By: Maria Bandeira | Portugal

Zajel means ‘carrier pigeon’ in Arabic, a symbol of peace and sharing. Not only did we share our emotions and discover together the Palestinian reality, but we also lived together as brothers and sisters for two magical weeks.

The university and its workshops have brought me so much. I taught each day giving 120% of my energy. It was my pleasure to volunteer and to share my expertise on public speaking with the amazing students of An-Najah University. I observed their nervous hands and hesitation evolve into smiles and strong voices during the course of our two-week workshop. Answering the students’ questions and reviewing their speeches, I found that I learned so much from the Palestinian youth. All my students had fantastic personalities and strengthened my passion for teaching. Long live An-Najah National University.