Tag Archives: Peace League

by | May 16, 2013 · 2:52 pm

Spreading the Love – An Afternoon of Peace in the Middle East

American volunteer Jack Randolph posing with some of the girls from Usaphiya

American volunteer Jack Randolph posing with some of the girls from Usaphiya

Last Friday PPI – Middle East held a Peace League event for two Jewish teams from the cities of Haifa and Holon, one Arab team from Tamra, and a Druze team from the city of Usafiya. PeacePlayers runs events like these to give participants a chance to come together and play in competitive games on mixed teams with kids from different areas.

PPI participant Yael from Holon goofing around!

PPI participant Yahel from Holon goofing around!

For Jack Randolph, our American volunteer, it was his first time witnessing a Peace League event. Jack noticed how as an observer you would have no idea that the players are of religions that rarely mix with each other. Instead, you would see is a large group of teenage girls having a great time enjoying each other’s company and playing sports. Afterwards Jack said, “I was extremely impressed by the girls basketball ability and physical play. What was even cooler was that while the games were very competitive the participants really seemed to care about each other and want everyone to succeed.”

This is type of attitude PPI hopes to develop and teach all of its participants, and Peace Leagues are just another exciting way to show everyone that despite our differences we can come together and make the world a better place. Yahel Jovanovic, a new Jewish girl from the Holon team had this to say: “Playing with the Arab and Druze girls is normal to me now. I have been in PPI for over half a year so I know these girls well and consider them my friends. It was weird in the beginning when we first started playing but it isn’t anymore.”

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by | March 21, 2013 · 1:17 pm

PPI – Middle East Gets Busy Up North

All participants coming together to celebrate yet another PPI twinning

Haifa and Tamra participants coming together to celebrate yet another PPI twinning.

PeacePlayers – Middle East has been hard at work planning and putting on several exciting events for its participants as the Jewish holiday of Passover quickly approaches. Jewish PPI teams will have off for a couple of weeks during this period so we tried to pack in as many joint activities for Arab and Jewish kids before the start of the holiday season. Just in the past week we have hosted several twinnings and peace league tournaments to give kids multiple opportunities to get together.

For example, this past Friday PPI – ME hosted a peace league tournament in the north in the Druze community of Usafiya with their Jewish twinned team from Holon. You might remember meeting these girls in last week’s blog about the recent Peace Education Retreat.

A Jewish participant from Holon and a Druze from Usaphiya having some fun together at half court

A Jewish participant from Holon (left) and a Druze from Usafiya having some fun together at half court

The Druze are an Arab religious minority in Israel (they are neither Muslim nor Christian), and this young girls’ basketball team adds yet another dynamic to the diverse mix of PPI participants. This diversity further demonstrates how,  regardless of religion and other differences, PPI is teaching participants to see and treat each other as people.

Another event that occurred this past week was an extra large twinning including three Arab teams from Tamra and their three twinned Jewish teams from Haifa. The girls, whose ages ranged from about age 6 to 13, partook in basketball activities on several courts. The older girls enjoyed scrimmaging with each other on mixed teams and practicing the basketball skills which they have been learning. At the same time, younger girls competed in intense drills together in order to sharpen their dribbling and shooting abilities.

Girls from Tamra and American fellow Jamie Walsh having some fun during the twinning in Haifa

Girls from Tamra and American fellow Jamie Walsh having some fun during the twinning in Haifa

At both of these events it was clear that the girls were focused on playing basketball and having fun together, rather than focusing on any differences that could separate them.

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by | June 14, 2012 · 2:22 pm

PPI-ME 2012 Peace League Tournament “Israeli and Palestinian Girls Balling Together”

The players take a break from their training to smile for the camera.

Intensity was high!  A year’s worth of hard work and determination at weekly practices and “Twinnings” compounded with the newfound knowledge of PPI – ME’s peacebuilding curriculum was finally culminating in a three hour event.  For the girls participating, it seemed so natural.  For onlookers, it was a pleasure to watch.

PPI – ME participants stretch in preparation for the big game.

Participating teams at PPI – ME’s annual Peace League Tournament hailed from East and West Jerusalem, Pisgat Ze’ev, and Mate Yehuda.  The girls have worked so hard to get to this point, and now, this was my time to see how they have progressed in basketball and leadership skills, attitude and behavior and sportsmanship.  It was beyond the intensity on the court, but rather the chemistry that spoke loud and clear: these girls are a family!

Participants were split into three integrated teams.  Once they were divided, they began playing against each other for a total of three games. Everyone was cheering during the tournament-style event – and not just for their own teams. The girls, who come from not only different areas of Jerusalem, but from very different upbringings, took an interest in the game when they weren’t the ones playing.  They sat in the stands with the other friends and families, and watched and cheered their new-found friends on the court.

Guest coaches provide feedback to their players during a time-out.

The Jerusalem All Stars (an integrated team that competes in the National Basketball League) proved to be the dominating team with some of PPI-ME’s most advanced Palestinian and Israeli players. They made their presence known on the court with an intense defense and a great chemistry on both the defensive and offensive ends of the floor.

It was truly a victory for everyone!  At the end of the event, medals and trophies were distributed to all the victors.  Everyone had a great time!

GO TEAM PEACEPLAYERS!

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by | August 11, 2011 · 2:50 pm

Malak, Romy and Mayar: Palestinian and Israeli BFFs

(Left to Right) Mayar, Malak and Romy just hours after meeting each other at the Peace League.

It was an unlikely match. In April, Romy, a bubbly Jewish Israeli middle-schooler from the Israeli town of Herzliya, came to her first PeacePlayers activity. She heard about us from a friend of her parents: PPI – ME’s very own Manager of Basketball Operations Vito Gilic’. Amidst the tournament action on the court and the joshing around in the stands, she made two instant BFFs. Her two new friends: Malak and Mayar (better known by her nickname, Pistachio), Palestinian girls her age from East Jerusalem, about an hour’s drive from Romy’s hometown. Already at their first encounter, the three girls made plans to room together at the Peace Education Retreat, the three-day getaway that would take place the following month. At the retreat, the girls were three peas in a pod, playing together on the court and in the sand all day long. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Malak, Mayar (on left side of table) at Romy's family's house with PPI - ME Manager of Basketball Operations Vito Gilic'.

The girls’ parents have been brought into the fold as well. Romy’s parents attend many of the PeacePlayers events that she attends, as do Malak’s father and Mayar’s mother. Through PPI, the girls’ parents’ have become friendly as well.

Malak, Mayar and Romy’s conversations are a mix of Hebrew and Arabic. Romy only speaks Hebrew; Mayar only speaks Arabic; and Malak, a student at the Hand-in-Hand School for Bilingual education, speaks Hebrew and Arabic and helps both of the other girls understand each other.

Recently, Romy invited Malak and Mayar hang out with her in Herzliya. Malak and Mayar were excited to make the trip from East Jerusalem. The girls hung out on the beach and ate dinner with Romy’s family. Of course, they also played basketball: The three musketeers headed over to the Herzliya Sportech (where we recently held our Spring Tournament), where they met up with some of Romy’s friends and played around on the court.

(Left to right) Mayar, Malak and Romy take part in a workshop at the Peace Education Retreat.

It’s definitely common at PPI for Palestinian and Israeli kids to become friends. They pal around at events and they’re active on each others’ facebook pages. There still are challenges, however, in bringing them together outside of the comfortable sphere of our activities. Safety issues, community pressures and economic difficulties (i.e., many parents don’t have a car) are among the challenges. Malak, Mayar and Romy’s friendship has risen above those challenges. They do not see each other through the prism of the conflict between each others’ ethnic groups. They see each others as people, plain and simple.

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by | June 23, 2011 · 3:54 pm

Hoops and Laughs at PPI – ME’s Peace League

The third and final installment of the Peace League wrapped up this season.

The Hand in Hand Bilingual School gym hasn’t been this loud for a long time. Dozens of 5th-grade Palestinian and Israeli girls assembled for the third and final installment this season of the PPI – ME Peace League. Everyone was cheering during the tournament-style event – and not just for their own teams. The girls, who hailed from different areas of the country and came from different backgrounds, took an interest in the game when they sat in the stands and watched their newfound friends on the court. The girls from the three teams enjoyed each other’s company so much that hanging out with their new friends seemed to be just as much of a priority as basketball.

Guest coaches guide their players during a timeout.

Two of the teams, from East Jerusalem and Mateh Yehudah Regional Council, have been twinning together since the beginning of the year and even went on the Peace Education Retreat together last month. The girls have really hit it off in the past several months. As their coach Galit says:

“Of course before the first meeting there were some concerns about meeting new girls from a different background, but now they’re very excited before every meeting. They love seeing the girls here at Peace League.”

The event also included a guest team from Zikhron Ya’acov. They’ve met the girls from Mateh Yehuda and East Jerusalem only twice before, but they were also excited about seeing the PPI girls again. Coach Dorit from Zikhron Ya’acov says:

“There’s a calm, positive and accepting atmosphere in these meetings. It’s wonderful. We hope that there’ll be many more meetings between the teams, because it seems the girls really hit it off.”

The players high five after a game.

At the grand finale of Peace League, the girls were split into three integrated teams, so everyone had a chance to speak and play with girls from the two other teams. Once they were divided into teams, they began playing against each other for a total of three games. Referees and scorekeepers were recruited from our very own LDP teens that came to help out. At the end of the event, medals and trophies were handed out. But the fun and friendly atmosphere made everyone feel like a winner. Go Team PeacePlayers!

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by | April 21, 2011 · 1:23 pm

Friends from Near and Far Join PPI – ME in Jerusalem for the Peace League

The Peace League hosted teams at the Hand in Hand School in Jerusalem.

On Friday, April 8th PPI – ME’s team of girls in grade 5 from East Jerusalem hosted two teams at the Hand in Hand Bilingual School gym, for the first of two meetings of PPI – ME’s annual Peace League.

Participants chowed down on pizza after the tournament.

One visiting team came from nearby Mat’e Yehuda Regional Council. This team has been twinning with the East Jerusalem team over the past few months. The second visiting team came from Zikhron Ya’acov, a good two-hour drive north of Jerusalem. This was the first time this year that the girls from Zikhron Ya’acov met their counterparts from East Jerusalem and Mat’e Yehuda.

Referee and former PPI Fellow, David Lasday, works with a visiting team.

The day before the tournament the host team met in the gym, set up for the matches, and prepared signs announcing the Peace League and welcoming each of the visiting teams. The signs were posted on every corner of the gym during the event. During the tournament each team played against each other. As it happened, every team won one game. After the games were over, everyone had pizza and refreshments.

We threw Galit a surprise birthday party!

On the sidelines PPI – ME Manager of Basketball Operations Vito Gilic operated the scoreboard with some members of the PPI – ME Leadership Development Program. For the veteran PeacePlayers, this was an opportunity to help and guide the younger participants as well as practice their skills in operating the scoreboard, in the case that they are asked to help in future PPI – ME activities. David Lasday, former PPI Fellow, also pitched in serving as a referee. After the event was over, the participants threw a surprise birthday party for PPI – ME’s Logistical Manager Galit Sahar. Happy Birthday, Galit!

The Peace League is one of many activities generously funded by USAID.




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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

Want to take a simple action to support the boys and girls of PeacePlayers International – Middle East? We’re now eligible for inclusion in the latest edition of CauseWorld, a mobile app that lets you earn “karmas” – badges backed up by donations from Citi and Kraft – for your favorite causes just by visiting your own local hangouts. Vote for PPI to be one of three new Causes included in this round. (You can find us fourth from the bottom of the list on the right.) There’s no registration required and, with just a few seconds of your time, you’ll help others support PPI for a lifetime!

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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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