GAIA students learn about native and invasive species in the Czech Republic

GAIA students learn about native and invasive species in the Czech Republic

The third annual Global Awareness Investigation Action (GAIA) research trip to the Czech Republic was held October 8–12, 2014 in Prague and the surrounding areas. GAIA high school students from Walworth Barbour American International School (WBAIS) in Israel joined GAIA high school students from Gymnázium Arabská and Gymnázium Botičská in the Czech Republic for a week of learning and research.

Honoring the 2014 Na'amat Technological High School Graduates

Honoring the 2014 Na'amat Technological High School Graduates

Roughly 90 students from the All-Girls Na'amat Technological High School in Nazareth have overcome considerable odds to graduate in 2014. The girls have limited opportunity to travel within Israel or meet students from other segments of society. The prospect of being honored for their courage and achievement motivates them during difficult times when they are tempted to drop out of school. 

Nazareth English Summer Camp: 160 Campers. 25 Volunteers. 2 Weeks. 1 Unforgettable Experience.

Nazareth English Summer Camp: 160 Campers. 25 Volunteers. 2 Weeks. 1 Unforgettable Experience.

The mid-morning call to prayer echoes over the Al Gharbij school, which should be empty, abandoned for the summer. But instead, 160 children are gathered there for an English summer camp. And 25 people from seven countries and diverse backgrounds, unified in white, forPEACE polos – all volunteers – are making it happen.

GAIA Baby Falcon Ringing Event

GAIA Baby Falcon Ringing Event

EVEN YEHUDA, Israel — On Tuesday, May 9th, Project GAIA (Global Awareness Investigation and Action) had their official baby Falcon tagging event at the Walworth Barbour American International School (WBAIS). Students who participate in GAIA gathered outside to watch the gathering of the chicks from their homemade bird nest up above. Ornithologist and Motti Charter carefully selected the six babies to bring them down to weigh, measure and tag them. Students inside the school could also watch via the live stream that WBAIS has installed to track and film the Falcon family. (To watch the live feed, go to www.ustream.tv/channel/wbais-gaia.)

Students from Otto-von-Taube Gymnasium Attend the 12th Annual TIMEMUN at WBAIS

Students from Otto-von-Taube Gymnasium Attend the 12th Annual TIMEMUN at WBAIS

EVEN YEHUDA, Israel — A delegation from the Otto-von-Taube Gymnasium from Munich, Germany was the recipient of a forPEACE travel grant to participate in Walworth Barbour American International School’s (WBAIS) 12th annual TIMEMUN, a student-led simulation of the United Nations. forPEACE provided a pre and post TIMEMUN program for the six-person delegation introducing them to initiatives that develop common ground for a shared future in a tolerant, peacefully cooperating, democratic society in Israel. forPEACE seeks to introduce students and teachers from the international community to residents of Israel to lay a foundation of understanding and allow for the formation of lasting friendships.

GAIA Wildlife Conservation Event

EVEN YEHUDA, Israel — On Tuesday, January 29th, Project GAIA held their biggest on-campus event of the year at Walworth Barbour American International School (WBAIS) to promote and spread awareness about environmental concerns. The evening began with GAIA schools showcasing their research, findings and equipment. Schools in attendance included Mevoot Yam Marine Biology School, Beit Ekstein, and Kfar Galim Youth Village and WBAIS. Presentation tables allowed students, parents and special guests to view the research of each school. Of special interest to the students was feedback from one guest in particular, the keynote speaker of the event, the 2009 winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Professor Ada Yonath.

The Beginnings of the GAIA Project in Prague

The Beginnings of the GAIA Project in Prague

PRAGUE, Czech Republic — In early March 2012, Tomáš Pojar, the Czech Ambassador to Israel, was checking his Great Tit (Parus major) bird box on the campus of the Walworth Barbour American International School in Even Yehuda. His box was cramped with seven little chicks and it was clear that the project at WBAIS using birds to reduce insects and rodents was producing positive results. I took the opportunity to ask Ambassador Pojar if there would be any interest in the Czech Republic in collaboration and the sharing of research among students on this topic. Two weeks later, the Ambassador returned from Prague with good news. There were two schools extremely interested in joining GAIA.

Nazareth Summer Camp 2012,"English is your Passport to the World"

Nazareth Summer Camp 2012,"English is your Passport to the World"

NAZARETH, Israel — From July 1-15, the 14th annual English immersion summer camp took place at the Al Gharbij neighborhood community center of Nazareth. It was the first year forPEACE collaborated with Karmel Barghouti, the volunteer Community Center director and his assistant, Elias Haddad, to plan and run the forPEACE camp curriculum with volunteer camp counselors from the United States, Germany, Nigeria and Israel. Additionally, we were fortunate to have specialists present workshops on public speaking and life skills. The camp experience was summed up by two of our German soccer coaches as follows.