Second Annual Middle East Jam, October 19-26, 2009

Twenty-seven young leaders gathered from Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Tunisia, and the USA for a transformational week in Jordan's exquisitely beautiful southern desert. Jam participants built friendships and laid groundwork for vibrant partnerships, and gained support to empower their work for sustainability, peace, localization, community resilience, justice, human rights, interfaith dialogue, social entrepreneurship, youth development and conflict transformation. The Jam was held outdoors in the Wadi Rum desert -- a place of deep peace and deafening silence. Sessions were held under Bedoin tents, sitting on luscious soft flat, right up against towering pink cliffs that provided shade from the intense sun. 

We explored our lives and journeys, our sense of place in the region, our work and its intersections, and our struggles and dreams for the future. Themes that emerged at the Jam included the role of violence and non-violence in social change movements; gender identity, stories and life experiences; space to share pain and begin to heal from the traumas of war and violence; and our visions and dreams for the future. 

Participant response was outstanding with 95% saying the program allowed them to show up and be present with themselves and with others. Also, 93% felt that they expressed themselves freely with other participants and that they (the other participants) held them and their stories.  Nine Middle East Jam alumni from seven countries have partnered with United Religions Initiative to form a Cooperation Circle (CC), which will carry ongoing collaborations in partnership with the interfaith exchange mission of URI.  Another Middle East Jam is planned for October of 2010, in the same location.  Our hope is to build on the success of the first two Middle East Jams, while expanding to include more participation from thus-far under-represented countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Syria. There are also several Jam alumni who are working on establishment of a North African Jam for young leaders from Morocco, Algeria, Lybia, Tunisia and Egypt.

“I felt at home. I learned the meaning of change, spreading love and finding joy in any time or place. I realized that sharing my feelings could give me relief. I learned how to breathe in a way that I can feel every moment of my life!”
- Zahreh, 20, Iran

“This week is a wonderful week, with amazing nature where I felt the silence of loneliness and the group spirit at the same time.  This week I was Tania, the real Tania who a little number of people know. I experienced feelings of absolute love, acceptance, trust and comfort.  This week made my vision more and more clearer.  I am proud of myself and all friends in the Jam.  It’s real - this family.”
-Tania, 32, Palestinian living in Lebanon

“This week was one of my best times of my life. I feel that am transformed.  I want to go out into the world and spread what I’ve experienced in this week, and to spread the love I gained and shared with these magnificent people.  After the Jam, I believe that the world is safe and it will become better place because there are people who care and they can make a difference.”
-Fady Khundair, 32, Jordan

- Ocean Robbins, YES! Founder/Co-Director and Middle East Jam Facilitator