Schüleraustausch mit Jerusalem

Jerusalem · Palästina · 20011/12

2011/2012 wurde durch die GDAB bereits zum zweiten Mal ein Schüleraustausch zwischen Hamburg und Jerusalem organisiert. Jeweils zehn Schülerinnen und Schüler aus Hamburg und aus Jerusalem nahmen teil. Vom 20. Juni bis 29. Juni 2011 besuchten die Jugendlichen aus Jerusalem die Hansestadt und wurden schon am Flughafen mit Vorfreude durch ihre Gastfamilien herzlich willkommen geheißen. Es folgte eine eindrucksvolle Zeit sowohl für Gäste als auch Gastgeber - mit der Teilnahme am Familienleben und Schulalltag in Hamburg sowie Besuche zahlreicher Einrichtungen und Sehenswürdigkeiten in Hamburg und Umgebung. Highlights waren u.a. ein Empfang und Austausch mit dem Hamburger Bundestagsabgeordneten Herrn Egloff und ein Ausflug in die Bundeshauptstadt Berlin.

Beim Gegenbesuch in Jerusalem vom 7. Februar bis zum 18. Februar 2012 besuchten die deutschen Jugendlichen ihre neuen Freunde aus Jerusalem und lernten Familien- und Schulalltag in Jerusalem kennen. Besuche von Sehenswürdigkeiten und Einrichtungen in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Jericho, Hebron und Bethlehem standen genauso auf dem Programm wie Freizeit mit den Austauschpartnern und Familien.

Organisiert durch die Gesellschaft für Deutsch-Arabische Begegnungen e.V. (GDAB) in Kooperation mit dem Gymnasium Ohmoor und dem Awqaf Department Directorate of Education in Jerusalem, erhielt das Programm finanzielle Unterstützung durch die Vertretung der Arabischen Liga in Deutschland, die Bezirksversammlung Eimsbüttel und weitere private Spender.

Stimmen der Teilnehmer (in Englisch)

“This trip affected my personality and my way of thinking, I learnt about a new culture, beliefs and methods of teaching and learning, and even their way of thinking. I became more understanding and started to look at things from different sides.”

“It was a good experience to me because I learned a lot about their culture and beliefs that differ from ours. The country {Germany} was beautiful and green and the places we saw were very nice.”

“I'd like to say that the trip to Germany was a trip in a life time, and I could say that the time I had during the trip was probably the best time I had in my life.”

“The trip to Germany was a very nice and educational trip in which I had a very good time and a very good reflection of the German country and people. I learned a lot from it about the culture by living and communicating with the nice people. Those 10 days were the best days of my life.”

“I would like to thank everyone who organized this trip and made it come true like a dream that came true.”

“Before I went to Palestine, I must honestly admit, I was a little bit nervous because of the ways it’s portrayed in the international media due to the on-going conflict. As soon as I got to know the country and meet the people living there first-hand though, I experienced a very different Palestine.”

“Everyday that we went on a trip, we learned a lot in my opinion. Not the kind of stuff you learn in school, but what you can only learn by experiencing it yourself.”

“My visit to Palestine is probably one of the things which stay in one`s mind a very long time. From the moment I first met my host family to the day our group left Jerusalem for the airport I had as much fun and learned about as many different aspects about foreign cultures as ever before.”

“If asked again, I would say yes once more, spreading the word about this fantastic program. In my opinion, exchange programs such as this one play an important role when it comes to understanding foreign cultures and traditions.”

“All in all I enjoyed the exchange and I learned a lot of the country, culture and the people. I found not just friends but also found a whole new family.”

“The Exchange was one of the best experiences of my life.”