Peacecamp 2006

dear Evelyn,
how are you ? first of all i wish u a very happy pesach :)
so how is everything? are there any plans for a reunioun in the summer for watching geo's film ?
anyway i know i'm being a very much of a pain in the ass, forgive me for the expression..
but i think that i should really participate in the summer camp this year.. i know it would be unfair for the other groups but i feel like i can help and learn more from you guys.. you have been a great inspiration to me and litrally changed my life.. from the bottom of my heart i trully wish that you will agree...

i love you much
hugs and kisses
enas zaher :)

Telling the truth at the beginning I wasn’t zealous for the camp, I don’t know exactly why but probably because I didn’t know the members of my group so much except Dina but unfortunately she couldn’t come. But this feeling flew out when we got into the bus at the station and we started to talk and kidding and we started our journey towards to the airport, Austria. From that time I knew that it will be an exciting 10 days.
When we first met with the Austrians we just told our name and turned back to our own group, so we didn’t talk with each other. But when the Israelis and Palestinians arrived everything changed, they brought good mood: we were talking each other loud and laughing. This mood was still alive in the bus, I remember how much times the driver told them to sit down, it was funny, we had a great time while singing.
It was interesting to hear the names at the first session, some of them were hard for me to memorize but after 2 days I didn’t have problem with it. Dance and music workshops were wonderful, we learnt a lot from Hannibal, I mean not just songs, we learnt how to give love for the listeners with singing. It wasn’t a problem if you didn’t have a good voice, our motto was: “just do it” and we gave love. But the most instructive for me was the first talk with Joseph. I knew a lot of things about the Israelis and Palestinians. About how they live and what they think about the war. They didn’t hate each other, not like what we can hear in the news. They want peace and its right. Some of them said that streets are boring without soldiers standing by very corner but if I can choose I would rather live a “boring” life.
I enjoyed every part of the camp in Franzen, the workshops, culture evenings and certainly the outdoor activities. By the way the outdoor challenges were very useful. We got interesting exercises to do, we often thought that it’s impossible to perform the exercise but we learnt how to think together as a group so finally more or less we succeeded.
Hanging out with friends: throwing each other to the lake, going away from the camp in the morning, singing next to the lake at night… these are great experiences, I will never forget anyone.
I got a lot of things from the camp…first I got friends (and luckily I can keep in touch with some of them) second I got a lot of wonderful experiences, and third I learnt a lot. It was the best 10 days of my life and I hope that we will ever meet again. PEACE

PARTICIPANT 1 (P)

1. My best experience was throwing bouth Phillip and Michael in the lake.It was the third day or the fourth, I dont remember exactly but I remember thet they were throwing every one in the lake and no one was able to throw them but we wanted to get even with them and throw them in.We knew we had to wait to the right moment to do this and use some manipulation (and so we did).There was a moment or so that bouth of them were truing to throw each other in so I ran on the dock and threw bouth of them in.

2.My worst experiance was when Evelyn interrupted me twice in a discussion about our curfew.
We were in the dining room discussing our curfew with the adults when I wanted to express my opinion about what they were saying. However, the first time I spoke Evelyn interupted me claming that she know where I`m getting to and started commenting on what I've said, then carried on with the discussion and (sorry for this) rudely asked us not to interrupet her while talking.The second time I was already mad at her but I didn`t show that and when she rudely interrupted me again I couldent stand this any more and kind off yelled at her telling her I want to finish my sentence.Meanwhile, Nezar and Uri asked her to end the discussion by summerising it and thats a thing that really bothered me then that she said the same exact things i was saying two minutes ago. all that made me feel hurt and verry angry which made me cry.

3. i will rate 1 the worst and 10 the best
1. analetic large group
2.inner sound session
3.open day in franzen
4.culture evening
5.dance workshop
6. out-door challanges
7.evening at"ma pitom", vienna
8.amusment park
9.music workshop
10. hanging out with friends

4. personally i would change nothing exept for the meniew and the camp's lenght. which means if i were in evelyns place i would make it longer and would have tasted the food before ordering it from the catering company. beside those two things i wouldnt have changed a thing because it was fun the way it is.

PARTICIPANT 2 (P)

1.
everyday at the peace camp was the best day, i just can't choose it's so
hard... i just let u 2 know that it was a great camp and every day was
special.

2.
the worst thing that had happened at the peace camp. when i saw 2 of my
friends at the peace camp that were sad from personal things and not from
the camp and the worse is 2 know that u just can't help them.

3.
- hanging out with friends = 10
- outdoor- challenges = 9
- amusement parc in vienna = 8
- music -workshop = 7
- open-day at franzen = 6
- evening at "Ma-Pitom" , veinna = 5
- dance -workshop = 4
- culture evening = 3
- inner sound -workshop = 2
- analytical large group = 1
but evelyn it's not fair , cuz everything was so great and beautiful and it was so hard to put them in the order of 1 to 10 ... coz i liked everything that was on the camp
u did a great job ..
thank u so much
luv u ,

4.
i wouldn't change any thing on that peace camp.
everything was so cool and we had a lot of fun, and it was so cool how u
allowed us ( with the team ) 2 do wt ever we wanna, there was no permissible
and forbiddin , u gave us total free to do wt we wanna and wt we like. it
was stunning.
only 1 thing i suggest, is 2 extend our stay for more days on the camp ,
that thing would make the peace camp perfect .

PARTICIPANT 3 (P)

1.
The camp on a whole was an experience worthwhile, where coexistence was easily apparent throughout every activity. Every part of the peace camp was needed in order to achieve this goal and therefore I cannot choose only one experience. However, the outdoor group challenges did represent the attempt of unity and coexistence of this camp and were one of the most essential parts of this camp.

2.
Other than having to wake up very early there is no such experience that comes to my mind at the moment.

3.
- music-workshop 5
- dance-workshop 8
- inner sound-workshop 10
- analytical large group 9
- outdoor-challenges 3
- culture evenings 4
- hanging out with friends 1
- amusement parc in Vienna 2
- open-day at Franzen 7
- evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna 6


4.

Please write your recommandations.
The peace camp overall can be said to have been a big success. An improvement I can suggest is in reference to the analytical large group which in a sense did not achieve what I expected. Also, more political discussions, not necessarily debates, may achieve a bigger understanding to participant’s reflections on political aspects. However, I would not suggest any other changes. As a whole, the peacecamp was a place reflecting unity and harmony, away from political tensions.

PARTICIPANT 4 (P)

1. ) the time when all the participants decided to pull a trick on the leaders, and we woke up really early and left and made u wake up and be in shock.

2. the time when me and my friends where at the dock, and a couple of skin-heads decided to come and harras and throw things at us calling us different names.

3.
- music-workshop 8
- dance-workshop 7
- inner sound-workshop 3
- analytical large group 4
- outdoor-challenges 6
- culture evenings 5
- hanging out with friends 10
- amusement parc in Vienna 9
- open-day at Franzen 1
- evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna 2


4.
more free time with friends, no inner sound-workshop. More specific political topics discussed, more free time in Vienna, and better food.


PARTICIPANT 5 (P)

1.The greatest thing about the peacecamp was the hope it gave me about our part of the world and the whole world because if we could work so hard for an objective of peace and feel close and successful then there is hope for peace on earth. I felt so privileged to participate in this summer peacecamp and I feel that I discovered myself and that we can do so much if we stick together as friends and work for the same goal.


2. Waking up early was something I didn’t like so much and the food wasn’t the greatest.

3.
- 8 music-workshop
- 7 dance-workshop
- 2 inner sound-workshop
- 1 analytical large group
- 9 outdoor-challenges
- 5 culture evenings
-10 hanging out with friends
- 6 amusement parc in Vienna
- 3 open-day at Franzen
-4 evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna
N.B.: I would like to give all the categories a 10 but you asked for us to rate them and I have to add that I liked all the categories and I think they all deserve a 10.


4. More of everything and a reunion next summer, please.
Thanks again,

PARTICIPANT 6 (P)

1. my best experience during the camp was when I talked in the culture night,,,because it was so good that we did all that in so little time…that’s the best experience
2.
my worst experience during the camp was at the first 2 or 3 days,,,it was like I wasn’t getting in good connection with the others but then it was ok

3.
1) analytical large group
2) inner sound-workshop
3) open-day at Franzen
4) music-workshop
5) dance-workshop
6) culture evenings
7) outdoor-challenges
8) amusement parc in Vienna
9) evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna
10) hanging out with friends

4. would change the dialogue seesion because its so boring..

PARTICIPANT 7 (P) missing
PARTICIPANT 8 (P) missing

PARTICIPANT 1 (A)


1. the best experience? if i have to chose ONE...I think the day we showed the israeli group around in vienna. first we went to buy ice-cream (really difficult to translate everything ;))), then we went inside the stephansdom, after that we...uhm... stood in the middle of the kärntnerstraße and started singing Hannibals songs...:D
it was soo much fun to watch their faces as we went through the shops (no check-points) and everything.
and not to forget was also the Prater of course!

2.
I guess most of the people will write this down....but i think the "discussions" were really terrible most of the time.... I felt like I was forced to talk. I also didnt like the way Joseph (?) always commented because he wanted our conversation to have a different topic.


3.
8- dance-workshop
4- inner sound-workshop
1- analytical large group
2- outdoor-challenges
9- culture evenings
10- hanging out with friends
9- amusement parc in Vienna
5- open-day at Franzen
3- evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna

4.
I'd personally give the teenagers more time to get to know themselves on their own.
I also think that Evelyn probably had a very clear idea of how the camp should proceed. This kind of set me under pressure especially when something did not work her way she threatend that this would be her last camp.


PARTICIPANT 2 (A)

1. even if it wasn't the funniest or most interesting moment throughout the whole peacecamp, for me the best experience was during our performance on the other camp, this european culture camp. even before we started our performance i had this strong feeling of being a part of a group, of a small group, a group of friends, who were sitting next to me, laughing, dancing, singing while watching the others' program. but when it was finally our turn, when we all, the 30 young people of us, went on to the stage and starting singing, i felt something that i have never felt so strong before, it was the feeling of really being part of a huge group. i felt so much power, so much joy, so much coherence in the group that i really felt safe and secure. in this particular moment i thought we could manage everything, that we'd be able to do everything and that nobody and nothing can stop us.
and it's a real good feeling to belong somewhere. and i belong(ed) to the peacecamp!


2. 2.
the worst experience for me were the outdoor experiences..even if i have learned a lot from them. in particular moments i really hated those programs, not because the tasks were boring or too difficult or anything, no not at all. it was simply the constellation of our group that i didn't really like. there were some people who always talked, who always tried to lead the group, who didn't listen to the others' ideas, who put themselves automatically in a higher position, whithout knowing if someone else had a better idea. i often felt ignored, neglected and not part of the group. and i was quite surprised of my behaviour. because normally i use to be a person, who has ideas to solve something, who can talk easily and freely to get her opinion across. but there i suddenly felt small and useless..that's why i didn't like this program, even i really enjoyed the idea of the outdoor trainings.

3.
10...hanging out with friends, of course
9.....amusement parc in vienna
8.....culture evenings
7.....dance workshop
6.....music workshop
5.....open day at franzen
4.....open day at ma pitom, vienna
3....inner sound workshop
2....analytical large group, difficult decision between the last two
1....outdoor experience

4.

4.
first of all i would change the people for the outdoor experiences every day, so that the constellation is always a new one..i know, as uri has already explained to me, that it is important to built up a kind of group dynamic, but i think this is and also should be possible the way i suggest it. at least i would have appreciated it! also people would get the chance to get to know each other much better, and not only to a smaller group. i think it is important to be able to trust everyone of the group, every single member, or at least the majority, that's what the games are for. so if one changed the members of the two groups everyday, it would be possible to trust everyone, as having experienced the outdoor acitivties with nearly everyone, or everyone. i think one could at least try it!
then i would either change the analytical large group thing comletely or simply delete it from the list. in my eyes, even if it was some kind of experience, more an experiment, i didn't really get what it was meant for. i, as many others said too, felt closed up in a room, forced to have a conversation with 30 people, being surveyed by someone we didn't even really know. i think it is somehow the wrong way to force people to have a conversation. either people feel in the mood to talk, then it's fine, but if not, it's also fine. i think one cannot force anyone to have a conversation. and then i found it completely irritating, when joseph interrupted us, when we finally found a topic to discuss in a large group, which was difficult enough, only to dirigate us into the direction he wanted. i had the feeling that he wanted us to talk about our family situation, always discuss personal problems, feelings, experiences or different cultural approaches. i think, if he wanted us to talk about something specific he should have said that right away, or asking an introducing question to get a discussion going, and not trying to dirigate our forced conversation into the way he wants.
and that's really it. i loved the peacecamp the way it was and i would onyl improve those two things, but there is always something to improve. these are onyl suggestions how it would have been better for me not meaning that the others think the same way...just wanted to say that even if i criticize some points, i'M very critical, i loved every second spent on the camp!

PARTICIPANT 3 (A)

1.
The best experience was that we were a group and make friends on the first
day. It was amazing.

2. I was sick for four/five days.

3.
10)Dance-Workshop
9)music-workshop
8)culture evenings
7)hanging out with friends
6)amusement parc in Vienna
5)evening at "Ma Pitom"
4)open-day at Franzen
3)outdoor activities
2)inner sound workshop
1)analytical large
>group

4.

PARTICIPANT 4 (A)

1. The best experience was our free time we had with all the other participants.

2.
The worst experience was actually all the unnecessary discussions we had how we should behave and the menace of this being the worst peace camp because we were so “naughty”. The schedule was too tough. I came to peace camp to meet new friends, but I felt forced to make friends with everyone because of the schedule.


3.

- music-workshop 6
- dance-workshop 5
- inner sound-workshop 4
- analytical large group 3
- outdoor-challenges 9
- culture evenings 7
- hanging out with friends 10
- amusement parc in Vienna 8
- open-day at Franzen 2
- evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna 1


4.
More free time
No fixed schedule
No threatening what so ever
No “lets learn each other to know” games, except out door activities. I think it is important to show young people that we are the coming generation who are responsible for peace. Lives are something rare and shouldn’t be lit out in unnecessary wars.

PARTICIPANT 5 (A)

1.
-I think i liked best the out door event when we all had to go throu 2 trees, between them there was a string and we were not alowed to touch it will we are passing it and we have to bring the howle groop throw a diffrent part of it so the howl groop had to work together.


2.
-I think when we "lost" raz in vienna it scared me a bit but she was ok she just found a nother groop.


3.
10 hanging out with friends
9 music-workshop
8 dance-workshop
7 outdoor-challenges
6 inner sound-workshop
5 culture evenings
4 amusement parc in Vienna
3 open-day at Francen
2 evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna
1 analytical large group


4. I think what I woul change is the beginning because we had like no time to get to now each other in teenager ways.
And the analytical large group.

PARTICIPANT 6 (A)

1.
The summer comes to an end, the birds migrate south together with the sun. In hindsight, and forever lasting, will be one experience in particular; Sitting at the local pub one afternoon with Inas, Maria, Nizar, and Yuri. At first we conversed ‘about the weather’, the ‘weather’ turned into ‘small talk’ and small talk gradually matured into an interesting debate about cultures. Each ‘candidate’ seemed to, when it came down to it, represent one point of view, but kept an open mind enabling other views to enter. A moment ‘in’ understanding. A moment in vain?

2.
I danced to remember, not to forget. Every experience gave me something invaluable for life.


3. no ranking: everything contributed to the final experience, I prefer not to siggest that some were better than others.
4.
Personally, I think that participants should be offered the experience of Austrian outdoor activities such as rock climbing, bicycle tours around the villages, fresh mountain air. Debates could be organised in form of themes and beer should be permitted – it eases cultural tensions. No, in all seriousness, I think we have all gained a fair amount of experiences and I would be more than willing to join peacecamp next year without thinking about it twice. Good going!

PARTICIPANT 8. (A)

1. The best one was when we all disappeared in the morning to get back revenge on you, it was the best event for me because we all did something together without the adults advising us

2. The worst experience for me was coming to late, because all the others knew each other already and to have to answer all the questions, also I had to sleep on a matrices on the floor and sometimes they stept on me. But it wasn#t to bad after all.

3. 10. hanging out with friends
9. culture evenings
8. amusement parc in Vienna
7. dance workshop
6. music workshop
5. analytical large group
4. inner sound workshop
3. open day at Franzen
2. evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna
1. outdoor challenges

4. I would change something about the analytical large group, because we never got a real discussion started, or the adviser disturbed us again or it was a them not important for everyone.

PARTICIPANT 9 (A)

1) The best experience was, when Hanibal put on the music at 7 o’clock and everyone woke up.

2) When we were attacked on the lake…. That was not very funny.

3).
10 outdoor-challenges
9 analytical large group
8 hanging out with friends
7 culture evenings
6 open-day at Franzen
5 amusement parc in Vienna
4 music-workshop
3 inner sound-workshop
2 dance-workshop
1 evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna

4) I would like to change the place for the camp. Maybe some town with a bigger lake would be better than Franzen. Maybe there should be also more different activities.

PARTICIPANT 7 (A)

1. The people I got to know there

2. When people stated throwing with cake
and salad because they were so bored

3.

4. More interesting location,
more information about the conflicts and more talking about improving peace
in the world. Less experimentation.

PARTICIPANT 1 (H)
1. Please write down the BEST experience you had at peacecamp 2006
(only one: please describe the experience/event )

The early morning action. It was a really good experiance to feel : WE
ARE ONE GROUP. On that morning it wasn’t the best thing, but by the
time it become one of the best thing. But it’s yust one of the lot...

2. Please write down the WORST experience you had at peacecamp
(only one: please describe the experience/event)

Hmm... The Goodbye was not good... But the worst was to realize: we
were going home.
Otherwise cleaning up after the mess was also a miserable feeling...

3. Please put the following activities in the order of your preference
from 10 (what you liked most) to 1 (what you liked least):

best 10- amusement parc in Vienna
9- hanging out with friends
8- culture evenings
7 - music-workshop
6 - outdoor-challenges
5 - dance-workshop
4 - open-day at Franzen
3 - inner sound-workshop
2 - analytical large group
least:1 - evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna

4. What would you improve/change in peacecamp?
There’s a song:
"And I love you the way you are there’s nothing you need to change..." I think it wasn’t so many problem... I think.... We should find the best way in our freedom in the others freedom, and
in the rules...I’ve found it...It’s a great feeling when you understand
that there could be worse and better things, but all of them helps you
to feel the differences and the BEST things.
Hmm... I hope it’s understandable...
Remember
(me)

PARTICIPANT 2 (H)

1. . I had never been together with so different people coming from so different places. And it was amazing that we could enjoy the time so much we spend together (without serious conflicts) and could make close friendships.

2. Sometimes I sufffferred from the lack of sleep because we had such a good time even in the nights. But fortunately this humble thing is the worst I can mention. :D

3.
- music-workshop 9
- dance-workshop 5
- inner sound-workshop 3
- analytical large group 4
- outdoor-challenges 8
- culture evenings 6
- hanging out with friends 10
- amusement parc in Vienna 7
- open-day at Franzen 2
- evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna 1

4.
4. Basically, it was very well-organised so I cannot write too much. But, if I must:
The 10 days we spent together is very short. You could expand it to 14 days at least. It would be only 4 extra days, but I believe the campers would appreciate it.
It is better to organise the camp in a non-populated area (like previous year as I heard) to avoid disturbing local people

PARTICIPANT 3 (H)

1.
My best experinence was gyuri’s and my birthday. We had a great time..we were dancing a lot, after we were playing with the cake (certanly we cleaned it too =p) and then we swam in the lake in casual clothes. So this day was the most funny and crazy day for me=)

2. I think everyone has the same opinion about this question. The worst was when we were standing in the airport and we should say ’bye’ to everyone. Leaving each other was a very bad feeling and it is still alive.

3.

10.- hanging out with friends
9.- evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna
8.- amusement parc in Vienna
7.- music-workshop
6.- outdoor-challenges
5.- dance-workshop
4.- culture evenings
3.- analytical large group
2.- inner sound-workshop
1.- open-day at Franzen

4. The music-workshop could have been longer and in the afternoon we could have had a little bit more freetime.

PARTICIPANT 4 (H)
1.. The whole peacecamp was a very good experience for me... To meet people with other countries who has different cultures and to make friendship with a lot of them...
But i think the most memorable event for me was my birthday in the peacecamp.I couldnt imagine that we will celebrate it in the camp but we did it. And it was really kind of them.Even though they threw me into the lake...But that made it special.And of course the party after it in the decorated room with a cake.It was touching for me...


2. Maybe the worst experience for me was your reaction to our joke when one morning almost all of us "disappeared"...In our opinion it was not more than an innocent joke thats why we could not understan why are you so angry at us...

3.

3. 10. hanging out with friends
9. amusement parc in Vienna
8. evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna
7. outdoor-challenges
6. music-workshop
5. culture evenings
4. open-day at Franzen
3. dance-workshop
2. inner sound-workshop
1. analytical large group

4. . In the evenings you should allow the students to hang out longer...

PARTICIPAnt 5 (H)

1.
1. My best experience at peacecamp 2006 was maybe when Philpp
dropped me into the lake in my clothes!!!:) Than I had to wash my hair
for the third time that day!! Actually it wasn't too much fun that time,
but it's really funny to remember now!

2. . My worst experience was when my camera was lost, and
unfortunatelly I haven't found it.

3.
10 hanging out with friends
9 amusement park in Vienna
8 outdoor-challenges
7 music-workshop
6 culture evenings
5 dance-workshop
4 evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna
3 open-day at Franzen
2 analytical large group
1 inner-sound-workshop



4. What I would change: I wouldn't do inner sound-workshop and
analitical large group and that way we would also have more free time.
I think everything else was alright!

PARTICIPANT 6 (H)

1.
1:It's the hardest question because I could select from a thousand things. Maybe I won't describe the happiest or the best, but the one that comes to my mind just now. This one is one of the evenings, when all the group singed "Oh Mary, oh Martha....." and why I choose it is because after a while, everyone's complexes went away, and we were singing loudly, dancing, and enjoyed ourself with the other nations, and this was very very good all by itself, and it had two other benefits: that was one of the moment when I completely realised that we are not arabs, hungaryans, austrians and jeweish, but PEOPLE. Ok, we have the differences all right, but not that much like if they would be another race or something. The other was that that night had a very exceptional atmosphere which made all the group come closer to each other.
2.
2:I never think of the wrong side of peace camp. Mainly because there was hardly any. Mybe the worst thing in the camp was that we had to get up in the morning about 7-8 o'clock, but it won't change I suppose.
3.
The correct order is:
10:- music-workshop
9:- dance-workshop
8:- outdoor-challenges
7:- culture evenings
6:-hanging out with friends
5:- analytical large group
4:- evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna
3:- amusement parc in Vienna
2:- open-day at Franzen
1:- inner sound-workshop

4.
4:The only thing I would change is that in the first days, I wouldn't force group activities and forced getting-togethers, but would let the paticipant to get to know each other more freely. They are there to get to know to the members of other countries, so they might do the basic introduction by theselves,. After that, the workshops and the group activities will hepl them, but just after they heva opened to each other.

Yours faithfully


PARTICIPANT 7 (H)

1. my best experience was when we made an outdoor activity
succeesfully.when we had to get to the other side without "burning"
from the ropes.i felt we're a great team and we made almost phisically
impossible things.

2.
my worst experience was on the first night i know nobody and it was
hard start convesation with the others.i felt uncomfortable.

3.
1.dance-workshop
2.hanging out with friends
3. music-workshop
4.amusement parc in Vienna
5.outdoor-challenges
6.culture evenings
7.evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna
8.inner sound-workshop
9.analytical large group
10.open-day at Franzen
4.
have no idea how to improve peacecamp i was absolutely setisfied
everything was great.i enjoyed it very much.think you did good job.

PARTICIPANT 8 (H)

PARTICIPANT 1 (I)
1. Please write down the BEST experience you had at peacecamp 2006 (only one: please describe the experience/event )

My best experience was when we woke up at 5 AM and went to the lake and disappeared. It was very fun and helped the contact with the other groups.

2. Please write down the WORST experience you had at peacecamp (only one: please describe the experience/event)

My worst experience was the second discussion in the analytical large group. It really pissed me off that we didn't get any instructions what to talk about or how to talk but every 2 minutes Josef interrupted and said we're talking wrong or not about important subjects or whatever. Later it got better, but it was still annoying.

3. Please put the following activities in the order of your preference from 10 (what you liked most) to 1 (what you liked least):

- 10 hanging out with friends
- 9 music-workshop
- 8 amusement parc in Vienna
- 7 dance-workshop
- 6 outdoor-challenges
- 5 culture evenings
- 4 inner sound-workshop
- 3 evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna
- 2 open-day at Franzen
- 1 analytical large group

4. What would you improve/change in peacecamp?
Please write your recommandations.

I would change the analytical large group and give us more free time.

PARTICIPANT 2 (I)

1. Please write down the BEST experience you had at peacecamp 2006 (only one: please describe the experience/event )

Running away at 5AM was my greatest experience, not only because it was fun, but also because it was something we did together as a group, without the leadership of adults.

2. Please write down the WORST experience you had at peacecamp (only one: please describe the experience/event)

I think the analytical large groups (big groups where we were supposed to speak on whatever subject we like, as long as everyone is part of the conversation) didn’t work as expected, mostly because we didn’t really understand what the purpose of the group was.

3. Please put the following activities in the order of your preference from 10 (what you liked most) to 1 (what you liked least):

- music-workshop 8
- dance-workshop 5
- inner sound-workshop 2
- analytical large group 1
- outdoor-challenges 7
- culture evenings 6
- hanging out with friends 10
- amusement parc in Vienna 9
- open-day at Franzen 4
- evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna 3

4. What would you improve/change in peacecamp?
Please write your recommandations.

I would think of a different way to experience the dynamics of a large group, not through the analytical large group, or alternately – I would explain better the purpose of these groups.

PARTICIPANT 3 (I)

1) I really enjoyed the amusement park in Vienna because it was also fun on the rides and we were all hanging out so it was both things and it was really fun.
2) I really don't think I have one… well I could write the experience that was the less fun if that’s what the question means: I think it was the day when we couldn't hold a discussion in the analytical group because I enjoyed the other discussions so it was disappointing.
3.
- music-workshop8
- dance-workshop5
- inner sound-workshop1
- analytical large group2
- outdoor-challenges7
- culture evenings6
- hanging out with friends10
- amusement parc in Vienna9
- open-day at Franzen4
- evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna3
4.
I have lived in Israel almost all my life and it is hard to live in a country with such a conflict. I think living in Israel (especially it the times of the second intifada) makes you feel scared when you see Arabs (and I'm sorry but that’s one of the horrible things the occupation makes you feel). I think that the peace camp helped my get rid of that feeling and I am really happy with that because I know that the Palestinians are the ones who should be scared when the see Jews because Palestinians living under the Israeli occupation see Jews as occupying soldiers.

PARTICIPANT 4 (I)

1) I think the best experience I had in the peace camp was when the whole camp (except the coordinators) took a walk to see sun rising. (Without telling the coordinators). I had a grate time waiking up at 5 a.m. even though I was really tired.
2) I can't really think of a bed experience from the camp itself. Maybe when some of us were attacked by drunks in the lake. It was a bit scary.
3)
- 10 music workshops
- 9 hanging out with friends
- 8 evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna
- 7 amusement parc in Vienna
- 6 outdoor-challenges
- 5 culture evenings
- 4 inner sound-workshop
- 3 open-day at Franzen
- 2 dance-workshop
- 1 analytical large group



4) I think I would have given even more time to interact.
And I think the analytical large group needs changing.



Generally, I can say that the camp was probably one of the best experiences I had or likely to ever have.

PARTICIPANT 5 (I)

1. Wan we all sat together at the lake and played pushed etcher in to the water and talk

2. Wan dazira piuct at the amusement park

3.
7 music-workshop
5 dance-workshop
3 inner sound-workshop
1 analytical large group
8 outdoor-challenges
6 culture evenings
10 hanging out with friends
9 amusement park in Vienna
2 open-day at Franzen
4 evening at "Ma Pitom", Vienna

4.
I would change or at list improve the analytical large group. I felt there that we are laboratory rat and that we are being forest to talk abut sings that doesn't necessarily interest as, and to talk t many people in an annoying sitting way.

PARTICIPANT 6

1. My best experience was when we ran away. We woke up really really early and we went together somewhere else.

2. My worst experience was being sick on ...1 day .... ...(and) ....everybody spent time being together ... (and) I had to stay behind alone

3.
- 1. analytical large group -worst
- 2. open-day at Franzen
- 3. inner sound-workshop
- 4. dance-workshop
- 5. culture evenings
- 6. music-workshop
- 7. outdoor-challenges
- 8. amusement parc in Vienna
- 9. hanging out with friends -best
last evening ma pitom: not classified

4. I think it will be better if will be more time to be together without any plans. Not just free time to be in the lake, maybe more free time in Vienna, or going together bowling. Or something like that.

PARTICIPANT 7 (I)

1. My best experience in the peacecamp was to meet new friends from other countries and to talk with them about different subjects.

2. My worst experience in the peacecamp was to be in the analytical large group and to wake up in the morning only because of Hannibal music.

3.
1. Analytical large group (liked least)
2. Inner sound workshop
3. Dance workshop
4. Music workshop
5. Outdoor challenges
6. Culture evenings
7. Open day at franzen
8. Evening at "ma pitom"
9. Amusement parc in vienna
10. Hanging out with friends (liked most)

4.
4. I think that if there is something that you need
To change or improve is the food because that I thought
That we will have a food for children's like hot dogs
And chips and things that children's like but most of us
didn't like the food there.
I also think that some of the activities was not useful like the
Inner sound workshop and things like that but for example the outdoor
Challenge was a good workshop for the group.

I also think that in the next time it's not good idea to bring to
The peacecamp 6-7 children's that know each other years before and the camp
Like that we had in the Israeli group and because of that that's was hard
For me and some other children's to be a part of the group...

PARTICIPANT 8 : missing

PARTICIPANT 9: missing

1. David Avitzour
2. Einas Zaher
3. Denes Kleiner. also sent an essay. thank you!
4. Desirée Borbara
5. Sahar Vardi: winner
6. Julia Romauch
7. Ido Benbaji
8. Balazs Rigo
9. Nagy Timi. also sent an essay. thank you!
10. Veronica Lion: winner. had an essay published: thank you
11. Tamara Liptay
12. Philipp Pecnik
13. Segev Ben-David
14. Or Ben-David
15. Mor Cohen: winner
16. György Feder
17. Inas Halabi
18. Samira Schirpf
19. Emöke Rácz
20. Daniel Lonyai: winner
21. Yoav Granierer
22. abdulwahid leila
23. jana boulus
24. maria ninos
(25. rafi kropiunigg)
26. bilal dissi
27. Miriam Kremshuber

denish, Saturday, 2. September 2006, 17:42
my text
About the camp…

Well… it is not an easy job to write about it, because I could write a year long text or yust five words: It was more than wonderful!
But now I will try to write a bit more, but not that much.
Truely when I was thought about the camp before the it srarted, I thought that we valways have to stay between the two southern nation. I looked throught our nations wars, to ready to say examples how tho make peace, and how does wars started. When our group went there we asked our teacher to tell something us about the war there, because we always heard about the lesses but not about the war.
When we arriwed, we met the Austrian participants, told our names, and… nothing! I am always angry with myself that I was shy there!
After an hour, the Israely and the Palestinian kids arriwed things changed. First: we talked! Second: I was felt that they are not fighting with each other, they are not look each other as some animals or else… I did not kow who was Israely and who was Palestinian!
With time I understood that it is yust a little part of the nation, who do not hate the other side. That was why I sad that the camp is a good step to make peace, but we needed those kids who hate each other, to let them to see: people on the other side are also humans. Humans with mistakes, with problams, with dreams and with the feeling to make peace.
On the camp we always worked together. If some of us did not thought that we could do the job he or she did not made problam to the others. And to tell the trouth I think we worked the best when we wanted to make the teachers to SUFFERRRR. (We got up earlier, went away, and we wanted to arrive back a half hour later, than the first job started.) They (or You-if You who read it is one of them) did not heard about it before the action, but many of us did not like the idea, for example me. After we got up, mostly the whole group went. I think I made my best photoes there.
By the time we get really close to each other, and the time went away, as birds fly- as we say it in Hungary- and we felt that it is time to go home! I have not felt myself as miserable as there since… I do not know when…
At home I started writing them in the first days, yust to feel them closer.
Now, about a month later I think I can not forget any moment, and I can not lose them because of the internet…!

I copyed it here, because I could not send it on the email...
... link ... bearbeiten ... löschen

Zehn Tage in Franzen, im ehemaligen Schulgebäude.
Zweiunddreißig junge Menschen aus vier verschiedenen Ländern.
Zweiunddreißig heranwachsende Persönlichkeiten. Pubertierend, unrund in sich selber, neugierig, wissbegierig, quirlig, hungrig, unordentlich und schnell!!!! Schnell im Denken, Schnell im Aufnehmen von Inhalten, schnell im Umsetzen, schnell im Organisieren eines „Streiks“: am fünften Tag stehen sie geschlossen um fünf Uhr früh auf und verlassen das Schulgebäude.
Mein workshop beginnt um neun. Niemand da. Sehr witzig, denke ich. Sie haben offenbar keine Lust, brav im Kreis zu sitzen und den „inner sound“ eines Kollegen zu erforschen. Die Minuten rinnen dahin, meine Stimmung wird immer schlechter. So konsequent habe ich mir die Teenager nicht vorgestellt! Was wollen sie mir mit dem Ausbleiben sagen? Ich entdecke, dass ich zittere. Ich vermisse sie. Ich habe Angst, es könnte ein Unglück passiert sein. Gleichzeitig entdecke ich Wut in mir.
Gegen zehn höre ich (endlich) ihre jungen Stimmen. Lachen, Singen, Kichern, Schreien. Schreien!!!!!!
Sie erklären, dass sie als Gruppe geschlossen gegen die gestrige Methode des Aufweckens (laute Musik, hihihihihi) protestieren. Danach arbeiten sie konzentriert an abstrakten Ausdrucksweisen negativer Gefühle. Konsonanten. Keine Vokale. Beinahe Stille. Denken. Wir Teammitglieder beschließen, unsere Weckmethode wieder auf den Anfangsmodus zu stellen.

Sprache dieser Teenager: prägnant, offensiv, provokant. Intelligent und verständlich. Sie erklären: sie haben sich als Jugendliche solidarisiert.

Ich frage die Menschen meiner Altersgruppe ( Mitte-Vierziger! Kollegen! ) in Europa, in Israel, GLOBAL, wie wir zu einer Sprache der Bomben gefunden haben? Warum lassen wir zu, dass Menschen unseres Alters Kriege führen?

Warum haben wir uns dermaßen „weich klopfen“ lassen?
Warum sind wir so schwach?
Ich persönlich finde keine greifbare Antwort. Bruchfetzen vielleicht, etwa
„der Hochleistungsdruck unserer Informationsgesellschaft deformiert unsere Instinkte“, blabla, und schon wieder depressives Magenwirbeln.

Schnell.
Schnell.
Ich hoffe und wünsche, dass die Teenager dieser Zeit NICHT in Trägheit, Stumpfheit, Kriegsbereitschaft verfallen.
Ich hoffe und wünsche, dass sie schnell, schreiend, provozierend, denkend und konfliktfähig bleiben. Und ich bitte die geschätzten Erwachsenenkollegen all over the world, die Jugendlichen zu SCHÜTZEN. Denn SIE SPRECHEN DIE SPRACHE DER BOMBEN NICHT .

Gabriela Hütter

Which prelude to peace would you choose? Troops marching into Lebanon with AK-47’s in front of their faces, or groups from ‘Peacecamp’ skipping into Vienna aeroport with nothing but peace in mind and mouths full of strong debate? Both troops and groups claim to have the same mission, the mission for peace. Now isn’t that ironic?

Before coming to Franzen I thought that politics would cause thunder and lighting to dance across the debating floor. As the days passed by, it dawned on me why politics was always secondary during group sessions, and furthermore, why political discussions never ended in bloody fist-fights, screeching, or scratching. Only after a while I realised that the purpose of four nationalities coming together in a village in the heart of Austria’s rural community, was not only to find out what could be done with Hezbollah, Israel, Syria, Iran, and so on, but rather to learn to simply co-exist together. The israeli’s, palistinian’s, austrians, and hungarian’s seemed to have packed no prejudice nor anger into their suitcases.

The particpiants from Israel represent a minority. They are a progressive segment of people within their society. On a freqeunt basis they have to deal with racism, prejudice, and violence. Debate seems like an abstract tool that gets them nowhere. However, these participants have learned that there is still hope, that there are still people who believe in peaceful negotiations. Some of them suggest they did not even know that there were people ‘from the other side’ sharing their peaceful thoughts.

Even though we sometimes kicked off group dynamic discussions by conversing about the role of pets in society, and such, we found that when the time was right we were also able to talk out human issues. These issues usually received 110 per cent patricipation level - this included topics such as women’s rights, social policy, globalization and a couple others. We all knew that any talks would not provide immediate answers, but rather that peaceful debate is a long-term method to solving complicated issues.

It is about “spreading the word,” one of our counselor’s said. This is true. A lot of people suggested that they had prejudice feelings towards ‘the other side’ before they joined Peacecamp, but left feeling no sense of hate or regret. We must spread this feeling across the world. I hope this is an inspiration to you all, and i hope that it will inspire you to give peace-orientated activities a shot. In reading this, I want you to realise that being biased will never bring solutions. If both sides victimize one another, or see themselves as victims, then there will be no solutions. It is rather paradox that in a camp full of adolescents I learned that we musn’t see life so black and white. We must learn to compromise with shades of grey in order to get something. Peace is never white. Although Peacecamp sounds very corny and ideological, I believe that the participants remained very realistic.

I believe that we must remain on, more or less, neutral ground to pave the road for mutual co-existance in this world. No matter what the situation. “To be neither actor nor victim,” is the camp slogan, but I believe that it is almost impossible to be neutral when you are personally affected. However, we can always try to see thing both both points of views through consuming a wide range of media and being open to different perspectives.

I have learned that peace starts with the youth. We must break the generation contract in which belief is passed down by our parents from generation to generation. Rather, we must be given the chance to make up our own minds through mingeling and debating with people our own age. We must come together in camps such as these and brainstorm. This is what I call the road to peace, and I think we are already on it.

SPREAD THE WORD!”

- rafi k.