Israelis and Palestinians may be as far apart from each other as they
have ever been, certainly when it comes to the never-ending saga that
is the Two-State Solution. Yet as the Palestinian Authority heads to New
York this week to confront the Israeli government at the United Nations
with a declaration of statehood, back in Israel a group of Jewish and
Arab kids are laying the foundations for a more hopeful future through
the art of storytelling. They are taking part in a groundbreaking
program called Story Swap International (SSI).
Story Swap is an innovative educational project that uses
storytelling to foster understanding among diverse populations, whether
in conflicted territories or in an English classroom. Established in
2007 by the Aspen Writers' Foundation
(AWF) Story Swap has since taken place all over the world: within
neighborhoods, across economic divides, over state lines and in numerous
countries.
