Cultural Exchange

While experiencing “hands-on” exposure to Middle Eastern culture via short term trips, tours, volunteer opportunities and community projects, participants gain grass roots understanding regarding the complexities and similarities with the Middle East cultures and histories.

Volunteer

One of the goals of Seeds of Hope is to be a bridge between cultures for better understanding. This is achieved by enlisting the help of volunteers from all over the world. Plant Hope, our volunteer program, is designed for young volunteers, college age or above, to gain first-hand knowledge of a different culture while giving of their time and talents to the work of Seeds of Hope making this program a “cultural exchange” project.  These young people are fully funded by their own sending organizations and usually spend at least 9 to 12 months serving on the field with us. Working within the organization, a volunteer may be asked to help teach in the kindergarten or daycare, plant a tree, plan a field trip for youth, sell handcrafts made by local handicapped workers or simply wash windows. The experience of sharing life and coming alongside the local workers in relationship gives the volunteer an experience that cannot be measured in its depth of value for life preparation. As each one gives of him/herself, lives are forever changed; the volunteer’s as well as the people around them. One of the summer volunteers, Stephani, said this about her experience:

“In some ways it seems like I just arrived, but in many others I feel like I’ve lived here for years. I find myself understanding far more of the language than I ever anticipated in such a short time, being able to keep up with conversations and even speak a few key phrases. I am so blessed to be a part of the work being done here. I feel a part of the team… One of my favorite things to do is visit women and families in their homes; to be an invited guest is a huge honor and I assure you they nourish their honored guests well!”

Young people on either side of the exchange gain a knowledge and connection to the respective culture that cannot be gleaned any other way. Seeds of Hope is looking for young people who want to learn, love and lead; those who will embrace the culture by working within the marketplace mission of the organization.

Seeds of Hope Tours

In 2010 Seeds of Hope joined with Keshet Israel, an established Israeli tour company, to bring back tourism to the West Bank. During the 2000 intifada (uprising) the Israeli government issued a directive to Israelis that denied them access to the Palestinian Territories (West Bank and Gaza). Due to the fact that almost all tour guides in Israel are Israeli, this would mean that groups could no longer have access to Palestinian controlled areas and therefore the communities that would benefit from the tourism would be hit hard by economic decline. Seeds of Hope developed a plan to bring back tourists to the Holy sites in the PA (Palestinian Authority) controlled areas by transferring groups to Palestinian tour guides who could bring them into the closed territories where they could get an overall Holy Land experience. These groups would then be introduced to Seeds of Hope and the work being accomplished in the Jericho area, tour the Biblical sites there, as well as have the opportunity to bring an economic boost.