By Margaret Cond – Spain

Coming to Palestine has been such an eye-opening experience. One of the reasons for coming to Palestine was to see for myself what I have heard about the Palestine – Israeli conflict on the ground. I saw the great inequalities between Palestinians and Israelis. It was hard to witness how Israeli soldiers humiliate Palestinians. But it opened my eyes to what actually happens when the world is not looking.

Visiting the refugee camps, Hebron, Bethlehem and nearby villages; seeing the Israeli apartheid Wall; passing through the checkpoints, etc. really made me realize how important it is to tell the world about the many human right abuses people in Palestine suffer from on a daily basis, and give a voice to the experiences of Palestinians suffering human rights violations.

Despite all the injustice I witnessed, I enjoyed every minute of my time in Palestine. The workshops I gave at An-Najah University were a fascinating experience. It has been a privilege to get to know more about the Palestinian culture, the different religions of the Palestinian people and the students themselves, which are unique and truly amazing. For me one of the highlights of the camp is the hospitality and kindness of the Palestine people. They have showed me how it is possible to maintain hope and a kind spirit, even when things get really difficult. It has been an enriching experience which has definitely inspired me to keep striving for peace and justice worldwide. I totally recommend the exchange programs of An-Najah National University. They are the kind of people I will always remember and admire thinking that these are the people that never gave up their right to be free.