FWCC Africa News
In November 2005, Moses Musonga, Executive Secretary of FWCC- Africa Section visited Palestine, and the Friends School in Ramallah. It was a wonderful opportunity to get to know Palestinians and also to see the work that Friends are doing in a violence prone location, both in terms of providing top class education to students and peace work.
A programme has been set in place in Palestine by the World Council of Churches to place international volunteers in trouble spots within Palestine and Israel to act as a deterrent against violence towards villagers and to be an active witness for peace and the non-violent struggle against injustice. It's called the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI).
Many Friends have taken part in this programme. A total of 217 volunteers,
referred to as Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs), have participated from
more than 30 churches and ecumenical partners in 13 countries: Canada,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, South
Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.
Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs) are placed in communities or with local
partner organizations within the West Bank, Gaza or Israel. They may
help at border crossings to ensure villagers, farmers etc are not harassed
by soldiers, they accompany children to school to prevent stone throwing
and harassment from settlers, provide health services to those who
would have difficulty accessing them otherwise, accompany ambulances
through security checks, provide services in refugee camps, accompany
refugees returning home and support those within the Israeli peace
movement who have found themselves marginalized within their own society.
FWCC- Africa Section feels it would be helpful for more Africans, especially those who have learned from similar experiences of violence in their own countries, to assist the people of Palestine and Israel in this way.
Zarefeh and one of her children. She has the unfortunate circumstance of living on the "wrong" side of the fence. She must deal with the whims of solders every morning to get her children to school inside Jayyous.