This campaign supports Dialogue Meetings among Israelis and Palestinians for adults and youth in schools, community centers and other settings, in order to inspire both sides to choose peace and reconciliation. The goal is to bring Palestinians and Israelis together, so that they may have a chance to understand and humanize the other side.

Dialogue Meetings become even more important since many Israelis and Palestinians have lost confidence in the process of political negotiation. Both sides are challenged by separation, political extremism, violence and by the growing radicalization of both populations.

Bereaved Israelis and Palestinians hold a Dialogue Meeting in Tel Aviv-Yafo

The Parents Circle is the only organization that Israel’s Ministry of Education approves of bringing a Palestinian into Israeli schools. In the Dialogue Meetings, pairs of facilitators, one Israeli and one Palestinian, share their personal stories of loss and their unique choice of reconciliation with a class or group. This in itself is an example and a lesson. PCFF members' unique position-- as bereaved families who have found ways to reconcile with the "other side"-- allows them to present unpopular views and messages while maintaining the attention and respect of the wider communities. By describing their own personal loss yet opting for reconciliation and non-violence, members encourage the participants to begin the long process of transforming their own feelings of suspicion, fear and hatred.

Each meeting lasts 90 minutes, and includes:

• the facilitators’ personal stories and their journeys towards reconciliation, 
• a brief presentation on PCFF activities 
• questions and answers and dialogue

The meetings are held in Hebrew, Arabic, and English, depending on the audience. There is always an active discussion afterwards, where everyone’s voice is heard.

Visit theparentscircle.org to learn more about our Dialogue Meetings program.

How We Will Use The Money 

Our goal is to raise $30,000 in order to support resources for 37 Dialogue Meetings. Funds will go towards paying the facilitators, transportation for the participants, and staffing. 

Dialogue Meetings are the PCFF's longest-running program. Since 2002, the organization has held over 7,000 meetings, bringing together an estimated 200,000 participants. Every $800 contribution = 1 Dialogue Meeting in a school, informal educational setting, youth group, universities and for international groups.

Impact

According to external evaluation of the Dialogue Meeting participants:

• 73% felt they had achieved a deeper understanding of the conflict and of the other
• 80% in our women’s dialogue meetings were interested in deepening the dialogue with women from the other side
• 68% were interested in taking action to promote peace and reconciliation

Small waves of impact have already made headlines from our dialogue meetings. 

Recently, Israeli students protested the cancellation of one of our Dialogue Meetings, which received significant media attention. 

The students of Nesher Comprehensive High School in Israel demanded: "Let us ask questions. Let us hear the other side. Let us raise doubts, even if we don’t necessarily agree."

The students added: The Parents Circle's Dialogue Meetings do not address politics at all. They do not represent political opinions. The members of the Parents Circle devote their lives to spread messages about respect, mutual understanding, tolerance, and coexistence. We feel that without hearing the other side, without knowing what the other side thinks, a peaceful coexistence is not possible.

"We are opinionated, caring youth who want to dream about peace; do not take our dream; do not harm the value of knowing the other; do not harm democracy," they signed.

This is our impact and these youth are the future of Israel and Palestine.

The Perks

To thank you for your support for this project, we are offering some exclusive perks to donors:

Bird of Reconciliation Watch--This Titanium watch by Boccia features the iconic Parents Circle “Bird of Peace” symbol and the words “Taking Steps For Peace” across the watch-face. A beautiful way to show your support for the Parents Circle’s Taking Steps In The Path For Peace project.

Pocket Blessings are a powerful message in the palm of your hand - a reminder to "seek peace and pursue it.

Two Sided Story, the Parents Circle's documentary, directed by Emmy Award winning director, Tor Ben Mayor. Two Sided Story is based on the PCFF's Parallel Narrative Project, which brings small groups of Israelis and Palestinians together over several months to learn and acknowledge the personal and national narratives of the other.

Taking Steps shoe laces, patches, shoes, and bags are products that have come out of our Women's Group's Social Business, Taking Steps In The Path For Peace. The patches and shoes feature our iconic "Bird of Peace," hand embroidered by our Women's Group.

“If I who lost a loved one can walk the path of peace, then surely you can too”

Skype Meeting-- a private virtual meeting with a bereaved member of the PCFF. Get to know our story and have your questions answered in a meeting with one of our members.

Other Ways You Can Help

1. Like and share our campaign link on Facebook or Twitter, and tell people about it - word of mouth works!
2. Send an email to your friends, family, or colleagues to tell them about this important project
3. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on the work of the PCFF! Subscribe here.

About Us

The Parents Circle Families Forum (PCFF) is a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization made up of more than 600 bereaved families.  Our common bond is that we have lost a close family member to the conflict.  But instead of choosing revenge, we have chosen a path of reconciliation.  Established in 1994, we operate education, public awareness and advocacy programs to create change. 

PCFF operates from two offices - one in Israel and one in the West Bank - with 16 staff employees.  The organization is operated and supported by a large body of volunteers from bereaved families as trained and experienced lecturers,facilitators and activists as well as institutional and private donors all over the world.

Our work has been highlighted in documentaries, books, the media and academic papers all over the world.  We have been recognized and awarded the International Gandhi Peace Prize, Common Ground for Peace Building in the Middle East, Eisenhower Medallion, and the Unsung Heroes of Compassion Prize by his Holiness the Dalai Lama.  

The American Friends of the Parents Circle-Families Forum (AF-PCFF) is a registered 501(c)3 organization that shares the human side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the American public in order to foster a peace and reconciliation process.

Thank You!

Thank you so much for your support - every dollar donated and every share of this campaign to your network gets us closer to our $30,000 goal. Your support makes it possible for bereaved Israelis and Palestinians to take part in our programs and to turn their loss into hope. We are truly grateful for your contribution.

*Note: all donations are tax-deductible; American Friends of the Parents Circle-Families Forum will issue a tax receipt for your donation.