From stage to change powerpoint

“Hello…

My name is Achlam. I am

the second wife of a Bedouin

man from Rahat and the

mother of four children.

You are asking me why I

travel to Karmiel (three

hours each way) twice a

month to participate in this

program?”

…Because it is a place in my life where I can be all of who I am,

learn to give a voice to my needs and aspirations and together

with my Arab and Jewish colleagues create something to truly

improve relations between Arabs and Jews in this country…”

Achlam, 41, Rahat

From Stage to Change

Strengthening the voice of women and improving relations

between Arabs and Jews on a Large Scale in Israel

A project of…Together Beyond Words

Empowering women to find their voices, transform their pain and work together to bring

about social change and peace

And… Shiluvim Bagalil

The Galilee Playback Theatre School for personal and social transformation

“After a year of training together, during our first performance, I was very moved. I felt a bit like Neil Armstrong when he took his first step on the moon... This may be a small step for us, but it

has the potential to become a very big step towards transforming the Arab-Jewish conflict in our region.”-- Tasneem, 35, Muslim, Dir El Asad

Program Plan

• Starting October 2013 the ensemble will present an

interactive performance and follow-up workshop events

throughout the country to diverse audiences: at least 50

events to 2500 Arabs and Jews over the next two years

• Following the event, the women in the audience will be

invited to a 60 hour training course in the area where they live

that will help in further developing their leadership skills.

“This program is where

I am able to use my

creative theatrical

knowledge and my

facilitating skills to do

something towards

securing the future of

my children.”

-- Yoli, 44, Kamon

What does the From Stage to Change

event include?

During the performance volunteers from the audience are invited to share personal stories related to their lives in Israel which are then enacted on stage by the actresses of the Arab- Jewish women Ensemble.

Following the performance the audience is divided into small groups led by the actresses/facilitators, enabling those who did not go on stage to share their stories as well. The deep listening and sharing in a supportive setting created within the small groups increases compassion, empathy and acceptance towards ourselves and others and enables the women to experience simple tools for changing their role in their own life stories.

C. Tools that can help them go from A to B on a regular basis in their lives.

The combination of playback theatre, the follow-up workshop and the 60 hour leadership trainings allow the participating women and girls to

experience:

A. The places in their lives where they are not in full possession of their power and resources

B. What their lives and future would look like if they were more in possession of their power and resources and

From Stage to Change Performances May – July 2013

Who is the audience? Audience Place Date

Friends, family and people from the community

30 Shiluvim Bagalil 9.5.2013

People from Maalot Tarshicha, kfar Vradim and Haifa

30 Shiluvim Bagalil 23.5.2013

Tedarim Betnuaa group members 60 Amirim Auditorium 4.6.2013

Ethiopian women/actresses 20 Yoqneam 11.6.2013

BA Students and educators 60 Beit Berl Academy 13.6.2013

The Western Galilee Playback community

40 Shiluvim Bagalil 17.6.2013

Women and Children from the village

80 Sajur Village Auditorium

4.7.2013

A Small Step for Coexistence

This article appeared in the local newspaper after our first From

Stage to Change Event.

A- la- Kfar # 221, May 2013

What people are saying about the From Stage to Change events…

“The Together Beyond Words Playback Theatre Ensemble visited us at Beit Berl College for a unique and magical performance. The different actresses and the

connection between them succeeded in creating within the Arab and Jewish audience an atmosphere of openness, shared joy, excitement and readiness to connect with one another. This was an exceptionally bonding experience that

each participant will remember.”-- Dr. Meirav Naker-Sadi, the head of the Department of Informal Education at

Beit Berl College

“The performance was heart opening, inspiring and empowering. The follow up workshop enabled many more people to open their hearts and share their pain

in a safe space. Each group seemed to have developed a circle of trust and connection very quickly. “ – Ravit Yasur, leader, Tedarim Betnua

“ I wish this type of events could be done all over the United States and Israel, they help so much in changing people’s prejudices and biases…”

– Tina, a Jewish participant at the Esalen workshop

“I will never forget that moment when I saw an Ethiopian man, a disabled woman, and Arab and Jewish women acting the story of one of our teachers about her son who was born deaf. It touched

me so deeply that it was beyond words….”Orit, 34, a student who attended the Beit Berl event

“When we were asked to act the story of an Ethiopian mother who travelled on her own to Israel with her five children hoping to make a better life for them and then lost her daughter in a car accident, I felt overwhelmed…

…But afterwards when I saw her surrounded by her friends, smiling through her tears, I realized that we were actually supporting her

process of healing…” – Miriam, 58, an actress/facilitator

When we transform personal and national pain that people have carried inside for generations, they open their hearts to one another and to the possibility of living together in Peace…..

Together Beyond Words

In order to

continue running

the From Stage

to Change events

and follow-up

leadership courses

throughout the

country we need

your support…

For more information:

[email protected]

www.beyondwords.org.il

For donations:en.beyondwords.org.il/donate

Thank you…