AIFL Fosters International
Unity Among Youth
By Liza Young
With information about
nations around the world just a mouse click away, misconceptions
still abound with respect to the nature of different cultures
and nations. In addition to working towards debunking cultural
stereotypes, the America Israel Friendship League (AIFL)—created in 1971 to bolster
the bond between the two democracies—has been fostering
its mission of cultural exchange and understanding between
youngsters of the US and Israel through its Youth Exchange
program, created in 1977. The program lays the groundwork for
a foundation of unity and a formula for peace. As stated by
Kenneth Bialkin, President and Chairman of the Board of the
AIFL, in describing the struggle against the refusal of Islamic
states to accept the existence of Israel stated, “Based
on this experience you will join that army of freedom.”
Last year for the first time Russian youth were
invited to participate in the AIFL youth exchange program while
efforts are currently being made to expand the program to a
trilateral exchange program, where Russia would serve as a
host country for Israeli and American students.
At the recent High School
Youth Ambassador Student Exchange Program Luncheon at the
AIFL headquarters in New York, the room was filled with a
melody of languages and the internationally understood sounds
of Beethoven’s moonlight sonata and
jazz tunes, as student participants performed informally on
the piano located in a corner of the meeting room.
Dr.
Charlotte Frank, Chair of the Executive Committee, highlighting
the common bonds of youth in the room stated, “looking
around you can’t tell who’s from Moscow or who’s
from Israel.”
Student participants articulately summed up what
they garnered from the program during the first running two
weeks.
There was resounding
agreement among participants that the leadership workshops
which took place in Washington, D.C. was enriching and of
practical value. Israeli participant Inbar Levi of Rishon
Le’Zion enthusiastically stated
that she is looking forward to applying the leadership skills
she learned to future experiences.
Jack Douglass Jessop
of Montana—from a relatively
culturally homogeneous town of only 8,000 stated, “I
learned not only not to perpetuate stereotypes, but stopping
others from perpetuating them.” He participated in the
program through the American Israel Friendship League Regional
Outreach program, which aims to reach communities across the
United States.
The general consensus among students was that
the program provides the opportunity to learn more during three
weeks at the program than during all of high school.
Marina
Geletko, an English studies high school teacher in Moscow,
who is chaperoning the trip for the second year in a row,
valued the leadership workshop programs that took place in
Washington, D.C., for the “opportunity they give students to learn
how to understand themselves and share ideas with others.” Her
colleague, Natalya Sukhorukova similarly expressed her appreciation
of the program for the communication and analytical skills
it fosters. Both teachers are looking forward to welcoming
students to Moscow as a host country and giving students
a tour of Russia’s historical and cultural sites, including
the Kremlin and Red Square.
William Behrer, III—Chief Operating Officer
of AIFL—who students informally call Bill, pointed out
that while at last year’s luncheon students were teary
eyed at saying farewell, this year students were exuberant
as they prepared to
embark on a journey to Israel. In addition to forging ahead
with the trilateral union, Behrer stated that he envisions
the future of the program as including more Americans; efforts
are currently being made to further target Western portions
of the United States. “It’s important to reach
into communities like Jack’s in Montana, who need to
understand the relationship between our two countries,” stated
Behrer.
The AIFL truly accomplishes
its mission of ensuring a strong future for democracy and
freedom.#
