Building Understanding, One E-Mail at a Time

"I was full of fear about participating in a project with Americans," says Raya Khadish, a Palestinian teen living in one of the world's political hot spots: the West Bank. Thinking that people in the United States disliked Arabs, the 16-year-old girl worried about how she would be perceived.

Raya's fears were shared by other Palestinian teenagers approached to be a part of Cyber Bridges, a Catholic Relief Services program that links high school students in the United States with their counterparts in other countries via e-mail. "We were reluctant to get involved," shares 16-year-old Haitham Abu Arish, who lives in the small village of Beit Ula near Bethlehem.

But the Palestinian teenagers decided to give Cyber Bridges a chance. Every few weeks after school, groups of 10 to 15 students met in computer labs and send e-mails to Catholic high schoolers in America. They also created PowerPoint presentations about their daily lives, and participated in videoconferences and chat sessions.

There were plenty of surprises along the way. The Cyber Bridges group at Beit Ula was amazed that teenagers in the United States have summer jobs – girls as well as boys. "Here, only boys work," says one girl. They also asked about allowances and curfews for U.S. teens, and whether 18-year-olds in America live on their own or with their parents. "After they are 18, the American students can do what they want, without asking their parents. Here, with all things we take the opinion of our families. We don't just do what we want," explains another girl.

Another boy learned "American students eat junk food. Here the students pick what is more healthy." Did the Palestinian teens write that to the Americans in e-mails? "They would not like that," laughs one girl.

Bridges to Understanding

"There are some misunderstandings" between the students, says Ghaida Rahil, project officer for CRS' Bethlehem-area youth and education programs. A 15-year-old boy described a Cyber Bridges session with an American high schooler, who thought Palestinians are terrorists.

Many of the Palestinian students are concerned about the image of the Arab world that Americans receive from the U.S. media, and wish for more balance in news coverage. For their part, Palestinian teens get ideas about Americans from TV shows like Dr. Phil, which is shown in the Middle East, and think some types of behavior – like students beating other students – are common in the United States.

 The Bethlehem-area teens were also surprised by American kids' grasp of world events. "What shocked me is that the other side in the U.S. does not know much" about Palestinian issues, says Haitham. The Palestinian teens created photo presentations describing their history and culture, while the Americans sent information about their way of life as well.

The CRS program has also changed minds about social roles. "Before I joined the projects, I had a bad attitude regarding the girls who participate, because they are involved in joint activities with boys," admits a girl in Beit Ula village. "But after my friend encouraged me to participate, and then I did, I realized the importance for us as girls to be an active part in the society, same as boys."

If the American students came to visit them, "I'd take them to a beautiful mountainous area, Gila, for a picnic," says a girl. "I'd take them to a soccer playground," says a boy. If they visited America, they'd want to see nature, parks and the Statue of Liberty.

'We Are Here to Build'

For these teens living in isolated areas of a troubled region, and unable to travel freely, Cyber Bridges has opened windows to a larger world. "Catholic Relief Services has shown other people that we are here to build and not destroy," says Haitham.

Cyber Bridges has also built a foundation for peace and tolerance between two groups plagued by stereotypes about the other side. "When we got involved, our perceptions really changed. We found the Americans we communicated with have very peaceful and loving hearts," says Haitham.

"I came to feel that we have no problem with the American people, and I do respect and appreciate them," says Raya. "I hope someday I will have the chance to meet them in person."

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