JAI Olive Tree Campaign - Keep Hope Alive

Last Updated (Tuesday, 01 June 2021 12:53)

In support and solidarity with the Palestinian farmers, 200,000 olive trees were sponsored and planted in the last 20 years.

In 2022 we Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Olive Tree Campaign, by targeting 40,000 olive trees more.

The East Jerusalem YMCA and YWCA of Palestine Joint Advocacy Initiative (JAI) invites you to join our celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Keep Hope Alive (KHA) - Olive Tree Campaign (OTC).

Over the past 20 years the OTC helped some 15,000 Palestinian households in many of the Palestinian villages with some 200,000 olive trees that were sponsored by friends and partners from all over the globe. This was a great sign of support and solidarity with the Palestinian farmers that helped them maintain their lands , and earn living. It remarkably enhanced their resilience and steadfastness and kept their hope for a better future alive

The OTC has been growing since then. The Campaign started with 2,000 olive trees in 2002 and kept growing by time. More partners from different countries are now engaged in promoting the Campaign. Some 70,000 people have already sponsored trees and develop a type of connection with the Palestinian land and a commitment to promote just peace.

The olive tree was always seen as tool of solidarity, support, lobbying and advocacy. In many cases, It helped reach policy makers to bring about a change in people’s life and to contribute to ending the Israeli violations and the oppression of the Palestinian farmers and people under the Israeli occupation.

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ICF staff and ICF alumni in the Philippines attended Youth Peace Summit

Last Updated (Friday, 28 May 2021 13:28)

ICF Staffs and some ICF alumni in the Philippines attended the 1st National Ecumenical Youth Gathering for Peace with the theme: "The Peace We Want: Life and Dignity for All". The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) organized the summit on May 22-23, 2021 thru zoom. More than a hundred participants from different faiths attended the said activity.

The summit aimed to gather young people to mainstream the call and work for a just peace and the resumption of the peace talks. It also sought to listen to the youth’s perspectives and insights on the national issues that are specifically relevant to peace and conflict transformation. Another objective was to put human dignity in the center of the discourse for a just peace. Lastly, it challenged the youth to respond pro-actively to the call of the times through a sustained though loose network formation of young peace advocates geared towards sustained peace initiatives.

Pastor Carlton James Palm was the keynote speaker. He explained the reasons for the need to pursue the peace talks. After his presentation, a conversation followed on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic with Kabataan Party List Congresswoman Sarah Elago and Dr. Joshua San Pedro of the Council for Health and Development. Professor Francis Alvarez Gealogo, a historian from Ateneo de Manila University discussed the history of peace talks and the role of churches in the peace process.

Read more: ICF staff and ICF alumni in the Philippines attended Youth Peace Summit

ICF Program Committee held its Third Meeting on May 21st

Last Updated (Friday, 28 May 2021 13:24)

On May 21st the ICF Committee members met virtually for the third time this year. In attendance were the following members and alternates: Biplob Rangsa from Bangladesh, Cicilia Jambuani from Indonesia, and Mohammad Ayatullah Rahaman from Nepal. Dunhill Angelo Maraya and Dory Dotusme attended as alternate members from the Philippines. Also, present were the ICF Staff as well as APAY’s Executive Secretary Sunita Suna.

Read more: ICF Program Committee held its Third Meeting on May 21st

Manifesto for Life and Dialogue

YMCA Colombia

The Young Men's Christian Association of Colombia, a movement of volunteer and global character, promoter of life, peace and solidarity, educator of individuals who live and feel citizenship, concerned about the future of our country; rejects all acts of abuse, mistreatment, and excess of force on the part of those who hold power and those who incite all acts of violence. We publicly express our support for the youth who have taken the streets to protest against injustice, by restating that:

Participation, as a constitutional principle, a fundamental right, a civic duty, and a fundamental aspect is the basis for the construction of citizenship, all of it committed to the development of an entire country.

Young people have been the promoters of great changes in the country through their artistic and cultural manifestations, which have changed the social dynamics of Colombia.

- The mobilizations that are currently being called by civil society in the midst of the pandemic are a reflection of generalized nonconformity, a product of social inequality.

- The social and economic crisis in which Colombia is going through has led citizens, mostly young people, to express their disagreement by taking action, and the duty of the state is to accompany said processes of social mobilization and guarantee its development.

- These protests are the response to their unfulfilled needs, youth unemployment, and lack of opportunities that have called for the development of peaceful manifests promoted in their territories.

- The acts of violence perpetrated by the different actors only lead to more violence, violence that for more than 50 years has traced a history of sadness and hatred in Colombian families.

Read more: Manifesto for Life and Dialogue