Sponsoring a Boys Club is what we encourage the most at this time, and these proceeds will go directly to facilities and their needs. We respect everyone's right to anonymity, but if you wish to get in contact with any of these boys clubs, arrangements will be made.
While visiting Palestine I found that many of the "Suicide Bombers" today are the ones who went through the Infatada back in 1992. In 1992 they were just children and many of these boys lost loved ones and friends, and the impact of this has manifested itself into what we see today. Nearly all the Suicide Bombers are College Educated and carry some form of degree. These people have gone through college and after completing this they return to their villages with hope in being able to change things and a high level of self esteem and self respect. Then reality sets in and they find no jobs, and where jobs are available, they are usually labor work not requiring their college degree. Filled with frustration, loosing hope, a level of degradation enters in. Once admired and respected in their village for their accomplishments, they begin to feel a loss of self respect and begin to feel also as if their village and families do not respect them any longer either. This is how repression works itself into deep depression and despair, and at this point they become very fragile. All it takes at this point is for a death of a brother or a friend, anyone close to them to trigger them into making decisions they would otherwise never even contemplate. They see that there is no Justice, and death continues everywhere around them...life looses all of its meaning.
The current generation that is controlling the world, their attitudes towards it, the wars and conflicts that continue on, the double standards of Justice, and their inability to focus on what it takes to make peace may not be able to change. They focus on only the manifestations of deeper problems and they lack this knowledge, and the upcoming generation is in question as well, my generation. We do know today that knowledge brings about understanding, and when we better understand one another we respect each other. When we respect each other we can then bring about peaceful resolutions and find alternatives to war. Educating ourselves today, especially the youth in the diversities of mankind around the world, bringing about understanding of one another, this is the "Seed of Peace" that needs to be germinated. This is what International Bridge Builders stands for, dissolving the animosity that we feel for one another due to our own ignorance and/or complacency. If we want a future of Hope and Peace in this world for our children, then we must put more focus upon them. They are the ones that can make a difference and stop this cycle of violence in the world today, and it all begins with the education of our children.
In Palestine, like in America, there are numerous Boys Clubs. These clubs are very similar to the Boy Scouts here in America, but they have challenges that go beyond their original intent today. While visiting Palestine and visiting these clubs I found they were in need of many things, everything from Computers to bag pipes are needed. The challenge today in Palestine is keeping the youth off the street and promoting self-confidence and self esteem. This is what the Boys Clubs are all about. There is a strong desire of those running these clubs to stand up for peaceful resolutions for the sake of their children and their future. They are tired of the conflict and the wars. One of the men I met was once for the war, he lost his father when he was very young and for many years was fighting Israel as a result. He told me, "I now have children and see that this fighting is doing them no good. Peace is more important than war, for the sake of my children and my children's children."
It is also our goal to bring more of the true American heart to this area of the world. I have changed the attitudes of many in Palestine today. Ahmad told me, "Curt, if it wasn't for you....me, my family, my whole village, we would all hate America. It is because of you that we don't." We need more people that can have a positive influence in this area of the world. We are open to many suggestions and one example is bringing Martial Arts to these Boys Clubs. Martial Arts brings about a level of self respect and self control that is necessary in their current environment. This is where my Son will be able to help, and at his age he will be able to influence many young kids, and they will have an impact upon him as well :). But we need more people and more equipment so that we can attract these kids to these facilities and get them off the streets.
America, Israel and the Arab Nations today hold great animosity in their heart for one another, it is our objective to break this endless link of ill will for one another, but this is going to be very difficult with our current generation. We know what happens to societies that fail to educate there children and how this can manifest itself into serious problems. The children are our hope for a future of peace and prosperity, so it is in the hearts of the children where we hope to be able to break these chains that bind our hearts with animosity and hate towards one another.
If you are interested in Sponsoring a Boys Club in any way, or have any suggestions, e-mail us at;
