Leadership Trip

Beyond the headlines:

Initiatives fostering a culture of hope in Israel and Palestine

The Mission behind the Trip

In a world saturated with headlines, polarized debates, and rising tensions, we often lose sight of the people behind the news — the individuals, families, activists, educators, and community leaders who live the everyday reality of places like Israel and Palestine.
Organisationen för kulturellt samförstånd (OKS) is committed to counteracting antisemitism, racism, and polarization by fostering cultural understanding through direct interpersonal encounters. Our belief is that peace begins with human connection.
Our vision is to build a society where cultural diversity and differences are not threats — but sources of mutual strength. Through initiatives that promote dialogue, reflection, and long-term cooperation, we aim to create opportunities for people in Sweden to meaningfully engage with communities from Israel and Palestine beyond the abstract.
This trip aims to empower and inspire public and civil society actors by providing them with firsthand insight into the complex realities of Israel and Palestine.

  • Engage in direct encounters with local actors and community members.
  • Explore realities of Israel and Palestine through dialogue and cultural immersion.
  • Reflect on their own role as community actors within Sweden’s diverse society.
Participants will:

By deepening their understanding, participants return better equipped to foster intercultural dialogue, promote inclusiveness, and create community initiatives that counteract division and polarization.
Purpose & Rationale


November 9–15, 2025


  • Local authority representatives
  • Civil society and faith-based organizations
  • Educators and school leaders


18+
About the Trip
Participant Process
  • Fill out a short application
  • Interview (online or in-person)
  • Pre-trip group meeting
  • Post-trip group reflection
  • One community presentation or initiative upon return
Activity
Dates
Target Group
Ages
A six-day educational and cultural immersion trip to Israel and Palestine for Swedish representatives.
Register
TRAVEL ITINERARY
Subject to change – final program will be confirmed one week before departure.
Sunday, November 09:
Arrival and Introduction
  • Welcome and Introduction – Opening session at the local cultural center focused on promoting dialogue
  • Travel to Jerusalem – Group transfer and check-in at hotel
  • Dinner – Shared meal at a local restaurant that reflects the diversity of the region, setting the tone for the journey ahead
Monday, November 10:
Historical and Religious Context – Jerusalem
  • Interfaith Dialogue – Encounters with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious leaders exploring the city's history and shared spiritual heritage
  • Guided Tour of the Old City – a walk through centuries of history
  • Cultural Element – “Between Austria and Knafeh” – a moment to reflect on the city's contrasts, while enjoying its café and street food culture
Tuesday, November 11:
Civil Society and Human Rights – Jerusalem
  • Meetings with Civil Society Organizations – dialogue about inclusion, justice, and human rights
  • Yad Vashem – Educational visit to Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Center and a workshop on antisemitism and memory culture
  • Cultural Dinner & Dialogue – Evening meal with local human rights representatives from both Israeli and Palestinian contexts
Wednesday, November 12:
Children’s Perspectives – Bethlehem / Jerusalem
  • Hand in Hand School – Visit to a bilingual Hebrew-Arabic school fostering equality and mutual respect among children.
  • Kids4Peace Jerusalem - Dialogue session with staff and participants about how they promote tolerance and empathy among youth from different backgrounds.
  • Women’s Empowerment Group – Traditional cooking classes arranged by women to support children with disabilities.
  • From Trauma to Hope - A Palestinian perspective on empowerment
  • Free Afternoon in Bethlehem
Thursday, November 13:
Women’s Perspectives and rights – Negev / Be’er Sheva
Conversations about empowerment, leadership, and coexistence:
  • Rahat – Bedouin Women’s Association
  • Ethiopian-Israeli Women's Initiative
  • Russian-speaking Women’s Group
  • Arab Women’s Organization
Overnight stay in the desert – reflection time
Friday, November 14:
Jumm’a–Shabbat – Abu Ghosh / Jerusalem
  • Mosque Visit in Abu Gosh - Discussion on Muslim traditions and community life. Coexistence between Muslim and Jewish communities
  • Synagogue Visit and Mahane Yehuda Market - Introduction to Jewish Shabbat practices and to the food for Shabbat.
  • Tantur Ecumenical Institute (University of Notre Dame) - Spiritual reflection session comparing Christian, Jewish, and Muslim weekly rituals
  • Dinner - Shared meal with local Friday traditions. Final reflections and closing of the journey
Saturday, November 15:
Departure
  • Sweden – The journey continues back home, through dialogue, sharing, and action in local communities
WHY THIS TRIP, WHY NOW?
In Sweden and beyond the Israeli-Palestinian conflict fuels division, polarization and antagonism. This program responds to a critical need for informed, empathetic dialogue — capable of bringing nuance, balance, and humanity back into the public discourse.
Register
PROGRAM OUTCOMES

  • Educational Impact

    Contextual understanding of Israeli and Palestinian perspectives and local initiatives

  • Post-trip Engagement and community impact

    Each participant will share their experiences through a public presentation or community dialogue in their home communities

  • Participants become part of an ongoing network for intercultural understanding and peacebuilding.

    We envision this program as the first cohort of a long-term initiative — where future groups from Sweden continue to learn, connect, and build bridges.

YOUR SUPPORT






By supporting this initiative, you are enabling a unique and timely investment in peace, leadership, and intercultural resilience. This is a chance to shape voices that will influence classrooms, congregations, municipal efforts, and public discourse in Sweden for years to come.

Let us move from news to reality — together.
YOUR SUPPORT
By supporting this initiative, you are enabling a unique and timely investment in peace, leadership, and intercultural resilience. This is a chance to shape voices that will influence classrooms, congregations, municipal efforts, and public discourse in Sweden for years to come.

Let us move from news to reality — together.
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