When I first joined the Arava Institute as a student back in 2020, I was drawn to its ethos of bridging divides in one of the world’s most conflicted regions. The experience was everything I had hoped for — intense, humbling, and filled with moments of raw honesty that seemed almost impossible to achieve anywhere else. It was, and still is, a rare space, where environmental studies and peacebuilding weren’t just academic topics but a lived reality. Here, I found a deep commitment to community that stayed with me long after I left the campus.
Returning at the end of 2021 as the Alumni Community Manager felt like stepping back into that same space of connection and challenge. With almost 1,800 alumni scattered across Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and beyond, building a sense of unity wasn’t simple, but very rewarding. Together with my colleagues, Haytham, Hala, and finally Mohammed and Hoda, we organized events, support networks, and projects to keep this community connected and impactful. The alumni initiatives became spaces of growth, collaboration, and always difficult conversations — but also a constant proof of the resilience and creativity that our alumni bring to their work. I am so deeply proud of the work we have done but even more to be a member of this community.
Now, as the project manager for Jumpstarting Hope in Gaza, I find myself in a different kind of space — one marked by urgency and a profound need for both environmental and humanitarian solutions. We are working to deploy off-grid energy and water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions in Gaza, with the aim to provide immediate relief to this unbelievable crisis. Working alongside our Palestinian partners and a coalition of NGOs, this project has reinforced the power of cooperation under some of the most challenging circumstances. It’s a daunting task, but the goal is clear: human rights can never be weaponized, and we must offer support to people who need it most.
Not many cross-border communities have made it through this difficult year intact. Ours has definitely been hurt and fractured, tested in ways we couldn’t have anticipated. The war has laid bare the vulnerabilities of our shared work, yet we are still here, still standing as a community. This resilience speaks volumes about each and every member of our alumni network. It’s a reflection of the commitment and heart that everyone brings to this collective journey, no matter how challenging it becomes.
