Since 2005, Birthright Unplugged has facilitated travel in Palestine for numerous multiple groups of people. We do this because we have found that when people have firsthand experiences of and relationships with Palestine, it strengthens their resolve, credibility, and accountability to do sustained justice movement work.

Our 2010 program will include seven days of travel and a one-day institute. Together, these elements are designed to support work related to the 2005 call from Palestinian civil society for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israel (BDS). This call seeks to bring about the end of apartheid in Israel, end the occupations of Gaza and the West Bank, and implement the right of return for Palestinian refugees. It is a non-violent strategy that has been critical to bringing about the end of other systems of oppression, most notably apartheid in South Africa. To date, we have worked with student activists, faith-based organizers, and community organizers to help develop and strengthen their respective BDS campaigns.

2010 Travel Component:
In seven days, we will visit Palestinian cities, villages, and refugee camps in the West Bank and spend time with internally displaced Palestinian people living inside Israel/”48. Throughout the journey, we will help participants develop an understanding of daily life under occupation and apartheid and the history of the region from people profoundly affected by these realities who are otherwise under-represented in Western discourses, and learn about the dispossession and occupation of Palestinian people.

2010 Institute Component:
For the past several summers, we have offered a short institute as a complement to our travel program following the trip. Our workshops are designed to support the 2005 Palestinian call for BDS by helping participants begin to integrate the knowledge they gain on the trip and preparing them to engage in campaign work in their home countries. There will be sessions for participants to share campaign work currently taking place in their own communities, build organizing skills, and develop strategies that are specific to the work they hope to do when they return home. It is our hope that institute participants can learn from and contribute to ongoing grassroots justice campaigns and movement work, and that they might especially become able to invigorate current campaigns already ongoing in their own communities.

Dates:
July 9, 2010 – July 17, 2010
Includes: 7 days of travel, 1 day of organizing workshops, and some breaks

Application:
You can download the application at http://www.birthrightunplugged.org/unplugged/application. Please email completed applications to info[at]birthrightunplugged.org by April 20, 2010.

Costs: Sliding scale program contribution is $750 – $850. This includes both the travel and institute portions of the program. Airfare is not included. This contribution covers most ground transportation, meals, translation, admission fees, and lodging expenses during the program. Participants may purchase additional food and drink, souvenirs, and gifts at individual discretion. Participants are expected to pay for a few meals (est. $5-$15/meal) and car rides ($2-$4 ea) during free times and any liquor, argile, gifts, internet café use, and personal items. Transportation to and from airport is est. $10 – $15 each way and is not included in the program contribution. You should expect to spend a minimum of 10% more than the Birthright Unplugged contribution during your trip, plus airfare.

Soon after being accepted to our Unplugged 2010 Summer Program and prior to your trip, you will be asked to make your sliding scale contribution of $750-$850 towards the cost of the program and complete and submit a Participant Agreement. Your contribution is non-refundable except in the event that the trip is cancelled. We encourage those who can pay more to do so as program contributions do not cover program costs. We also encourage participants to engage in personal fundraising, which has been very successful for past participants. There is a template fundraising letter you are welcome to use on the costs page of our website: http://www.birthrightunplugged.org/unplugged/cost