OneVoice Europe

Outreach and Education Programme

What sets OneVoice apart from the crowd is that its participants create an imaginative and unique dialogue to find real solutions, rather than debate historical narratives of right and wrong. Echoing OneVoice’s mission in Palestine & Israel, OVE provides a platform for European activists to combine dialogue with advocacy, championing non-violent methods of pressure on leaders to achieve political change.

As we expand we intend to reach out to more students, communities, journalists and opinion makers both in the UK and mainland Europe.

Contact the team and get involved:

Anthony Silkoff to discuss political or media collaboration.

Sharon Alsoodani to set up an event in your community or book a school conflict resolution training session.

John Lyndon to donate or discuss partnerships.

Donate online at the Big Give.

For Donations by cheque:
Payable to OneVoice Europe
PO Box 817
Richmond
TW9 3WA

OneVoice Europe is a registered UK Charity: 1114114

Outreach and Education Programme

The Outreach and Education Programme has delivered conflict resolution training to schools and universities, and has facilitated community discussions in the UK and Western Europe since 2011. It is based on two pragmatic concepts:

Any solution must meet the core needs and national aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.
The only feasible solution is one acceptable to a majority of the populations on both sides.

The OVE Outreach and Education Programme has:

Engaged thousands of people in London, Birmingham and Manchester
Worked with dozens of schools, universities, community groups (including synagogues, mosques and churches), and a large number of organisations such as interfaith groups and local councils
Gained hundreds of participants on our online discussion forum
Held a summer residential programme, empowering outstanding UK students
Become the go-to group on this issue providing valuable support for concerned British citizens, who need to build understanding about an effective, win-win approach to the conflict in Israel-Palestine

Students

The pioneering student summer residential programme: London, 17-19 July 2012

Feedback from students on the summer residential programme:

“My understanding of the other side has increased.”
“I’m motivated to become more active.”
“I have more realisation of the complexities and details.”
“There were some inspiring speakers.”
“I am motivated to pursue political career.”
“I’ve had my stereotypes broken.”
“I want to visit Israel-Palestine.”
“The programme was targeted towards the right group of people who can make a difference in the future.”

Schools

Nearly 2,000 students have participated in the OVE school sessions, many from communities affected by the conflict.

To book OneVoice at your school, click here.

Endorsements for the schools programme:

“I’m so glad that OneVoice came. As a teacher, I wasn’t looking forward to covering this subject, as it’s really tricky to deal with. But since your last visit, it has really relieved some of the tension around the issue.” Queen’s Park Community School, London

“Being able to talk face to face with Israelis and Palestinians is hugely valuable for the students, they develop their knowledge and some find preconceptions and stereotypes challenged.” Moseley School, Birmingham

“This issue is a very important issue to me as I have had friends and family affected…so a massive thank you on trying to raise awareness, I will be contacting 'OneVoice' for help and information which will go towards my project.” Parrs Wood School, Manchester

Communities

Over 1,000 adults have attended community discussion sessions, largely from Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities

Feedback from community participants:

Jane, Quaker community: “I really like the focus of both sides coming together and looking at the solution, not the problem.”
Zainab, Muslim community: “Not to be pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian, but pro-solution.”

Joel, Jewish community: “I was very impressed with the session approach and content. Meeting members of both communities and hearing them express their views for a peaceful solution was very powerful.”

Stephen, Methodist community: “I was inspired. I was impressed. This brought a large new audience to hear a different perspective from the one you usually hear in the media.”

Wanda, Christian community: “EXCELLENT + + +!! Of all the Palestinian/Israeli meetings I have been to, this was the most balanced and hopeful. Full of realism and marvellously lacking in partisanship. Congratulations!”

Nadeem, Muslim community: “Like a newspaper, instead of moving gradually like a headline down to the 3rd page then the 5th page, the issue will now remain on the front page of my mind.”

Henry, Jewish community: “More people, especially the young, should listen to these two guys to get a better understanding of the realities of the conflict. These guys are very impressive, and I like the approach that OV has taken in trying to find a solution for the conflict.”

Nasser, Muslim community: “I am very happy that I was able to make it to this event. It was great that we were able to go into the details of the conflict. Usually such events only scratch the surface, but this event was different. I think the two young people we listened to tonight are extremely brave and courageous and both represented their countries very well.”

Jason, Jewish community: “This was an eye-opener. I particularly like the approach that OV adopts of teaching the Israeli and Palestinian youth of today to be the leaders of tomorrow; leaders who will hopefully bring peace to the region one day.”

If you would like to find out more about our Outreach and Education programme please contact Sharon Alsoodani.

Political Outreach

OneVoice Europe actively reaches out to the political community.

We have regular contact with the British government, and increasing links to Brussels, ensuring moderate, grassroots Palestinian and Israeli voices are heard throughout Western Europe.

We have met with the Rt. Hon. David Miliband, former Labour Foreign Secretary, and have liaised with former Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Quartet's representative to the Middle East, to create meetings with our youth leaders in the region and public events in London.

We have been mentioned in debates in the Lords and the Commons. Labour MP for Leeds Central, Hilary Benn, visited our Israeli and Palestinian teams, an experience he described as the ‘greatest cause for optimism’ he saw throughout his trip to Israel and Palestine.

In 2010, OVE attended the Trade Union Congress, and the Labour and Conservative Party conferences, briefing parliamentarians on OneVoice’s work. In addition, two of our Palestinian and Israeli youth leaders addressed the European Parliament in Brussels.

In 2011, Shadow Middle East Minister Stephen Twigg commended our work to the House of Commons, calling on Foreign Secretary William Hague to join him in recognizing the movement and its achievements.

In 2012, we organised a policy debate at Chatham House with David Miliband and US Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, George Mitchell.

So far, in 2013, we have organised a debate in the House of Lords on the role of civil society organisations in promoting peace in Israel Palestine, and two film screenings at Kings College London with panel discussions on the leadership roles of Arafat and Peres.

As a member of the Quartet, the EU has an important role to play. Our grassroots movement addressed a special session of the European Parliament, which brought a delegation to Israel and Palestine.

If you would like to find out more about the ongoing political work of OneVoice Europe, please contact: Anthony Silkoff.

Fundraising

Every donation helps.

Our fundraising goal is to ensure our offices in Israel and Palestine are financially viable so that they can carry out their critically important work. Our cash-efficient volunteer-led structure ensures those resources are spent training real leaders, and pushing politicians toward mutual compromise.

To show your solidarity and support please make an online donation to OneVoice Europe, and click here

To make an online donation to OneVoice Europe now, please click here

OneVoice Europe holds fundraising events throughout the year, and the highlight is the annual Gala Dinner. In 2012, The Rt. Hon. David Miliband, and the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, were both guests, with Miliband giving the address.

If you would like to organise a fundraiser for OneVoice in your community, or have ideas for events or initiatives that can help raise much needed resources, please get in touch with Sharon Alsoodani. You can also download a membership form that will allow you to join OneVoice’s growing network of European members.