Givat Haviva: Face to Face
Givat Haviva: Face to Face
The Face to Face program at Givat Haviva is an encounter program for Jewish and Arab high-school students in Israel. The goals of the encounter are; to create a better understanding of one another, to dispel preconceived stereotypes, to reduce the feelings of fear, hatred, and alienation and to create a preliminary basis for dialogue on a joint future based on mutual respect between the Jewish and Arab citizens of the state. The program is based on a model developed by the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace at Givat Haviva over many years of experience in the field.The encounter is constructed of interactive workshops for mixed groups with joint facilitation (a Jewish facilitator and an Arab facilitator for each group). It also includes a joint cultural evening, party and overnight accommodations. Prior to the encounter the pupils undergo a uni-national process of clarification in the school, which includes an informative element presented by the teachers and a psychological element presented by Givat Haviva facilitators. Following the encounter the pupils participate in a workshop to process the experience and continue to maintain contacts with their peers through designated internet platforms. The teachers themselves participate in a half-day preparatory program in the school and in a mini-workshop during the pupils' encounter.