This year, PPI's newest participants are as young as 1st and 2nd Graders.
It’s the height of twinning season, and almost all of PPI – ME’s teams have either had a twinning session recently or will have one soon. There are several new teams in the program, like our 1st and 2nd Graders (“Minnies”) in Ein Rafa, Jerusalem and elsewhere, meaning that for many, this will be the first time they meet and interact with someone from the ‘other side’ of the conflict. Though PPI-ME painstakingly prepares children for the experience, emotions can run high and players are often unsure what to expect.
In Holon, PPI-ME's veteran All Stars lead the way.
Luckily, PPI – ME has also got a wide-range of veteran participants, including its two All Stars teams in Jerusalem. For these fully integrated teams (both Arab and Jewish), every practice and every game is a twinning activity. Now they’re boasting their unique team identity, along with their great basketball skills, in games and practices across the country. It isn’t easy practicing 3-4 times per week, playing an official match once a week, having a monthly clinic with Limor Mizrahi, and still finding the strength to play on friendly matches. These seasoned veterans, though they may be new to the official Israeli Basketball League, are no strangers to living, eating and breathing basketball – they live on the court.
Two weeks ago both All Star teams – the younger team is made of 7th and 8th grade girls, the older is 9th and 10th grade girls – were invited for friendly matches in Holon, against teams of the same age from Kiryat Sharet high school.
Play was physical against Kiryat Sharet, historically one of the best high school basketball programs in Israel.
Kiryat Sharet high school’s basketball program is considered one of the best high school programs in Israel. For decades the city of Holon and the school invested great resources in basketball to make the program successful. Throughout this time, the Kiryat Sharet Boys teams and Girls teams played at the highest level of high school basketball in Israel. Many Israeli basketball players have come from Kiryat Sharet.
The younger teams took to to the court first, with the younger All Stars notching a relatively easy win. Then began the game for the older teams. It was a nail-biter from beginning to end, with all the girls digging deep in what quickly became a physical match. When the buzzer sounded, the older All Stars came out victorious as well, but not by much. After the game, the players shook hands, fierce competition giving way to sportsmanship. No doubt everybody – winners and losers – went home satisfied that day, after taking part in a thrilling match.
The work at PPI may be intended to influence players in the long run, but it bears fruit fast. Old conflicts seem vanish at the first jumpball. This is a lesson the girls on our All Star teams already know - they all have dear good friends from across the region’s social divide. It now falls to them to serve as icons of peace throughout the land, convincing others to follow suit. A new generation is joining them. As twinning season approaches, they’re naturally nervous. But these boys and girls walk the path of peace.
Despite the competitive game, sportsmanship ruled the day.
This project is partially made possible by the generous support of the American people through USAID.
