The board members of the Youth Dialogue Program - Srđan Vezmar, Snežana Bačlija and Dejan Borić, together with the A.R.T. Fusion activist, Andreea Loredana Tudorache - paid an official visit to Israel between 22nd and 29th January 2010. The visit was initiated by the partner organization Sadaka-Reut, within the “Qualify for Quality” training, which will be held in Kovačica – Serbia in March 2010. During their stay in Israel, the members had the opportunity to meet many young activists from the NGO sector. One of the most significant encounters was with the hosts from the Sadaka-Reut organization: Fado Shbeita and Genevieve Nadeau.

The goal of the visit to Israel was to exchange ideas and experience gained from the work of both YDP and Sadaka-Reut. Sadaka-Reut works for social and political change in Israel through the promotion of a bi-national, multicultural and egalitarian society based on social justice and solidarity. The goals that both organizations have in common are the elimination of prejudices and the promotion of tolerance, enabling mutual life among different religious and national groups. These very values, therefore, represent a motive for further and deeper cooperation between the two organizations and the importance of continuing with visits between the Western Balkans and the Middle East.

Another important aspect of the visit was the encounter with the respective cultures and ways of life of Israel and Palestine. During the visit, our hosts brought us to see several historical and exotic places, such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Zohar spa at the Dead Sea. Furthermore, we visited some important monuments, such as the Western wall, Masada and many other significant historical sites.

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