After a hiatus of some 4 years, the PMECC Staff take up once again the well-sought-for, much-in-demand activities by parents eager to have their children nourished along these lines, making wise use of their summer time especially in the midst of an onslaught of social media outputs that need to be filtered.

This year’s summer camp are woven around self-knowledge with the theme, “Be yourself, know yourself, love yourself”, which is an on-going process. Indeed, the camp had been a propitious place to undergo this human development of the youth.

Starting the 24th of June, the youth summer camp progressed on to the three successive weeks of creativity, vigor and mutual interest, with the PMECC staff offering the 45 young people more refreshing variety of activities.  It is amazing how the summer camp days have gone by with the young adults unflagging in their energy and curiosity to begin each day with the various activities offered them, meeting each challenge to hurdle like a silver lining in the bright blue sky with each day presented.

The team of facilitators – who are Staff of PMECC – are composed of two TA members, Monnitte Monana, the Director (PA member) with Agnes Sleibi (ACIT member) and Sahar Zreineh (a local staff).  There were also invited guest speakers who took charge of some modules and activities with the young people whose ages range from 11 to 17.  Along with theoretical inputs of self-knowledge in a wholesome package of human formation sessions, the youth have hands-on experiences using computer application (CANVA) in the BU computer lab facilitated by professionally prepared personnel (Mr. Philip Daoud) of the university.  Many other learning modules have been prepared balanced by games as chess as well as sports and native embroidery sessions.

The young participants were able to keep up the same zestful spirit to face each new day complete with its surprises even after a week was over.  On the third day of the summer camp, the mother of one young lad whose family live in Jerusalem, but has always kept in touch with us came to register her son with apologies for being late and begging that he be considered for this most valued summer activity.

When asked how the summer camp is going, Ashraf Kudemat, an 11th grader (who has a twin brother also in the summer camp), studying at Talitha Kumi, said unabashedly: “It’s excellent, I’m very happy as all of us are delighted with how the days have unfolded.  I’ve been here in this learning center since I was 7 years old.”

Another young participant, Andriana Manoli, from Mar Afram School, has this to say: “The summer camp is going very well and I’m enjoying it; it’s also time for bonding with friends.”

Indeed, word by mouth – all the more convincing than publication of activities in social media-has brought parents themselves former members of the PMECC, asking that their children be registered.

In addition, Riad Abumohor, shines out as he talks about the natural heritage the Palestinians have which is the olive tree as he names the characteristics of the olive tree such as resilience, the many uses it has, as well as its beauty, to the amazement of his listeners and fellow participants.  It is noteworthy to underscore that Riad, as he describes himself, “…is 9 years old, going on to 10, in November” among the group of participants whose ages range from 12 to 17 years.  When he speaks, everyone keeps quiet and listens attentively; he literally captivates his audience as he articulates his ideas with zest and clarity.  At his age and among the participants, he is described as a “genius in the making”.

Interestingly, in this youth encounter there are 4 pairs of twins whose presence in the group add some glitter in their unique manifestations as siblings. It has been a delight to be with them beaming with joy as they signaled their thumbs up giving their heartfelt approval of this summer encounter.

The final week was filled with more adventures like an educational field trip to the Cultural Heritage places and structures in Bethlehem as well as tree planting experience (flowering plants and young olive tree shoots) and a community service at the Antonian Society for an enriching interaction with the residents of the home for the elderly.  

Also, on the last day of this summer camp, the Staff gave the participants their well-deserved rewards, commending them on projects they have prepared through CANVA application to show the impact and interest the sessions have had on them.  Truly, this camp has been for these young adults the experience of their young life, as we capture it this way: an experience with unforgettable memories; where their bonding with one another in work and fun was also a source of growth and an increase of knowledge at all levels.  Likewise, we featured a “Palestinian breakfast” and a culminating activity where participants demonstrated learnings and skills acquired, capped by an evaluation session so that strengths and weaknesses were processed and assessed.  Majority of these young people affirmed that this three-week summer camp has offered novelties in learning challenges face in self-knowledge and self-acceptance, as well as ‘mini-triumphs’ won in loving oneself and one another as they move from adolescence to adulthood in a lifelong process of growth and development.  Clamors for more echoed in the venue, and request for extension of the encounter were heard.

Actions speak louder than words, and actions captured in pictures speak a thousand words.  Hence, this educational endeavor, which take in consideration Poveda’s approach to education addressing the integral formation of every young person, through this unique feature of an education that transforms and nurtures values in young people encountering one another in an informal setting outside the confines of a classroom.