Middle East

Introduction | Background | News & Photos

The Middle East conflict is possibly the most infamous and violent. In response to the need for healing, Play for Peace has brought laughter and hope into the lives of youth and children in this very troubled part of the world.

PLAY FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

In 1996, Play for Peace – Middle East was established in response to the Oslo Accords by an Israeli woman who researched quality institutions whose charters were directed toward establishing healthy coexistence among Arab-Israelis and Jewish-Israelis. She chose to introduce Play for Peace as a promising vehicle to promote tolerance and co-existence between ethnic groups. Start-up funding was supplied by the Jerusalem Foundation.

Soon after, the Jerusalem International YMCA, which has a long history of dedication to peacemaking, became the hub organization of Play for Peace - Middle East, and the partnership between the YMCA and Play for Peace remains strong today.