Here in the Village of Peace Dimona, we biennially host the International Youth on the Move Conference where the teens from our community, ages 13-18, from Israel, other parts of Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, etc. convene for a two-week cultural celebration. The excitement experienced by the participants is unforgettable and the bonds of friendship that are created between these youth are ever-lasting.
As a parent of teenagers who attended the International Youth on the Move Conference this summer, I would like to give a behind-the-scenes perspective of this experience. I will share pictures and videos of the fun times the youth enjoyed!
For the summer of 2024, the itinerary for this fascinating event of cultural enrichment included:
A sacred prayer in white
Artistic workshops of various sorts
Seminars on Hebrew Israelite culture
Work at the community agricultural project
A Biblical, theatrical production
A Cultural Extravaganza fashion show highlighting the dress of the Biblical ancients
A five-day tour of the Sea of Galilee area.
Many of the international youth who attend the event have been here before, so the youth from Israel excitedly await their return. The youth from “Home” (meaning those who live in Israel) greet the ‘guests’ as they arrive to the Village of Peace at any hour of the morning, afternoon, and even the wee hours of the night. The warm hugs and cheers of joy that are exchanged speak of the profound sense of love that these youth have for one another.
Some of the guest youth are accommodated at the guest house in the village, while others are hosted in the homes of members of the Village. The youth stay up late hours reminiscing and catching up with what is happening in everyone’s lives.
In preparation for the activities of the Youth Conference, the youth exchange clothes, do each other’s hair, go shopping, and get dressed at homes of youth in the Village. It is heartwarming to see how well these youngsters relate to one another from a very sincere and innocent place.
The teens from abroad have a sense of reprieve as they can hang out later hours outside without the fear of danger as the Village of Peace is a safe haven for all. They can enter the homes of their friends in Israel and be warmly welcomed by their families. Feeling right at home, the guests experience the awesomeness of extended family.
In preparation for the five-day excursion with much excitement, many of the youth stay up all night to pack and socialize, stating that they will sleep on the bus.
Many of the trips in Israel for youth are excursions on the land. On the way to Yar Levi, the campsite near Tiberius where the youth were stationed, they went on a beautiful nature trail in the Rothchild Garden in Zecron Yaacov.
These are shots of the youth enjoying their time out on the land! They swam in the Jordan River; a blessing so many dream of. They hung out in ancient caves. Just experiencing the beauty of the land is transformative!
The youth settled into the campsite where they slept in tents. The youth were placed on different teams and were responsible for meal preparations and keeping the campsite in order. They traveled to numerous sites visiting caves and hiking trails. The trip ended with the youth going to a large water park for a day of fun.
The YOM International Youth Conference 2024 has proven to be a very memorable event, characterized by tight bonds, discovery, and good times. Enjoy these videos of the awesome Cultural extravaganza! You can really feel the excitement and pride the youth are feeling!
Kani Ben Ahkisamakh aged 17, a Hebrew Israelite male youth from Atlanta, Georgia expressed that the 2024 International Youth on the Move Conference was:
“A new experience where I met lot of new people. I did a lot of dancing and I normally don’t dance but the conference brought that out of me. I learned some new words in Hebrew. They take the Shabbat very seriously here, and clean up for the Shabbat on Friday. The food was good, and the kalebone (a healthy meat alternative) tasted different than what we have in Atlanta.”
Although the conference has ended, all of the international participants remain in the land of Israel as most airlines have suspended their air travel to the Holy Land because of the current political conflict. The adventure continues, and this Youth Conference is clearly one for the records.