Page 16 - C.A.L.L. #36 - Summer 2013

Kibbutzim in Africa?

By Rafael Medoff/JNS.org studying community development and
strategies for economic and social
They may not wear those classic blue independence that they intend to
“kibbutznik hats,” but some Ethiopian’s, implement on the Israeli-style
Sudanese, and Eritreans may soon be kibbutzim they hope to build back home.
establishing Israeli-style communes in
eastern Africa.

It’s part of an innovative project
launched by young Israelis to deal with
the problem of the tens of thousands of
African refugees who have slipped
across the Egypt-Israel border during
the past several years.

The search for a long-term solution
inspired Pesach Houspeter, chairman of An activist of the Dror Israel-
Dror Israel and Uriel Levy, chairman of affiliated Combat Genocide Association
the Dror-affiliated Combat Genocide with homeless Darfurian refugees.
Association, to conceive a project to
give the refugees agricultural and other
training in Israel, so that when they “They are also being educated in
return to their homelands, they can methods of social cooperation that will
build a better life. “Some of the encourage them to refrain from taking
Africans have spoken to us of their revenge on those of their countrymen
great admiration for the kibbutz who harmed them or their families,”
system,” Houspeter explains. “So we Houspeter says. Dror Israel hopes to
thought - why not show them how it’s send Israeli volunteers to Ethiopia and
done, so they can do it themselves?” South Sudan to lend a helping hand.

Under Dror Israel’s auspices, several
dozen young Africans in Israel are now

2013 Twin Oaks Communities Conference

The Conference is a chance for communards, people interested in exploring community

and folks who are involved in other community-oriented projects or businesses to get
together and share ideas. There are formal workshops and sessions as well as many
informal opportunities to cross-pollinate with other community minded folks. The
conference will be over labor day weekend, 8/30-9/2, right here at Twin Oaks

Community.
www.communitiesconference.org

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