Zaytoun works with the Friends of Madama and Burin to coordinate a team of up to 30 volunteers to stay in villages in the Salfit and Nablus areas. The teams support Palestinian farmers bringing home their valuable olive harvest. The aim is not just to pick olives, but also to offer support and solidarity with the farmers in case of settler or army harassment.
All volunteers complete an initial application form, followed by a telephone interview and a training and assessment weekend in Britain before acceptance onto the team. To hear reflections from people who have participated in this trip, check out this blog post from travel and food writer Fiona Dunlop, and read the testimonials below.
To receive an application form and more information about the next Protective Presence trip, click the button below:
Amid my frantic life, cluttered with unimportant niggles, I felt humbled by the slow, quiet way in which our Palestinian friends get on with ordinary life, resist the occupation and remain defiant.
Mercedes
I hope that the people in these small, isolated yet very threatened villages will know that some people in the wider world care enough about them to share a couple of weeks to enable them to get their olives picked, some of their trees pruned, and some income from the oil and other olive produce.
Jane H