Dear Encompass trustees,

My name is Rotem Kliger, and I am a 23 year old from Haifa, Israel. In the UK in 2016, and again this year in Cyprus, I have been privileged to take part in Encompass Trust’s Journey of Understanding (JoU) programme. All of my life I was living in a ‘mixed city’, but until Encompass came into my life, I never knew any citizen or resident who was Arab or Palestinian. In order to explain the deep change that was created in me following the Journey, I would like to open this letter with a quote from a WhatsApp conversation.

‘In another world we would have been lying on Haifa beach celebrating my birthday with wine in our hands and the sun on our faces. But our friendship is proof that one day we will be able to do that (in a legal way!). I love you so much Rotem. Thank you for a life long friendship that will continue to grow, with more memories to make.’

This conversation is one of dozens between myself and Rawan – a Palestinian from Nablus – who, thanks to Encompass’ programme, became my very close friend. In this letter I will tell you about the project I have created following the Journey, but it was important to me to open it on the friendship between Rawan and myself, so I can show you how the change in my life is not only about projects, but is also a change to my consciousness.

When I first came back from my JoU, after an initial, intense encounter with Palestinians – I was shocked. I felt that the basis on which my political views had been shaped was simply wrong. I did not know what to do with all of the information, thoughts and emotions that overwhelmed me, but I knew I had to do something. So I spoke. I told family, friends, acquaintances, anybody who would listen. But it was not enough.

So I started writing. With the help of Yair, one of the facilitators on my JoU and Encompass’ representative in Israel, I created a short booklet that contained texts and general information about Palestinian society. I sent it to as many people as possible.

At this point I decided to go and meet Rawan. I had never visited the Occupied Territories before, and even though I had managed to break down so many of my prejudices, I was still scared. During the trip I felt my stomach turning. What if on the way there someone hurled stones at me, or shot me? But I got there safely. We met at Mount Gerizim, in the Samaritan village. We toured the area, talked for hours, and dreamt together about the day when we could meet without having to fear, or to hide.

When I returned to Haifa I realised I must expand the circle of partners in this journey I was on. I talked to the Scouts movement – the biggest youth movement in Israel, where I was educated and have worked. After dozens of phone calls, meetings, writing content, structuring activities and choosing guides, I created, with the Scouts movement, the ‘Coexistence in Haifa Seminar’. I am proud and excited to tell you that this year we carried out the seminar, and it was attended by more than twenty seventeen year-old participants. They got to know Palestinian culture, expanded their knowledge, asked questions, and challenged the narrative that they have been breathing since the day they were born.

Among others, participants met a Palestinian actress and a Jewish director who work together in theatre. This actress told them about her personal experience as a Palestinian Israeli – about how she experienced difficult security checks with her four year-old boy before boarding a flight, about her reactions when she met Jewish students in college for the first time, and about how theatre brought them all together. Additionally, we delivered activities on the topics ‘Can Israel be both Jewish and democratic?’, ‘What was omitted from the Israeli narrative?’ and many more…

The seminar was a great start – but it is only the beginning. In the next year I plan to study in depth about co-creating seminars, and create another seminar with the Scouts movement. This time there will be a bigger group of participants, and we will have dialogue meetings of Palestinian and Jewish groups of the same age.

The seminar, this social action, and actually my personal life – would not be the same if not for Encompass. You are the direct cause of me formulating my own vision, and working to act on it. It is hard for me to describe how thankful I am to you for that. I know that you lost your son in the Bali bombing. Different people deal with loss in different ways – and yours is inspiring to me. You are raising dozens of young people in Israel and Palestine who are fighting to change the reality we live in, who are acting and thinking together, and who care.

Thank you for changing my life.