Middle East Youth Festival: Edinburgh, Scotland

Middle East Youth Festival

25th February to 3rd March 2010, Edinburgh

The Global Citizen Corps is thrilled to be partnering with the Edinburgh Middle East Festival of Peace and Spirituality to host Edinburgh’s first Middle East Youth Festival.  

The festival will bring young people together from Scotland, the United States, Jordan and Lebanon, for a week long residential programme. The participants will work together to deliver an engaging programme of events for and by young people across Edinburgh.  

A consultation with young people from across the countries involved selected the following themes:

•    Peace, Conflict, Reconciliation and Justice
•    Engagement with Government, Parliament, NGOs and Civic Society
•    Equality, Diversity and Communities
•    Art and Culture

Preview Friday 26th February

Monday 1st March – 26th March 2010

''Recognizing our common humanity'' @ Tollcross Community Centre: Open to the public
Through an exciting, new photography exhibit, you can travel through Gaza with young people on a unique journey of discovery – finding those moments of common experience that bind us all together in one human family. Follow them from the streets where they walk every day, to the houses or refugee camps where they live; from the market where they shop, to the sea where they send off their dreams; from the destruction of war to sights of extraordinary natural beauty; from raw human suffering to indisputable, unbeatable hope and love for life.

This preview event includes refreshments and the opportunity to tour the exhibition accompanied by young people attending the Middle East Youth Festival. The delegates from Jordon, Lebanon, the USA and Scotland will share their thoughts on peace and their views on communication through the arts

Monday 1st March: 5.45pm-8pm

Film Screening @ Edinburgh Filmhouse: Open to the public: reservations recommended

KNOWLEDGE IS THE BEGINNING
Paul Smaczny | Denmark 2005 | 114mins
World-renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim and the late Palestinian writer and activist Edward Said generated both controversy and admiration when they founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in 1999. Bringing together young Arabs and Jews from Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan and Syria  to perform and live side by side, it is a extraordinary expression of its aim to further peaceful co-existence in the Middle East. This Emmy-nominated documentary follows this unique musical collaboration from its inception. 
Followed by audience discussion and ideas for action led by young people from Jordan, Lebanon, Scotland and the USA.

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Tuesday 2nd March 9.30am-3pm
School Summit: Open to all S5/6 pupils and educators: reservations required
What does Peace and Justice have to do with you?  Pupils and teachers from schools across the Central Belt are invited to attend this dynamic all day event.  A diverse schedule of presentations and interactive activities will explore issues of Peace and Justice locally, in the Middle East and globally. There will be particularly focus on what actions young people can take and the role they have to play.

Wednesday 3rd March: 6pm-8pm
Reception @ The Scottish Parliament: Open to the public: reservations required
Kindly hosted by Christina McKelvie MSP, this event provides an opportunity to explore issues of Peer Education accompanied by young people attending the Middle East Youth Festival.  Participants from Jordan, Lebanon, the USA and Scotland will share their experiences with MSPs, youth workers and other peer educators. Refreshments provided.

If you have any questions, are interested in attending please contact the Global Citizen Corps at gcc@uk.mercycorps.org  or call 0131 662 5168.