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Download a flyer for Fertile Ground

Contact:

Laura Jacobs
15-16 Cornwall Terrace
Regent's Park
London, NW1 4QP
UK
tel: +44 (0) 207 467 3642
mobile: +44 (0) 7947 073 738
email: laura@fertile-ground.co.uk

FERTILE GROUND

Connecting people to support Israeli-Palestinian initiatives

Who are we?

• We are a growing network of prominent business, sports, education and arts people, organisations and community leaders drawn from across the cultural and religious spectrum who support Israeli-Palestinian initiatives.

• We bring people together to support each other, discover areas of synergy, pool resources and share contacts and areas of expertise. We also develop projects of our own in partnership with others.

• We use the arts, sports, education and culture as mediums to help break down barriers and bring about social change on a non-partisan basis.
  
  
• We are a project of the International Business Leaders Forum, a not-for-profit organisation that works with business, governments and civil society to enhance the contribution companies can make to sustainable development. 

Please note that Fertile Ground is not a funding organisation. If you would like to make a donation please contact
Laura Jacobs at laura@fertile-ground.co.uk.

What have we achieved so far?

Fertile Ground has been involved with a number of innovative practical projects, which include:

The Arts and Culture

• Cooking from The Heart - Fertile Ground in association with HAFLA, Psychosemitic and St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace created this celebration of food and culture from across Middle Eastern and Jewish traditions. Our aim was to bring different people together through the sharing of food and create collaborations between Arabic, Muslims and Jewish cultures that may not have previously existed. Delicious food was created from recipes passed down from mothers to daughters , grandmothers and great-grandmothers and was shared with guests in a wonderful evening of food, stories and song. This unique event was held in the beautiful surroundings of the Bedouin tent and peace garden at St Ethelburga’s in the heart of the City of London. We will be doing this  again in partnership with other organisations.  For more information please visit http://www.hafla.org/page2.htm.
  

• Soldiers Eyes Music Project  - will use provocative thought provoking music and video as a tool to break down barriers in a non political way, engage the hearts and minds of young people, challenge and break down negative assumptions and build new channels for communication and  understanding. For more information click here. THE COMPETITION: The Soldier’s Eyes competition is an invitation to create a music video to suit the song, with the best video - as judged by a BOOM!* panel of professional video commissioners and producers including Jack Savoretti - ultimately being selected to accompany the song’s release, including screening across all MTV channels. Soldier’s Eyes is set to be released in the UK in February 2009. The makers of the winning video will also receive a special award at an awards event to be held in London in February 2009. To find our more please click here and visit www.jacksavoretti.com.  With special thanks to Honorary Member, Eddie Hammerman and all at TVC. 
  
  
• Cross Borders Youth Arts Project (YAP) – a Fertile Ground initiative run in partnership with Israeli and Palestinian organisations that uses arts and media-based activities to challenge and break down negative preconceptions, and build the foundations for dialogue and understanding. The project operates between schools in London, Israel (Jewish and Arab) and the Palestinian Territories.

• The Muslim and Jewish Youth Theatre group at the Tricycle theatre – the theatre group aims to break down barriers between the two communities through the creative arts. Fertile Ground helped promote their schools outreach programme.
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• International Paint Pals (IPP) – is a worldwide youth cultural organisation, which brings children together through the universal language of art. Over 100,000 young artists in 50 countries have participated in the programmes on various themes of international interest and concern. Fertile Ground is their contact for the UK and Israel/Palestine.

Education

• The Olive Tree Educational Trust at City University, London – a co-existence project, which brings together Israeli and Palestinian undergraduate students each year to study and live together. Its aim is to promote dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. Fertile Ground has helped to garner support for this educational trust.
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• Diploma in Faith Based Community Leadership and Islamic Studies, Birkbeck College, London - A unique opportunity which provides an attractive approach to the study of Islam with skills in academic analysis and critique. Fertile Ground used their contacts to give introductions to education funding bodies and universities in order to secure this course in an appropriate university.
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• Digital Partnership Programme - IBLF/Fertile Ground programme that has sent 550 computers to start a software incubator in Gaza’s Islamic University and to the Ministry of Telecommunication in the West Bank.

Business

• Delegations to Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. Fertile Ground takes senior business people from the UK to meet Chambers of Commerce and Government departments in the regions to help build a business support system in Gaza and the West Bank so business can grow in the region.

• Regeneration in Northern Israel –Fertile Ground is developing ways to regenerate areas of land in Israel that would otherwise not be regenerated, as a joint venture partnership with a local authority to provide business space and affordable homes. This is similar to the model used in the UK for example Silvertown in East London

Sport

• Kick Racism Out Of Football Campaign– The New Israel Fund in partnership with the Football Association, the Israel Football Association and Fertile Ground started this highly successful campaign to reduce racism in Israeli society through football. This campaign has succeeded in implementing a change in Israeli law.
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• Football for Peace - a values-based coaching programme started and led by the University of Brighton that brings together mixed groups of Jewish and Arab Israeli boys and girls to build cross-community bridges, teach tolerance and develop mutual respect through football. Fertile Ground keenly supports and encourages this programme.

How can we help you?

By joining our free network, you can:

• Connect with others who may be useful to you and could help make your ideas happen
  
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• Attend events and share ideas with others in a friendly and informal environment
  
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• Access the knowledge and expertise of a broad range of individuals and initiatives involved with Israel and Palestine