August 25 , 2008
Thinking Together-Celebrating Together
Ten Years of Student Exchange between Bethlehem and Cologne
Saturday night in a restaurant in Beit Jala near Bethlehem: Students from Bethlehem University and the Catholic University of Applied Sciences Cologne meet for the last time to look back on a week spent together in Bethlehem. The students dance and exchange gifts – all in a very joyful atmosphere. Two of the Bethlehem University students, however, cannot join the party. They can’t leave their home because their neighborhood, the Duheisha refugee camp adjacent to Bethehem, is surrounded by Israeli soldiers that evening.
Thus, the harsh contrast that had underscored the whole previous week became perceptible once again. On the one side the continuous confrontation with the numerous difficulties and challenges the students from Bethlehem, as well as the rest of the West Bank and East Jerusalem face, on the other side working on joint projects, discussing, celebrating, and making new friends. Here’s a small review in pictures:
Prof. Dr. Armin Wildfeuer, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the KFH Cologne, at the opening ceremony of this year’s exchange program, and Brother Robert Smith, PhD at this year’s graduation, which the German guests also attended.
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A play with the Arabic title “Lesh La?” - “Why not?”, a production by Bethlehem University students, gave the German audience a vivid insight into the difficult situation of women in Palestinian society. The play was presented in the form of a forum theater, in which the audience is confronted with a problematic situation and then invited to solve it by taking an active role on stage. |
In addition to numerous excursions, the exchange between the students on an academic level constituted a crucial part of the program. In presentations and discussions the students dealt with different topics in their fields of study, including Social Sciences and Education. For example, one discussion involved the impact of globalization on Palestinian society. |
The faculty of both universities exchanged their expert knowledge, here at a lecturers’ conference in the conference room of the Faculty of Education. |
Some of the participants had even become acquainted before the beginning of the exchange program in Bethlehem. Via videoconference, students and faculty of both universities dealt with the topic “Participation in Palestine and Germany” in a two-weekend workshop. |
Eventually, the group was able to continue the discussion face-to-face and exchange their views and ideas about how the individual can take an active part in the respective societies.
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Naturally, there were also several social events and parties throughout the week, among those a “German Night” which was also attended by numerous guests from various German institutions in the West Bank
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Indivisa manent – Let us all be united:The motto of the De La Salle Christian Brothers, who founded Bethlehem University, also applies to the exchange program with the KFH Cologne. Initiated by the two universities’ Social Science departments, it has been running for 10 years, now includes additional faculties and continues this Fall semester when a group from Bethlehem will visit Cologne. |
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