\u2013 Holy Land Trust<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00ad Since October 7, 2023, over 150,000 Palestinian workers from the West Bank have lost their permits to work in Israel Al Jazeera, Nov 2023. For many, this was the sole source of income. Today, they sit at home, their tools idle, their hands still capable but unwanted. Families that once survived on modest but steady earnings are now plunged into uncertainty.<\/p>\n A Double Crisis: No Labor, No Tourism<\/strong> HLT\u2019s Travel & Encounter Department: Holding the Line<\/strong> Home Rebuilding by HLT & Amos Trust in Al-Khader Village, Bethlehem, October 2024. Photo: Holy Land Trust<\/p>\n \u00ad On Friday, April 25th, Holy Land Trust took part in organizing the annual RUN THE WALL event in Bethlehem, with the participation of 4000 runners from across Palestine and around the world. This symbolic run traced the path along the Separation Wall, transforming a site of division into a space of unity, dignity, and peaceful resistance.<\/p>\n The event was held in collaboration with AMOS Trust, Wi\u2019am: The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center, Bethlehem Municipality, and Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society. Together, these partners created a vibrant and inclusive space where participants of all ages ran, walked, and stood in solidarity with Palestinian communities affected by the ongoing occupation and restriction of movement.<\/p>\n The aim of RUN THE WALL was to raise local and international awareness about the impact of the Wall and to inspire hope by encouraging active, nonviolent resistance. It provided a platform for storytelling, cultural expression, and community building.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s run was a remarkable success \u2014 streets echoed with chants for justice, local musicians played as runners passed, and messages of freedom and resilience covered the grey concrete. The event uplifted spirits, drew wide media attention, and reaffirmed the collective strength of communities united for justice.<\/p>\n Through this initiative, Holy Land Trust continues to work towards transforming trauma into hope, by creating meaningful spaces of expression and resistance that affirm the right to freedom, dignity, and peace.<\/p>\n \u00ad As part of the Voices for Change: Nonviolence, Leadership & Community Healing project, funded by the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs, Holy Land Trust hosted the first Training of Trainers session on Saturday, April 26th. The training, titled \u201cNonlinear Leadership\u201d facilitated by Mr. Sami Awad, the training focuses on achieving transformative future outcomes that are not limited by past experiences or traditional expectations.<\/p>\n The session welcomed participants, including trainers, social workers, and individuals working in media and community engagement. It focused on introducing nonviolent communication, emotional intelligence, and visionary leadership rooted in empathy, justice, and transformational change.<\/p>\n Participants engaged in deep reflection, dynamic discussions, and practical exercises aimed at equipping them with tools to lead change in their respective communities. The session emphasized the need for new leadership models in Palestinian society \u2014 ones that are grounded in dignity, inclusivity, and inner strength.<\/p>\n This was the first in a series of trainings designed to amplify local voices, empower grassroots leadership, and foster a movement of nonviolent social transformation. Holy Land Trust is honored to carry out this work with the support of the U.S. Palestinian Affairs Unit and looks forward to the upcoming sessions.<\/p>\n \u00ad On Saturday, April 26th, 2025, Holy Land Trust hosted the 6th training session of the Generation to Generation program at its Bethlehem offices. This transformative gathering brought together 20 female students from Bethlehem University as part of an ongoing collaboration aimed at empowering young women through storytelling, reflection, and shared experience.<\/p>\n The session focused on the Spiritual Questionnaire, a unique tool developed to help participants explore their inner resilience and process personal and collective trauma. Through guided questions and facilitated discussions, the students engaged deeply with themes of identity, strength, and the journey from pain to purpose.<\/p>\n The atmosphere at Holy Land Trust was one of safety and sincerity \u2014 a space where each student could reflect on her story and begin to understand the power it holds. This spiritual element of the Generation to Generation program continues to be a vital part of supporting emotional growth, self-awareness, and community connection.<\/p>\n This session marked another meaningful step in the program’s goal to transform trauma into strength by nurturing future female leaders in Palestine. Holy Land Trust is proud to continue this work in cooperation with Bethlehem University, creating safe and empowering spaces for the next generation of changemakers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A Time to Honor Strength, and to Speak the Truth \u201cWork is more than livelihood \u2014 it is dignity, purpose, and the foundation of every home.\u201d \u2013 Holy Land Trust […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3122,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsletter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/holylandtrust.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/holylandtrust.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/holylandtrust.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/holylandtrust.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/holylandtrust.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3114"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/holylandtrust.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3114\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3123,"href":"https:\/\/holylandtrust.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3114\/revisions\/3123"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/holylandtrust.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/holylandtrust.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/holylandtrust.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/holylandtrust.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nAs the world marks Labor Day, we take a moment to honor the dignity and resilience of Palestinian workers \u2014 especially those who have lost access to their livelihoods due to ongoing political decisions beyond their control.<\/p>\n
\nThe war in Gaza has had far-reaching effects \u2014 not only through direct violence, but also by paralyzing the region\u2019s economy. Bethlehem, a city that thrives on hospitality and global connection, is suffering the absence of pilgrims, volunteers, and travelers. Hotels are empty. Shops are shuttered. Dreams are on pause.<\/p>\n
\nAt Holy Land Trust, our Travel & Encounter department continues to resist despair. While physical visits are on hold, we are actively preparing for the return of peace-minded travelers, ensuring that when borders reopen, the world can once again walk with the people of this land. We continue to build partnerships, host virtual encounters, and design future experiences that support justice, economic recovery, and storytelling rooted in lived reality.<\/p>\n
\nRUN THE WALL<\/strong>
\nBethlehem<\/strong>
\n\u00ad<\/strong>
\n25.04.2025<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/holylandtrust.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/68109f406532abd0365f4418-600x540.png\")
<\/p>\n
\nVoices for Change<\/strong>
\nTraining of Trainers on Nonlinear Leadership<\/strong>
\n\u00ad<\/strong>
\n26.04.2025<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/holylandtrust.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/6810a1eaab92bd6d55348395-600x540.png\")
<\/p>\n
\nGeneration to Generation<\/strong>
\n6th Training Session<\/strong>
\n\u00ad<\/strong>
\n26.04.2025<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/holylandtrust.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/6810a28c6532abd0365f4648-600x540.png\")
<\/p>\n