Arava Institute Joins Forces With American Arabs

posted on: Dec 18, 2010

As one the most conflict-ridden regions in the world, the Middle East has it’s fair share of political problems. In fact, whenever the issue of environmental dangers are highlight many people will shrug their shoulders and say ‘we have more important problems to worry about’. What this attitude fails to recognise is one thing: regional co-operation to tackle environmental issues could be the very thing the Middle East needs to help it see past petty differences. The Arava Institute, one of our all time favourite eco-Israeli organistion, knows this only too well.

Now, the Arava Institute has taken it’s co-existence message overseas in a bid to promote its mission of peace and justice amongst Arabs and Jews. Joining forces with the Centre for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP), the Arava Institute hopes to create a link of solidarity between the two communities and allow Arab and Muslim donors to support the Arava Institute’s work.

Sharing An Ecological Destiny

The Arava institute promotes regional cooperation between Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians in order to resolve environmental matters and tries to remind locals that despite political conflict, they share an ecological destiny. They also have an educational arms which brings together students from the region to talk about environmental issues and draw attention to some of most troubling the ecological problems in the region. The new partnership will also see the launch of the Arava Institute Arab Student Scholarship Fund, which will support Arab students attending the Arava Institute.

Previous work of the Arava Institute has focused on the issue of water scarcity as a means to reduce tensions and make meaningful environmental gains for the benefit of both Palestinians and Israelis. (see link below for more details on this important work). The Center for Arab American Philanthropy harnesses the collective power of Arab American giving to help make improvements worldwide by contributing to worthwhile Arab organisations.

Dr. Mehnaz Afridi, a fund advisor and Friend of Arava Institute member said: “Having the partnership and commitment of the Center for Arab American Philanthropy demonstrates Arava’s mission of peace, justice, and equality for Arab and Jewish students.”

Arwa Aburawa
Green Prophet