WSCF students commit to overcoming violence in the Middle East
The World Student Christian Federation holds a conference on “Overcoming Violence in the Middle East” in Palestine and Jordan from February 20 to March 3, 2014.
The World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) has a unique potential to contribute to positive change in the Middle East and has taken a major step, on the international level, to realize it.
Christian students from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, North Sudan, and Syria who are connected to the WSCF through their national student Christian movements have been engaging as actors in the recently turbulent, at times hopeful, at times overwhelmingly destructive events in their countries and region. The WSCF Middle East Region has been intentional about taking up the themes and real issues Christian students and young adults face and equipping them to play a role in their societies and churches.
The WSCF has felt itself called to come around this region in a focused way in these days to amplify the voices of the students; deepen our solidarity with our students, the Christians, and all the citizens of these countries, Christian and Muslim; and to mobilize our network to play a stronger role in the work for justice and peace in the region.
As a major step in this process, WSCF organized a global leadership programme on “Overcoming Violence in the Middle East”, with a solidarity visit and special focus on Palestine from 20-28 February 2014. More than 30 students and young people from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America participated in this significant event, hosted by the WSCF Middle East region and the Student Christian movement (SCM) of Palestine (Palestine Youth Ecumenical Movement (PYEM)) together with the Joint Advocacy Initiatives YMCA/YWCA (JAI). The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America was the major funding partner together with Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and in kind contributions from participants and Senior Friends (alumni).