By Ashar Johnston

This was the second time I visited An-Najah University and I hope to return again. When I arrived I was more prepared to teach classes. I had an expectation of what the programme would contain and was excited to learn from the students, exchange ideas and have new experiences. I highly recommend visiting Nablus and taking part in Zajel, as it is an excellent way of understanding the complex situation and offers a diverse range of activities to take part in.

I do not have the literary skill to convey my admiration for all of the wonderful people that I have met on this programme. From the incredibly inspirational lecturers, to the supportive and welcoming local volunteers, to the committed and intelligent students, to the patient and intriguing communities that we visited. Everyone we talked to had stories to share and generosity and warmth in abundance, nothing I have experienced has come close to leaving me with a greater sense of perspective and sense of gratitude for people that are compassionate, resilient and kind.

The International Youth Exchange Programme (Zajel) of the Public Relations Department at An-Najah concluded the activities of its 3rd international voluntary camp that included 13 international volunteers who worked on developing students’ practical and lingual skills and competencies in English through a series of workshops on successful public speaking and effective conversation skills.

There are many informative visits that framed the historical context of the occupation and we learned about a variety of solutions and challenges. This allowed us to form our own understanding and we were encouraged to ask questions to clarify personal areas of interest. As an international I felt safe and secure, although some trips were quite tense due to the intimidations of the Israeli army. Hearing firsthand accounts of people who have had their houses demolished, been arrested, and who were living in refugee camps was emotionally exhausting at points. But witnessing the resolve and perseverance of the Palestinians was a powerful example of how hope can manifest in extremely difficult situations.