Program: Peace-Building & Environmental Leadership Seminar

Jun 30, 2014 | Arava Institute
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In 1999, the Arava Institute created the foundation for a program that would later become the Peace-building and Environmental Leadership Seminar (PELS), a facilitated forum where students develop leadership skills and express their views on race, religion, culture, identity, and the political situation in the region.

PELS builds on the conviction that the social and political relationships within and between groups in the region have a significant influence on environmental practices, public policies, and grassroots environmental activism. PELS also utilizes the Arava Institute’s own community to create a microcosm of the region, building the tools and understanding necessary to foster justice, peace, and environmental sustainability in the broader society.

PELS sessions take place weekly throughout the academic year, each session addressing different aspects of the program’s learning objectives. Through the PELS curriculum, students explore different methods of conflict resolution and dialogue. PELS group activities and one-on-one discussion groups contribute to students’ developing repertoire of respectful and consensus-building interactions. In addition, each semester, PELS welcomes guest speakers who bring a wealth of knowledge about current coexistence initiatives.

PELS is made possible by the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.

NOTE: You can attend these seminars if you've enrolled in one of Arava Institute's programs, which you can apply for here.