For probably the first time in living memory, the whole world is focusing on the same threat and, with this, facing similar restrictions and lockdowns. While the severity and implications of these restrictions differs from community to community and individual to individual, we are all having to learn to connect and communicate in new ways. We’ll be sharing the lockdown experiences of our team members and alumnus to learn from each other and digitally connect over the next few months.

Our first diary entry is from Palestinian Encompass alumni Kussay:

“Lockdowns are nothing new for Palestinians. The reason behind them though is. We have endured lockdowns/curfews for many decades. We have learned to see the silver lining in them though, as it is a chance to reconnect with our family and slow down enough to appreciate them, our community and our blessings.

In the Covid-29 lockdowns, as in previous politically motivated lockdowns, family relations have strengthened, and regained its priority in our lives.

However, with the Covid lockdowns, we are fortunate enough to have the advantages of modern telecommunication technologies and social media, to connect with family and friends who aren’t in our immediate vicinity, allowing the far friends to be close again, and social relations to be maintained as they were before lockdown.

We didn’t have those communication advantages in previous lockdowns. For example, in the early 2000’s, when the country faced never-ending curfews, reaching out to close relatives and friends was impossible. If you tried going through checkpoints, you were forced to go back. Leaving us no choice but cross through the hills, over mountains and take bypass routes and shortcuts to reach them our loved ones. At that time, few people had landline phones, so those who did offered to let others in their community call to check-up on family in other Palestinian cities, especially when news came of bombings or severe incursions.

Linking that to the lockdown during Covid-19, we Palestinians can relate to it and live with it perhaps easier than most, as these lockdowns don’t involve raids, arrests, assassinations or bombing during the night. Instead, it is for once for our own benefit; a preventive health measure. A knock on door is not to search your home or make arrests this lockdown. Instead, it’s probably health services contacting you for Covid-19 testing or tracing.

This year has prevented us from attending many Encompass events, like the IntraPal meetings and this year’s JoU, and the many other related activities the alumni are involved in. I really miss the face-to-face communication/ dialogue activities. We tried on-line discussions, but they just weren’t the same, as we didn’t have a chance to meet everyone personally yet. Even our usual community service projects had to be postponed. So, for most of us, we fill our time with rest, from the worries of the world, and start being productive in our own homes or smaller communities.

To conclude about the lockdown in Palestine, we Palestinians (like most other communities) have kept our social distancing and other healthy measures, trusting one another to have each others health and best interests in mind before going out to visit or receive guests. We hope that soon the risk of infection will go away and that the hospitality that Palestinians are famous for, will be able to practiced again, visiting our family, friends and neighbors for special occasions or just for a cup of tea to catch-up on what is going on in their lives.

Although we have appreciated the ability to keep in touch through technology and social media, and to help us survive these difficult times, we still miss the intimacy of face-to-face discussions, and we really miss our Encompass programs.”