Omar Hawajri - My Blog

It seems long days I didn’t have free time to write something. I know I have to write periodically to share my great experiences, ideas and knowledge with all of you. So that .Today, I’m writing to you to let you know about my latest great experience. This experience it’s not like any experience I have gained. I believe this experience was an exceptional opportunity for me to inspire others and to be inspired. This experience was with YOUTH FOR CHANG.

Recently, in December 2011, I got the official invitation to get involved in the Conference of Arab World Is Changing. Conducted in the Hellene Palestine Hotel in Alexandria. This conference was under the umbrella of the Bibliotheca Alexandria and Arab Reform Initiative, aims at addressing the current regional challenges affecting the Arabs communities in the MENA in particular after the Arabs’ Spring .In addition, to raise the awareness of the young leaders about the current difficult issues in the Middle East such as the democratic revolutions, regional cooperation, mutual understanding, peace and development. Also the conference was aiming to support the Arab’s youth with the tools, skills and knowledge to develop their local communities and foster the economic, social and culture exchange with the young people form different background.

Therefore, through the conference I got benefits in developing network of individuals and organizations in the Arab civic communities. Also I gained regional experience while I’m sharing ideas and knowledge with other young leaders.  This conference truly gives me a unique opportunity to demonstrate my skills and knowledge in the panel discussions with regional guest speakers and participants. Moreover, through my  active  participation in this conference I  developed a partnerships , built a community of relationships based on respect and caring  with activist leaders  from Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Tunisia, Morocco ,Sudan ,Kuwait  ,Libya and Yemen  , so we had been exchanged the culture of leadership and  change with each others.

On the other hand, I attended the YCF Phase III Conference Meeting; this meeting was aiming to give the youth winners the opportunities to present their inspiring projects, and to help them to developing their skills and tools to managing their projects in a professional manner. To this aim, YFC team was doing their extra-efforts through engaging the youth in different panel discussions, training and culture evening, to inspire them to be active role models in their communities, who have the strong desire and social responsibility towards positive change, in order to make difference and to be agent of change. Besides, their efforts to provide small - grants to support implementing youth’s initiatives in their communities.

The “Youth for Change” program aims at inspiring, informing and involving Arab’s Youth to be Agents of Change in their communities. The phase II of this program focuses on the theme: Global Youth Culture and Participation, and was launched in December 2009, through a partnership between TakingITGlobal and Bibliotheca Alexandria with local organizations.  And Phase III of this program focuses on the theme: Take Action, Dialogue and Mutual understanding, were launched in 2010 and 2011. The program also aims at encouraging cross-culture dialogue and supporting youth –led development through local projects in 14 priority countries: Algeria, Jordan, Palestine, Yemen, Tunisia, Sudan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

Finally, I express my pleasure and greeting, and highly appreciate YFC Team efforts, in particular Ms. Tala Nabulsi, the YFC Arab Engagement Coordinator. To give me this experience to be the Agent of Change in my local communities.

By. Omar Hawajri

In the Memoriam

Rachel Corrie   (1979- 2003)  An American hero

She was an American citizen with a Palestinian blood

Today 16, March 2011, marks the 8^thanniversary of the tragedy killing of Ms, Rachel Corrie , she killed by Israeli caterpillar D9 bulldozer, she killed while she defining a Palestinian home from demolition in Rafah , Gaza strip in March 2003. According to other activists how were with her, Rachel Climbed up on the Bulldozer to talk with Israeli operator and she was in a dialogue with the him as a trial to stop demolishing this home and then she climbed down and sat in front of the caterpillar, suddenly the operator in control of a huge machine drove her, then he backed up and ran over her again and again. Rachel Corrie was an American member of International Solidarity Movement (ISM ) with many of different peace activist who dedicated themselves to defining the Palestinian people from the recurrent Israeli attacks and to stop the daily killing and demolishing of Palestinians homes by the Israeli Defense Forces in Gaza Strip.

The American Zionist media never berated any words and the Israeli promised to carry out a complete transparent investigation and autopsy for her to discover the causes of her killing, but unfortunately, the Israeli investigation showed that she put herself under the bulldozer and the Israeli operator, a Russian Immigrate to Israeli, said he never saw her or even heard her because the limited space in the bulldozer he have to see. Also the Israelis blamed the International Solidarity Movement that they took the activist in the killing zone and pushed them in dangerous actions .and the Israeli stated that the death was due to the restricted angle of view of caterpillar drive while the ISM eyewitness activist said :( there was nothing to obscure the drive’s view) .however, She shouted in megaphone and she was wearing orange floursent jacket

Rachel Corrie ,a 23  an American  young woman years old  ,she was born on April ,1979 and raised in Olympia ,Washington .USA, she was the youngest of 3 children of Craig Corrie. She was a student of the Evergreen State College and she took one year off  from  her studies  to join the protesters of ISM in Gaza Strip ,she initiated a “City Sister ” a project between Olympia and Rafah, and also she organized a Pen-Pal program between  kids of Rafah and Olympia, Rachel sent her mother a series of e-email while she was in Gaza and later it published on a memorial book entitled “ Let Me Stand Alone” .In addition ,she wrote to her mother :” The vast majority of Palestinian right now ,as far as I can tell, are engaged in Gandhian nonviolent resistance “ her letters later formed the basis of theater play “My Name Is Rachel Corrie”.

Corrie’s death spared controversy and led to international media coverage, in part of she was an American and in other part of the conflict itself. So, Immediately the International Amnesty USA called to suspend the transfer of American bulldozer to the Israeli Army. Then  the  Palestinian people have been expressing their condolence throughout the memorial events, and we still tagging the graffiti and posters with this “she was an American citizen with Palestinian blood” and we still never forget her forever as well as the a group of Rahcel Corrie with many peace makers has been conducted a memorial event in Gaza with posters and graffiti showed her heroic actions towards peace and humanity and she will remembered by Palestinian people and all freedom fighter  and peacemakers around the world

By, Omar Hawajri

Social activist and peacemaker

Palestine, Gaza Strip