6 weeks report

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