Staff Biographies
Elan Divon
- Executive Director
Elan Divon has been serving as the Executive Director of Peace Camp Canada and its affiliate camps for the past three years. Arriving to the organization in 2004 as facilitator for a leadership building program he created and developed, Elan later directed the camp in 2005, and went on to serve as its Executive Director ever since.
As Executive Director, Elan worked to develop and enhance the PCC program model, its vision and public profile. In 2007 Elan partnered with the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) to establish a peace building program on the grounds of St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. The program, which consisted of intensive dialogue and the youth’s collaborative work on a theatre production, brought together teens from troubled areas such as the Israeli town of Sderot, and the Palestinian town of Jenin and its surrounding refugee camp.
During Elan’s tenure as Executive Director, Peace Camp Canada has become
one of the leading peace building programs in North America, gaining recognition
and endorsements from the Canadian, Israeli and Palestinian governments
while attracting the attention of Canadian Foreign Minister (and present
Defense Minister) Mr. Peter Mackay.
At present, Elan is working to bring Peace Camp Canada to Toronto where
Palestinian and Israeli youth will work together under the direction and
guidance of professional film makers, to produce short films that are reflective
of their lives, the conflict, and their struggle for peace, normality and
security.
Elan’s professional experience further encompasses the Marketing world as
well as high school teaching, the latter during his graduate studies in
Boston. Elan holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of London
(England), as well as Masters Degrees from Harvard and Brandeis Universities.
Linda Divon
Linda Divon: Born in the United States and currently a resident of Jerusalem
Israel, Linda has had the opportunity to travel, live and work in various
countries throughout the world due to her husband’s career as an Israeli
diplomat. These travels have brought Linda to such places as India, Sri-Lanka,
Ethiopia, and (most recently) Canada, and have enlivened Linda’s appreciation
for the richness of cultural variety inherent in our world. “One of the
greatest things that I’ve learned from being exposed to so many varied cultures
and ways of life” Linda explains, “is that beyond our surface differences
lies a great deal of similarity. We all want to be happy, to be loved, to
dream…and we all want to find meaning in this world, by making a difference
and connecting to other people”…
Linda has worked in a variety of capacities, from teaching English, to working
with Israeli immigrants, to hosting, planning and coordinating events for
world dignitaries and diplomats (as part of her diplomatic responsibilities)
and is currently involved in the business world.
However it is the work with Palestinian and Israeli teens vis a-vis Peace Camp Canada that has proven most rewarding and has brought Linda the most fulfillment. Between 2004 and 2005 Linda was instrumental in the creation and establishment of Peace Camp Canada in Ottawa and now serves as its Regional Director.
In 2006 Linda Divon organized and facilitated the regional work for
Peace It Together, a peace camp in Vancouver.
Linda has a degree in English Literature from the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, and is the proud mother of three children.
Manar Alnatsha
Manar Alnatsha is a Palestinian born in the city of Jerusalem, living in Hebron city in south West Bank. Manar has a BA degree in Journalism and Political Science from Birzeit University in Palestine. Currently Manar works as a program officer in World Vision Jerusalem West Bank Gaza in long term developmental programs. Most interesting things for Manar include traveling, learning about cultures and religions, and networking with NGOs and people around the globe.
Manar has initiated and implemented several community service programs in the city of Hebron; the programs include mobilizing women for entrepreneurship projects, drama activities for children, and recreational activities for children with disabilities. In addition, Manar is an active member and volunteer in numerous national and international NGOs that work in conflict resolution and peace building, such as Seeds Of Peace, Miracle corners of the World, Israeli Palestinian Japanese student conference, The Mediation and Conflict Resolution Institute in Jerusalem, and other organizations.
Manar also works in the Media field; as an intern in one of the leading Palestinian daily newspapers and works as editor assistant for a magazine called The Olive Branch. She is involved with international youth committee in establishing a webpage for youth to learn about the conflicts in the world and introducing the Palestinian Israeli conflict from both sides.
Manar has been involved with peace promotion institutions and initiatives since she was 15 years, her vision includes empowering youth to take the lead in peace building efforts during and after the conflict, starting youth social entrepreneurship, and increasing their awareness about global issues.
Muna Aghawani
I became a participant in a peace program that gathered Palestinian and Israeli teenage girls after finishing my high school in the summer of 1996. It was a very moving experience since it was the first time I’ve ever met an Israeli … my enemy, which I had considered to be the reason for all the injustice and misery being suffered by my people. In the camp I got to live, eat, talk and share bunks with new friends. It was a very powerful experience to see “an Israeli” as just another girl who, like me, wants to live her life and plan her future, who also cares about her family and people as well. The experience meant so much to me that in the summer of 1999 I returned to the same camp to be a staff member. After finishing my Bachelor Degree from Birzeit University in Ramallah I spent the next five years returning to Building Bridges as a counselor, a facilitator, and a home group leader. While I was studying for my Masters I also became a facilitator and a counselor for three years with another program, Face to Face/ Faith to Faith, that promoted dialogue between different cultural and religious backgrounds. These experiences resulted in priceless friendships that were developed with the “other side”, friendships that proved to cross over all cultural barriers and conflict to be there in times of need. I also learned how to communicate through listening and how to improve expressing my self. I enjoyed and learned more when I was guiding others through the same processes that I went through when I was a participant.
Bassam
Ghazal
Bassam Ghazal is a Muslim Palestinian peace activist born in Nablus, West-Bank. He finished his high school in 2005, and currently studying for his B.A. degree in Accounting at An-Najah National University, besides working in computer field. Bassam started his peace-work in Germany, through participating in a peace camp "Vacation from war" which gathered about 70 Palestinians, Israelis, and Israeli-Arabs aged 15-45.
Bassam was a camper in Peace Camp Canada 2005, and this summer returning
to the camp as a counselor, since he revealed a high potential, enthusiasm,
and concern in building peace and narrowing the gap between the Palestinian
and Israeli youth.
He is also a friend of IPCRI (Israel/Palestine Center for Research &
Information), which calls for Two States for Two People, End of Occupation
- End of Conflict.
He was especially interested in creating friendships and international relations,
traveling, learning languages, and fixing computers.
Ibrahim
Miari
Ibrahim Miari was born in Acco, Israel in 1975. He currently lives in Boston,
Massachusetts in the US, where he is a second year graduate student in an
MFA Theatre Education and Directing program at Boston University. Ibrahim
graduated from the Western Galilee College in 1997 and the Acco Theatre
Center's Actor
Training Program in 1999 and has performed both in theatre, dance and film
throughout Israel, Palestine, Europe, and the United States. Ibrahim was
the Theatre Director for PCC in 2005, during which the campers performed
an original play based on their own life experiences. Ibrahim is really
looking forward to serving as the Theatre Director again this year at Peace
Camp Canada. He is very excited to meet all of the brave campers who will
be engaging in this amazing process of growth, transformation, understanding,
and peace building.
Eve
Shapiro
Eve Shapiro is a Jewish American peace activist from Boston, Massachusetts. Eve studied sociology and education at Brandeis University and holds a masters in Education from Harvard University. Over the past 15 years Eve has been involved in a wide range of peace work, most recently organizing city-wide youth conferences on the US led war in Iraq, religious conflicts in Ireland, and racism in Boston. She has worked with Peace Games, teaching peacebuilding and conflict resolution to elementary school students, and with Freedom House, engaging middle school students in social justice and activism in their community. She has also taught courses for high school and college students. Eve was a PCC counselor in 2005 and returns this year as a facilitator.
Ms. Dalal S. Erakat
Ms. Dalal S. Erakat is a Palestinian born in Jerusalem/Occupied Palestine, currently living between Jericho and Ramallah. Dalal works at Birzeit University as the Institute of International Studies. She holds a BA degree in Political Science from the University of Jordan and an MA degree in Diplomatic Studies from the Diplomatic Academy of London at the University of Westminster. She has volunteered in a number of NGOs and camps calling for co-existence with the other side.
She is also a member in a number of organizations calling for the enlargement of the role of youth in the Palestinian political life. She has also completed courses in several areas like Diplomacy (Procedures and Protocol), Negotiation Skills, Conflict Resolution, Leadership and Co-existence. Furthermore, she has presented Palestine in a number of international conferences in Switzerland, Holland, and the United States. She has researched the Palestinian-Israeli Peace Process and shed light on the era between 2000-2004; in addition, she has written papers on the Palestinian-Irish relations and quite a good number of other papers taking Palestine from many different angles.
Dala is now looking for funding to cover her PhD program in London to start September 2005 on the Palestinian- Israeli peace process; its gaps and chances.
Jaimi Gardner
Jaimi Gardner is a Canadian born Jew from Toronto. She recently completed her BA in Political Science and hopes to pursue a Masters in either International Conflict Management or International Development. She spent the third year of her degree studying in Mexico and is now fluent in Spanish. Her passions are traveling, dancing, learning languages and learning about world issues.
Jaimi's interest in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict was sparked after her Birthright Israel trip in February 2002. After returning from Israel, she felt a new connection to Judaism and Israel. After she came home, she began to study the history of the conflict and desired to learn more about what the main issues were and the two perspectives. This thirst for learning the two sides derived from the amount of conflict she saw at her University between the large Jewish and Arab populations. She commenced taking courses such as International Conflict Management, Middle Eastern Politics, World Religions and Minorities in the Middle East. Within these classes, she researched and wrote papers on issues dealing with Israel and the conflict. She also began to listen to speakers, read books and watch movies from the two perspectives.
Jaimi first learned about peace camps working at a sleepover camp last summer where she engaged in political discussion with four Palestinian girls aged 10-14. One had attended the international peace camp Children International Summer Village (CISV) and was so open and inspirational that she gave Jaimi hope that one day if we teach children about peace that we may be able to create it. All four girls were incredibly open to discuss their feelings and to listen to others. The one girl even engaged in discussion with one of the Jewish campers. She told Jaimi that she had inspired her to talk with him and to work towards peace for her people and Israelis. Because of this girl, Jaimi is now working for CISV this July before joining Peace Camp Canada in August. Jaimi is excited to meet everyone and learn about their unique situations.
Nader Hasan
Nader Hasan is an American-Palestinian born and raised in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Nader is a trial attorney and maintains his own law practice in Virginia. He is currently establishing a law office in Ramallah with a Christian-Palestinian colleague in an effort to assist in the establishment of modern day rule of law institutions. Nader works with juveniles and young adults in environments ranging from education and sports to legal representation.
Nader's experience with the conflict first began in 1987 when he was detained, interrogated, denied entry to Israel, and then deported back to the United States without justification. Since that time, he has returned to West Bank on many occasions and studied the behaviors and dynamics of both Israelis and Palestinians in the occupied territories. His experiences overseas include confrontations with Israelis as well as confrontations with Palestinians. It became quite evident that the front line of the conflict was being fought between Israeli and Palestinian teenagers and young adults. Nader avoids any affiliation with political organizations and advocates achieving peace through personal encounters premised on the values and goals of Peace Camp Canada. His experience as a public speaker and peace advocate will help provide the campers with communication skills and techniques to assist them in their future peace endeavors.
Keren Hendin
Keren Hendin was born and raised in Israel. She is currently completing her Masters degree in International Conflict and Coexistence at Brandeis University, and has a BA in Education from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Keren is an experienced facilitator, working at the community level with Israelis and Palestinians, as well as with youth from South Africa, Northern Ireland, the Former Soviet Union, Cyprus and the USA. As the former coordinator of ‘Building Bridges for Peace’ in Jerusalem, and the co-directer of the Face to Face/Faith to Faith program in Jerusalem, Keren enjoys facilitating dialogue, group processes, experiential education, leadership development and training in the conflict management context. Keren is currently living in the USA and is focusing on policy making and implementation of change in government, military and security, in collaboration with the grassroots community. She is interested in projects with strong personal/communal transformation components, in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Steffen
Wiseman
Steffen Wiseman is a Canadian currently studying at Carleton University
earning a degree in philosophy (4th year). Pertinently, he has experience
working at summer camps (albeit never one this interesting) having volunteered
at the Ottawa School of Art and the Jewish Community Center in Ottawa. Although
the Palestinian/Israeli conflict is remote to Steffen, manifesting only
in the news, he maintains an interest in the concrete philosophical aspects
of the conflict. In particular, the themes of love, hate, indifference,
“the they”, “the we”, genocide, etc that are present in post WWII European
thinking, and which are pronounced in the middle east today. Thus he welcomed
the invitation to participate in a camp where one can experience some of
these human dynamics firsthand.
Having lived in Ottawa for most of his life and having worked at summer
camps, Steffen hopes that he can positively contribute to the Peace Camp
and looks forward to the experience.
Adi
Shimron
Adi Shimron was born and raised in Israel. She has been active with different
cross cultural organizations for many years. She started her involvement
with the international organization CISV (Children's International Summer
Villages) promoting peace education and cross-cultural partnership. She
has been a participant, junior counselor, leader and national junior representative
in international summer camps and conferences and in national activities,
and took part in board meetings. In 2003 she participated as a volunteer
at a Givat Haviva conference for international peace NGOs. In the year 2005
she was the fund raiser of Beit Hillel at the Hebrew Univeristy. She is
now a project manager in the Young
Israeli Forum for Cooperation – YIFC. Adi has a BA degree in Political Science
and Sociology from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.