Tag Archives: Esawiah

by | April 26, 2012 · 1:34 pm

Double the MiniFest, Double the Fun!

LDP youth led games and teambuilding activities during this spring's MiniFest.

After having such a great MiniFest this past December, we decided to have a second one this spring. For those of you who need a refresher, MiniFest is a special happening for our youngest (and cutest!) Palestinian and Israeli Kids. In December, the MiniFest boasted a holiday theme, and this time around the theme was fun, which is an important part of bridging divides, especially for children. And by reaching children as young as six, PPI is helping them grow up with co-existence as a way of life. And a fun way of life at that!

MiniFest's main objective: Having fun while learning to coexist.

And fun it was. Sixty kids ages 6-10 came down to the Hand-in-Hand gym from the East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Beit Safafa and Esawiah, the West Jerusalem neighborhood of Katamon and from Ein Rafah and Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim, which are both located just outside Jerusalem. This event was a departure from the usual dribbling and passing of previous activities, with kids getting a chance to let loose on inflatable gymborees. As always, the youth of the Leadership Development Program (LDP) were there, leading team building games designed specifically to take place on the inflated playground.

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by | September 30, 2010 · 2:11 pm

Khaled and “The PPI Way”

Zena making a shot under Khaled's wachful eye.

Khaled is eighteen years old, but his demeanour is that of a veteran coach. Sure, everybody’s shy at first, but Khaled knows he’s got something real to be proud of: Khaled is a PeacePlayer to the bone.

When PPI first kicked off its programs in the Middle East in 2005, Khaled joined the basketball practices in Esawiah, a community in East Jerusalem. This wasn’t an easy place to be a PeacePlayer. Esawiah has received throughout the years – rightly or not – the reputation of a community deeply skeptical of “peace” and “coexistence” initiatives. But PPI – ME has successfully operated its program there for several years, and several Esawiah players are now in PPI – ME’s Leadership Development Program.

Khaled has grown with, and will continue to grow with, the program. His years as a PeacePlayer shaped him into a conscientious member of his community. Khaled went through the PPI curriculum and the Leadership Development Programme. He also received his coaching certificate and became a local leader, working with PPI as a coach to bring up the next generation of local leaders.

Some of the newest PeacePlayers in PPI-ME's Ein Raffa program.

Last Sunday, on a PPI – ME staff meeting to prepare for the new season, Managing Director Karen Doubilet asked Khaled if he could help out with the opening practice of PPI – ME’s new programme in Ein Raffa.  The Ein Raffa team is made of first- and second-graders, and is scheduled to twin with the programme in the nearby Jewish town of Beit Shemesh. Unlike the children of Ein Raffa, Khaled was somewhat shy at first. But a couple of dribble-and-shoot drills later everybody was excited. Poised with confidence, Khaled once again instructed the newbies how to become a PeacePlayer.

Khaled won’t coach the children of Ein Raffa this season. In the mornings he’s working in his brother’s business. In the evenings he’s got prep school for university. He’s getting ahead in life, and for him, this year, that might mean he’ll have to work harder to stay involved with PPI – ME. In addition to Ein Raffa, Khaled will be working with the All Stars and several other teams, forgoing regularly coaching a team of his own to contribute to a variety of projects. Khaled is proof that “The PPI Way” works. His basketball skills, his will to pass those skills forward, his poise in life, his pride in himself and his ambition for the future make him the perfect PeacePlayer; they make him the reason PPI exists.

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by | March 25, 2010 · 1:29 pm

The Newest PPI – ME Team

Team huddle after the first twinning of the programming season

At the beginning of the 2009–10 programming season, PPI – ME formed a new team for 8th grade girls at the Hand in Hand School for Bilingual Education in Jerusalem. Though the girls are learning basketball for the first time, they have quickly picked up the sport and regularly play alongside some of PPI – ME’s more experienced athletes. The group itself is a reflection of the diversity of the school – Arabic, Hebrew, English and Dutch are among the languages spoken by team members. This year the Hand in Hand School twins with teams from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Esawiah and the town of Beit Shemesh. The girls have been coming together twice per month for joint practices and games, all leading up to the much-anticipated Jerusalem Peace League, which tips off next month. Below are some highlights from this season’s Hand in Hand twinning activities:

The girls participate in a team-building dribbling exercise with encouragement from LDP volunteers.

Hustling after a loose ball on the court.

Cheering on their teammates during a game.

Posing for a picture after a twinning.

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by | February 18, 2010 · 11:41 am

PPI – ME Gears Up for a New Season of the Peace League

Make sure you check out the end of this post to learn how you can help support PeacePlayers International for free with just two simple clicks.

Girls from Esawiah pose with their coach, Basil, and LDP volunteers before playing in a "mini-basket" game.

In preparation for the 2010 season of the PPI – ME Peace Basketball League, a unique project bringing together Arab, Jewish and integrated teams, PPI – ME athletes of all ages have been taking part in friendly scrimmages. Girls between 8 and 10 years old from Beit Safafa, the Keshet School, Esawiah and the Hand in Hand School (the “Mini-Basket” bracket) have played in several tournaments, learning the fundamentals of basketball and becoming more familiar with the rules of the game.

"College" players driving to the basket.

Meanwhile, PPI – ME’s “College” level teams, ages 10-13, have also seen regular on-the-court action. Each Friday, girls from Beit Safafa and the Keshet School gather at the Hand in Hand School in Jerusalem for “Game Day,” an afternoon of scrimmaging on mixed teams. After the girls finish, the boys of Beit Safafa and Katamon take the floor. Not only do these events provide an opportunity for PPI – ME youth to gain game-time experience, but they also represent a marked increase in twinning activity. This programming season, many PPI – ME teams are twinning at least once per week, if not more. This has immeasurably strengthened the relationships between participants, who have bonded over basketball in spite of language and other barriers.

Efrat from the Keshet School exchanges a high-five with PPI - ME Basketball Operations Manager Vito Gilic'.

Jump ball to start the LDP vs. AIS game

After tipping off at the American International School (AIS) tournament, the Leadership Development Program (LDP) squad has continued to sharpen its skills with numerous scrimmages. LDP boys played against the Jerusalem School as well as the Anglican School, posting one win and one loss thus far. The Girls’ LDP kept its winning streak alive with a victory over AIS, which recently traveled to Jerusalem from northern Israel in order to play against this talented PPI – ME team. With many more games already scheduled and the LDP slated to participate in the next AIS tournament on February 28th, the group is poised for a busy – and most importantly, fun – spring.

Coach Samer Elayan leads the team

Playing defense

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by | January 28, 2010 · 1:52 pm

LDP Girls Win First Place at “Peace League” Tournament

The LDP team show off their first-place medals.

On January 17th, PPI – ME’s male and female LDP squads traveled to the city of Even Yehuda to participate in the American International School’s (AIS) annual “Peace League” game day. The tournament, exclusively for high school-aged youth, brought together teams from Israel and the West Bank for an afternoon of friendly competition.

Receiving game-time instructions from Vito Gilic.

Both PPI – ME teams played a first-round game against the Bethlehem School, with the winner advancing to the championship match. Despite an even score until the final minutes, the LDP Boys lost a hard-fought first game and went on to play the Jerusalem School for third place.

Using a stifling full-court press that forced numerous turnovers, the LDP Girls beat the Bethlehem School by 20 points in their first-round matchup. The team employed this winning strategy again in the championship game against the AIS squad, which they also defeated by a margin of 20. In recognition of their achievement, the girls received gold medals and a first-place trophy at the end of the day.

Going strong to the basket.

PPI – ME has participated in the AIS “Peace League” for several years, and is proud to have brought a girls’ team for the first time this programming season. For the players from Beit Safafa, Esawiah, Katamon, Jaffa and Beit Shemesh, the tournament provided an opportunity to bond and to gain experience playing against other skilled opponents. Both LDP teams are now eagerly preparing for the next “Peace League,” to be held in February 2010.

Below are a few more images from the day’s events:

Going for a steal.

Shooting under pressure.

D-ing up.

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by | December 10, 2009 · 3:15 pm

At PPI – ME, the “WNBA” Is in Season

"WNBA" players from Beit Safafa, Esawieh and Leyada High School

The “WNBA” league, PeacePlayers International – Middle East’s oldest female twinning group, held its first event of the season on Thursday, December 3rd. Girls from the PPI – ME communities of Beit Safafa and Esawiah – who have participated in the program for over three years – joined members of the Leyada High School basketball team for a joint practice led by PPI – ME Basketball Operations Manager and professional coach Vito Gillic’.

This “WNBA” season represents a continuation of last year’s successful “Premiere League” twinnings, during which the girls competed on four integrated teams in a league format that culminated with playoffs and a championship game. With the summer break and holidays behind them, the girls were ready to pick up where they had left off.

As the PeacePlayers shuffled into the gym, they excitedly caught up with one another while lacing up their basketball shoes. It was immediately clear that the girls had lost neither their basketball skills over the break, nor their friendships.

"Quick Hands, Quick Feet" Warm-up Drill

And with these girls, basketball is business. As always, they came into the gym ready to play. In twinned pairs, the girls warmed up by practicing their layups, ball handling skills and coordination.

Throughout practice, the athletes also seemed to work on their cheering skills. “Yalla, yalla!” meaning “Let’s go let’s go!” constantly bounced off the walls of the gym as the girls ran hard through the drills.

At the end of the practice, the group split into four teams for scrimmaging. A coach was assigned to each team to provide both advice and encouragement to the players.

Jump Ball!

The athletes worked well together and it is clear that they have high hopes for the season. As the girls left the gym, they seemed to only be thinking of the next practice…”Yalla, isn’t it Thursday again yet?”

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