“We have to save ourselves from negative feelings. Becoming active drives out the sad.”
On Sept. 27, Palestinian peace activist and educator Sumaya Farhat-Naser gave a talk about her work at Gesundbrunnen Elementary School. With photos and warm-hearted, courageous and impressive stories, the biology professor gave an insight into the projects she has realized in the city of Bir Zait in the West Bank and throughout Palestine: She talked about the night she secretly planted 2,000 trees with her students, about the construction of a cultural center only for women and told of the daily non-violent resistance during countless controls by the Israeli military. Farhat-Naser still believes that peaceful coexistence with the Israelis is possible, and she is committed to it. “We have no choice at all but to find a common path,” she said. When asked by a student if she was Muslim, she replied, “I’m Christian, but it doesn’t matter!” Muslims, Christians and Jews – they all have to live with the oppressive reality in Palestine, and they will do it together, just like working for peace in the region.
The applause from the students was loud, and it is certain that Farhat-Naser’s talk will resonate for some time.
About the person:
Dr. Sumaya Farhat-Naser studied biology in Hamburg and taught as a professor at Birseit University near Ramallah. For almost thirty years she has been working as a peace educator in the West Bank to strengthen especially young people and women in non-violent resistance and is in charge of numerous cooperations also with German organizations.
The lecture and the speaker were supported by the initiative Luna Park e.V. as part of the project “Move the Kiez”, which is funded by the Fonds Soziokultur.
