Scoring A Goal For Peace

Although the venue was moved from the North of the country to the Centre to avoid Hezbollah rockets pummeling the young players homes and playing fields in their native Galilee, spirits were high as the first Arab-Jewish football team held its 3-day training camp in preparation for participation in the international football tournament in London in August.

Galilee United, as the team of 13 and 14 year old boys calls itself, represents the very best in cooperation between athletes who are neighbors, but come from different cultures and religions.

The famous London-based Arsenal Football Club has adopted this project, and 4 Jewish and 4 Arab communities in the Galilee are participating this year with 2 players from each community selected to represent the team that will travel to England to compete in Arsenals international football tournament . This cross-cultural projects goal is to foster co-existence, understanding and tolerance through sport and teamwork.

The Helen Doron Group, a Galilee-based early education group franchised in 23 countries, has been committed to co-existence since its inception 20 years ago. The company has been involved with child enhancement and development services and products since 1985, bringing the world both the revolutionary Helen Doron Early English approach for teaching English as well as the unique Mathjogs method of teaching Math.

Marilyn Glazier, representative for The Helen Doron Group commented, We intend to be a part of this important project for years to come, as Helen Doron continues to take an active part in supporting and encouraging cooperation between children of all backgrounds. Next year we would like to implement an English immersion program for the practices and training camps, so the boys will be better prepared to communicate in the international language when abroad.

Ibrahim Mansour, Coach from the mixed Jewish-Arab city of Acco added, These boys have been practicing for 6 months together. They started off as 2 separate groups and have come together for a common cause. They have fun together, play together, eat together and room together. The boys all come from the North where the situation is difficult and I hope we succeeded in helping them temporarily forget the situation at home. We honestly feel no difference between the Arab and Jewish players we have all become one very cohesive group.

Shalom Liav, head of soccer at the Misgav Regional Councils sports centre has been part of the program since its inception, and sees a need for twinning of Arab and Jewish kids on an ongoing basis. Liav emphasized that the boys exchange emails and phone numbers and stay in contact all year around.

Judging from the boys solid, genuine teamwork and enthusiasm, Galilee United is an example of how peace can be accomplished on a grassroots level. Thanks to Arsenal and Helen Doron, they are truly scoring a goal for peace.

http://www.helendoron.com/