Program Dates: July 1st – August 6th, 2010

Program Fee: $1999
(including all group meals, transportation, accommodation, excursions, etc.)
(excluding flight)
Fundraising Donation: $1000

Building off the success of our inaugural Middle East trip in 2009, Operation Groundswell is proud to again offer Operation Groundswell Middle East.

The program will bring together a group of diverse young people for five weeks to explore the reality behind the Middle East conflict.

Participants will live, travel and volunteer in Israel and the Palestinian Territories while being situated in the historic city of Jerusalem. We seek those who are committed to expanding their horizons, learning more about the situation and engaging in open dialogue from a moderate pluralist perspective. Our program is unique in offering young people the opportunity to explore both sides of the Israeli/Palestinian divide with an impartial focus. Our organization is led by former trip-leaders of a wide range of Middle East tour experiences and past OG Middle East participants. As such, we are keenly aware of the security and safety concerns to those unfamiliar with the region.

Following the pre-departure orientation in Toronto, the group will have an in-country orientation in Jerusalem. Participants will acclimatize by trying local cuisine and touring local historical sites such as the Wailing Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The group volunteer project will be with the NGO Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR). RHR provides us the opportunity to connect with people from both sides of the Green Line, while giving a holistic outlook that most people never understand. Volunteer projects include assisting with the construction of mud-brick homes in the West Bank, teaching English to Bedouin youth and Ethiopian immigrants in Israel, and welcoming new refugees from Darfur.

As part of our consensus-based decision making model, participants will also plan group trips at least once a week so that everyone can take ownership over their experience. These trips could include visits to communal farms known as ‘kibbutzim’, refugee camps in the West Bank, religious sites like the ancient mystical city of Tzfat, a Negev desert hike, tours of Israeli settlements, Palestinian towns or the controversial Separation Barrier.

Participants will also have Individual Travel Time (ITT) – a staple of all Operation Groundswell programs. All participants will be given detailed travel guides and information on the best places to see and how to stay safe. You can travel independently if you desire but everyone is urged to travel in pairs or small groups. During this time, participants are not under the auspices of the organized program and are entirely responsible for themselves. Participants are given the emergency contact number of trip organizers during ITT for any advice or safety concerns. The group will reconvene for a trip debrief known as the ‘Disorientation’ prior to flying home.

Health, Safety and Security:

Health, safety and security are of the utmost importance to Operation Groundswell. On this program, we provide travel insurance which will take care of hospital fees in case of illness and injury. As well, we take every possible step to keep our groups safe and secure throughout the trip. With that in mind, it is important to remember that every OG trip prides itself on taking you directly into the experience of living in that region. We do take public transportation, we do meet real people and we do experience real life which, in some cases, can be a hard experience. Overall, we aim to learn, live and have fun while keeping all of our safety in mind.

For more info on how to apply, please visit the Apply page