Blog | The Jerusalem Intercultural Center

Little Prince – Building Partnerships with the Municipality in Cleaning Up Jerusalem

In mid-August, we reported here about developing the joint work between residents from different neighborhoods and the municipal Sanitation Department. This is the result of the effective cross-cultural activist group gathered in our the Little Prince – Cleaning Up Jerusalem Together initiative. The goal is to promote the common goal of cleaning the city, while maintaining the principles of public participation: transparency, fairness, broad and informed decision making, and more.

Every meeting is a Zoom meeting these days

On Thursday, September 10, 2020, we held a second working meeting (via Zoom, of course!) with municipal officials, this time with the Enforcement and Policing Division. Ilan Sasson, Director of the Department, explained the current situation to the residents, and all spoke about wanting to employ and train many more city inspectors who oversee not only construction, parking, and business regulations, but also make sure that municipal ordinances for clean streets are also being followed. (There is currently a shortage of manpower in the department.)

In order to change residents’ habits from dirtying streets to maintain clean streets and supporting the work done by the Sanitation Department, it was agreed that it is necessary to significantly increase the number of tickets given for littering throughout the city. In order to streamline the work of the inspectors and keep Jerusalem clean, we were asked to assist the Municipal Supervision Division, by making a list of public places where residents regularly dump garbage (for example: playgrounds, parks, bus stops, street benches, etc.) and the times of day there are usually people there who are littering. The municipal inspectors will make sure to send inspectors to those places.

We are very grateful to the Jerusalem Municipality, which sees the residents as a resource and uses them to promote common interests such as cleaning up the city.

And here’s the post that was published in the Little Prince’s Facebook group:

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation and the US Embassy in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv for its continued support of the Little Prince!

Naomi Roff2020-10-23T11:15:08+00:00September 18th, 2020|Blog, The Little Prince - Cleaning Jerusalem Together|

MiniActive – Finding New Ways to Help East Jerusalem Palestinians Fight the Coronavirus

During the first wave of the novel coronavirus, East Jerusalem was barely hit. Unfortunately, as noted here and here, this time around, the picture is vastly different.

Examples of posts

The MiniActive network of 1,000 Palestinian women from East Jerusalem is rising to the call. In addition to videos that were made and disseminated on Facebook (you can read about that here), they are also helping in a citywide effort to establish an Arabic-language website that will collect all the relevant information from numerous sources in one space.

Part of this effort includes a question and answer section, which will be uploaded to the site. Until now, they’ve raised 19 questions, and all the relevant bodies are in the process of answering them.

Questions include: “Why are there people who manage to cancel the forced quarantine?”

This refers to a public process whereby residents receive SMS messages, “You’ve been found to have been near someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19. You must self-quarantine at home until XXX date.” These messages are based on contact tracing methods, and legally require anyone who receives them to self-quarantine at home until the noted date. The answer to the question? If you can prove that you were NOT at that particular place at the particular time noted (While this method has been largely successful, there are sometimes mistakes.), and the person who you were supposed to have been in contact with is NOT a close family member or other member of your household, then the quarantine can be cancelled.

Another question: “If a person was diagnosed with COVID-19, how are the rest of the members of the household supposed to be checked? Are they to go to a local testing station or to have Magen David Adom test them at their homes?”

The answer – they need to have MDA come to their homes to test them. As soon as one family member is diagnosed, they must not be going out of the house so as not to spread the disease even more.”

Here are posts from MiniActive’s Facebook page telling about these Q&A sessions:

And many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation and to Natan for their ongoing support of MiniActive!

Naomi Roff2020-10-09T11:45:27+00:00September 15th, 2020|Blog, Effective Activism, MiniActive|

MiniActive – Online Anti-COVID-19 Workshops

We’ve written here, here, and here about how the MiniActive network of 1,000 Palestinian women in East Jerusalem is helping to fight this wave of the coronavirus.

Yet another direction their taking is through online testimonials, followed by sincere and honest questions and answers.

First Zoom session with 50 participants

They are doing this through Zoom sessions every few days for women in the network, each time discussing a different aspect of how the coronavirus has affected the lives of different women.

Many participants tuned in to hear about coronavirus in the family first-hand

On August 30, for example, one woman – one of MiniActive’s volunteer regional coordinators – discussed how it was for her and her family to live through the coronavirus. Nearly 50 people attended this Zoom session. Here’s a Facebook post from MiniActive about it:

In a second session, a woman, who accompanies her sick son to tests and treatments at the hospital, described how one should – or should not – act in hospitals and medical centers, especially during the coronavirus crisis. She also spoke about how things many people do – which are not according to the guidelines – serve to spread the disease and make matters much worse. There were some 30 women who participated in this session. Here’s the Facebook post from the MiniActive page regarding that session:

MiniActive plans to continue these sessions, each time focusing on a different aspect. In the near future, for example, the project will feature a doctor to speak about some of the medical aspects. We’ll keep you posted!

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation and to Natan for their ongoing support of MiniActive!

Naomi Roff2020-09-19T10:32:44+00:00September 11th, 2020|Blog, MiniActive|

Atta’a Assistance Center Opens Branch in Issawiya

The Atta’a Assistance Center for the Rights of Palestinian Residents (also see its internet site) has been striving to help all Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem since 2004. For some time, in addition to its web site and Facebook page, and in addition to (pre-COVID-19) regular workshops and lectures, Atta’a provided one-on-one assistance at three centers around Jerusalem: Sur Baher, Wadi Joz and Beit Hanina.

For some time, Atta’a has sought to expand into the neighborhood of Issawiya. Now, despite, or maybe because of the additional complexities brought upon us by the coronavirus crisis, Atta’a was finally able to open a branch there.

Photograph of Issawiya, Photo credit here

Issawiya is a complicated neighborhood, with many many problems. It is a Palestinian neighborhood in Jerusalem located on Mt. Scopus, with approximately 20,000 Palestinian residents. It was part of the territory conquered in Jerusalem by Israeli forces during the Six Day War. The village falls under the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem municipality and its citizens have the status of permanent residents in Jerusalem.

In Issawiyah the housing is crowded, infrastructure is poor, and few residents have full access to the rights guaranteed them by international law. Their daily life continues to be disrupted by closures, restriction on movement, hostile police raids and use of excessive force. Since the summer of 2019, needs have become even more urgent in Issawiya. Unrest and friction between neighborhood residents and the ‘Israeli establishment’ – Municipality, police, etc. – have been the source of a great deal of tension. For example, the local community center, which is operated by the Municipality, was set on fire, since it is seen as a symbol of the Zionist occupying forces. Schools were closed, and children are questioned.

So, despite all the the extra pressure Atta’a is under because of the coronavirus crisis, it opened up a branch in Issawiya in August. It is located in a ‘neutral’ area of the neighborhood, which is accepted by everyone and enables everyone to feel safe going there. It is open for 3 hours a week, as coronavirus restrictions allow, and also receives Whatsapp messages to coordinate in advance.

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation and the Rayne Foundation for its ongoing support of Atta’a, and to the Jerusalem Model and the Bader Philanthropies for their support of our emergency activities in East Jerusalem in response to COVID-19.

Naomi Roff2020-10-30T11:34:57+00:00September 9th, 2020|Attaa, Blog|

HoliGame – A Million Ways to Improve Cultural Competence in the Workplace

In Israel it seems that there is a holiday or national commemoration for each of its identities or communities – nearly every day. How should it be celebrated? What’s the best way to commemorate in a culturally competent manner?

In other words, how do we create an inclusive and culturally competent environment in organizations and in the workplace?

Before COVID-19, we created HoliGame, together with the Israeli Forum for Employment Diversity at the Ministry of Labor and Welfare and the Israeli Forum for Employment Diversity. (You can read about it here.) The HoliGame is a great opportunity to become familiar with different communities’ holidays and commemorative days, and enables participants to deal with questions and dilemmas through an enjoyable and interactive game.

The original HoliGame

In the wake of COVID-19, we became even more creative, creating an online interactive version of the game, based on the popular television hit, Who Wants to be Millionaire. We launched the new game on July 27, in an event that integrated questions and dilemmas, with one goal – to be the first to reach a million!

The new online HoliGam, based on the popular, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Just like on TV, the 20 particiants were asked increasingly difficult questions about different holidays, how to celebrate and commemorate them in a diverse workplace. Questions included: What do you do if different holidays coincide? How do you make everyone feel a part of company-wide celebrations? What do you do if someone isn’t satisfied?

The game includes dozens of questions, safety nets, fascinating discussions – and the opportunity to reach the top-prize question.

Discussion dilemmas of diversity and inclusion on the way to the million

The HoliGame targets diverse organizations and companies, who seek to become more culturally competent. Since its launch organizations have enthusiastically engaged participants to talk freely about diversity, inclusion and cultural competency, and improve practices in the workplace. We anticipate doing more and more of these kinds of online workshops.

So who’s up for a round of HoliGame?Here’s a post about it in Facebook (in Hebrew)

rachelly2020-09-04T16:59:53+00:00September 5th, 2020|Blog, Cultural Competence, Cultural Competence in the Workplace|

MiniActive Women in Municipality Video – Urging East Jerusalem Residents to Follow COVID-19 Regulations

We wrote here, here, and here about East Jerusalem’s fantastic fight against the coronavirus in the spring of 2020. The Jerusalem Post even wrote about it here.

Unfortunately, the situation today is much worse, with Palestinian neighborhoods in East Jerusalem being among the hardest hit in the city. You can read here about what’s going on.

Facebook page where videos were uploaded

Since its establishment in 2012, the MiniActive women have been leading the way in a number of social causes from garbage collection to physical infrastructure in the neighborhoods. Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis they have also been leading the way, disseminating information and helping local needy families. You can read about that here, here and here.

Now, MiniActive women are providing a women’s voice to the fight against coronavirus, in two videos that were made in cooperation with the Forum for East Jerusalem, which was formed to fight the coronavirus in East Jerusalem, together with the Jerusalem Municipality and other bodies.

Here’s one of the videos (in Arabic):

And here’s the other:

Let’s hope that these videos help the efforts to contain the coronavirus in East Jerusalem.

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation and to Natan for their ongoing support of MiniActive!

Naomi Roff2020-09-19T10:35:32+00:00September 2nd, 2020|Blog, MiniActive|

A New Web Site for the Little Prince

The Little Prince has a new web site!

In May 2020 the Little Prince (well – the full name is “The Little Prince – Cleaning Jerusalem Together“) was 3 years old. This group of Jerusalemite activists – Jews, Arabs, religious and non-religious) is the main impetus for making Jerusalem a cleaner city a top priority of the Jerusalem Municipality. We are proud to be helping this activist community from day one and be the facilitators of many of its processes. In honor of this occasion and of the development and growth of the initiative, we decided to develop a website in Hebrew and Arabic.

Screen shot of Little Prince website

The site describes the project, presents its stages of development, success stories, and materials we created over the years. You can learn about our different methods, view pictures and articles about our work and achievements as a result of the work of our dedicated members.

We can final refer people to read about our accomplishments and enable them to contact us. You, too, are welcome to enter!

Here’s a link to the site: https://www.littleprince.org.il/

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation, the Natan Fund, and the US Embassy in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, for their support of the Little Prince.

Naomi Roff2020-08-29T05:42:45+00:00August 30th, 2020|Blog, The Little Prince - Cleaning Jerusalem Together|

MiniActive Youth – Providing Relief and Enrichment during Corona Time

During this time of great uncertainty, MiniActive Youth continues to provide constructive activities, which help the community and also give the youth something positive to do during the summer break.

Doing constructive activities during summer break

Here, the youth built storage options, worked in the garden, and created their own raised beds.

Good times during summer vacation

They also had a healthy lunch. Yum!

Looks good!

Congratulations to the MiniActive Youth! Here’s the Facebook post:

And more pictures from work a few days before:

Many thanks to the Leichtag Foundation‘s Jerusalem Model for their support of this summertime initiative for youth. And many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation and to Natan for their ongoing support of MiniActive!

Naomi Roff2020-09-11T04:54:52+00:00August 25th, 2020|Blog, MiniActive|

Intercultural Communication in Mental Health Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic

We wrote here about our first Zoom-based meeting for cultural competency coordinators in health care during the coronavirus crisis. The second meeting, held on June 24, focused on mental health.

Ofra, Director of Special Programs in Mental Health, Ministry of Health, opens the online session

The meeting included 25 professionals, most of them cultural competency coordinators and coordinators for patient experience in psychiatry, for hospital-based as well as community-based care.

It was important and helpful to pause for a moment during these exceptional times, and reflect upon the changes in interpersonal and intercultural communication that characterize the recent period. We saw that many of the challenges stemmed from the restrictions that prevent family or other visitors from being able to mediate or be extra support systems for the patients.

Sometimes solutions have been found. In psychotherapy, for example, the challenges of not being able to see facial expressions while wearing a mask has been solved by wearing plastic shields, or by remote therapy. However, technological barriers often prevent the transition to online therapy, including lack of physical access to computers and a lack of access to treatment in the appropriate language, especially among the older population. Many therapists and treatment centers are trying to provide treatment in different ways to protect the health of the patients, without sacrificing quality and cultural competence. At the same time, they fear for their own health and safety.

It was very exciting to hear about the solutions taken in the various organizations:

An effort to provide solutions for speakers of lesser-used languages through organizations and representatives from consulates in the Sharon area;
Tablets and training for patients in Acco;
Translation of explanatory pages on the isolation unit in various languages at Hadassah Ein Kerem;
Use of recorded and culturally adapted tutorials by phone or video at a hospital in Be’er Sheva, and more.

At the end of the session, all felt that they had learned a great deal. The warm and positive responses that were sent afterward definitely reinforced this feeling.

rachelly2020-10-09T11:46:47+00:00August 25th, 2020|Blog, Cultural Competence in Health Services|

MiniActive – Providing Women with Important Life Skills in the Shadow of COVID-19

On Tuesday, August 11, MiniActive finished a 5-session life skills course for its members.

Learning life skills for success

This course gave the women skills to help them deal with the stresses of the day, especially those associated with the coronavirus crisis. We received very very positive feedback from the women. If they could have, they would have continued with the meetings.

Participants in the Life Skills course

Here are some pictures from the final meeting. Here’s a Facebook post (in Arabic) from the MiniActive Facebook page:

Many thanks to the Jerusalem Model for their support of this summertime initiative for youth. And many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation and to Natan for their ongoing support of MiniActive!

Naomi Roff2020-08-19T13:44:17+00:00August 22nd, 2020|Blog, Identity Groups and Conflicts, MiniActive, Palestinians/Arabs|