The grassroots bottom-up approach is central in Musalaha’s strategy of reconciliation. Civil Society Leaders are one of the most important and effective segments of any society. Civil Society Leaders are distinct from government and business segments of society, they range from any non-government organization and institution, to any gathering of people that are not dependent on government. Civil society is essential in promoting and advocating for reconciliation, justice, democracy, and Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB). For these reasons, Musalaha works with and has established different groups based on personal and professional interests.
Musalaha runs two Civil Society Leaders programs.
The first is a 1.5 year cross-border Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation project with an emphasis on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) (Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). This program starts with a 5-day desert encounter, 6 reconciliation workshops and excursions based on Musalaha’s Curriculum of Reconciliation, and FoRB trainings. At the end of the program, the civil society leaders conduct at least 2 outreaches within the community collaborating with organizations and individuals promoting reconciliation, equality and FoRB.
The second is the 20-month Muslim/Christian Civil Society Leaders FoRB program based in the Bethlehem area. In the first phase of the program, relationship building takes place during a 5-day desert encounter. This is followed by five reconciliation workshops on interreligious conflict, history and narrative, power, identity, and Local FoRB violations, which will include trips to local religious sites. Finally, the program ends with a co-advocacy effort to promote FoRB and advocate for a positive change within the community.
