Inter Campus back in Israel and Palestine

TEL AVIV – Back in the year 2000, Inter president Massimo Moratti met Israeli president Shimon Peres after being asked to organise a peace programme and youth integration project. Peres’ idea was to set up some educational initiatives involving the future generation – children of Israeli, Arabic and Arab-Israeli origin – in computer, music and sports activities.

Looking back now, the only successful initiative was Inter Campus, which brought together four mayors from the two communities in conflict. Unfortunately, the Second Intifada began at the end of that year and Inter Campus had to close down. But only temporarily. Contact and exchanges continued, along with a very keen desire to stay involved, and at the 2009 Inter Campus World Cup something quite incredible happened: along with 18 groups of children representing other countries, a joint Israel-Palestine team took to the field.

Inter Campus picking up from where it left off

From yesterday until 2 December an Inter delegation will be at work on site, and Inter Campus ambassador Francesco Toldo will be joining them on Sunday. The Inter Campus will take place in two areas, firstly in Palestinian communities and secondly in Israeli communities. The first step is a theoretical and practical course for children and coaches in the various communities, ending with a party. Francesco Toldo will be there to celebrate with all the children and give out Inter Campus sportswear. The course for local children and coaches will continue until 2 December.

Besides receiving the usual support from the Peres Center for Peace and its Palestinian counterpart the Al Quds Association for Democracy and Dialogue, the Galilee programme will also be sponsored by NILIT Ltd., which helped bring together the mayors from the two Galilee communities for this project.

Overall, the project draws together 220 children, 12 coaches from five different towns, three communities, two languages and three different religions.

27.11.2010