Strengthening the voice of women and improving relations between Arabs and Jews on a Large Scale in Israel

1. “Hello…
My name is Achlam. I am
the second wife of a Bedouin
man from Rahat and the
mother of four children.
You are asking me why I
travel to Karmiel (three
hours each way) twice a
month to participate in this
program?”

2. …Because it is a place in my life where I can be all of who I am,
learn to give a voice to my needs and aspirations and together
with my Arab and Jewish colleagues create something to truly
improve relations between Arabs and Jews in this country…”
Achlam, 41, Rahat

3. From Stage to Change
Strengthening the voice of women and improving relations
between Arabs and Jews on a Large Scale in Israel

4. A project of…
Together Beyond Words
Empowering women to find their voices,
transform their pain and work together to bring
about social change and peace

5. And…
Shiluvim Bagalil
The Galilee Playback Theatre School for personal and
social transformation

6. “After a year of training together, during our first performance, I
was very moved. I felt a bit like Neil Armstrong when he took his
first step on the moon... This may be a small step for us, but it
has the potential to become a very big step towards transforming
the Arab-Jewish conflict in our region.”
-- Tasneem, 35, Muslim, Dir El Asad

7. Program Plan
• Starting October 2013 the ensemble will present an
interactive performance and follow-up workshop events
throughout the country to diverse audiences: at least 50
events to 2500 Arabs and Jews over the next two years
• Following the event, the women in the audience will be
invited to a 60 hour training course in the area where they live
that will help in further developing their leadership skills.

8. “This program is where
I am able to use my
creative theatrical
knowledge and my
facilitating skills to do
something towards
securing the future of
my children.”
-- Yoli, 44, Kamon

9. What does the From Stage to Change event
include?
During the performance volunteers from the audience are invited to
share personal stories related to their lives in Israel which are then
enacted on stage by the actresses of the Arab- Jewish women
Ensemble.
Following the performance the audience is divided into small groups
led by the actresses/facilitators, enabling those who did not go on
stage to share their stories as well.
The deep listening and sharing in a supportive setting created within
the small groups increases compassion, empathy and acceptance
towards ourselves and others and enables the women to experience
simple tools for changing their role in their own life stories.

10. C. Tools that can help them go
from A to B on a regular
basis in their lives.
The combination of playback theatre, the follow-up workshop and the 60
hour leadership trainings allow the participating women and girls to
experience:
A. The places in their lives where they
are not in full possession of their power
and resources
B. What their lives and future would look
like if they were more in possession
of their power and resources and

12. From Stage to Change Performances
May – July 2013
Who is the audience?AudiencePlaceDate
Friends, family and people from
the community
30Shiluvim Bagalil9.5.2013
People from Maalot Tarshicha, kfar
Vradim and Haifa
30Shiluvim Bagalil23.5.2013
Tedarim Betnuaa group members60Amirim Auditorium4.6.2013
Ethiopian women/actresses20Yoqneam11.6.2013
BA Students and educators60Beit Berl Academy13.6.2013
The Western Galilee Playback
community
40Shiluvim Bagalil17.6.2013
Women and Children from the
village
80Sajur Village
Auditorium
4.7.2013

16. A Small Step for
Coexistence
This article appeared in
the local newspaper
after our first From
Stage to Change Event.
A- la- Kfar # 221, May 2013

17. What people are saying about the From Stage
to Change events…
“The Together Beyond Words Playback Theatre Ensemble visited us at Beit Berl
College for a unique and magical performance. The different actresses and
the connection between them succeeded in creating within the Arab and
Jewish audience an atmosphere of openness, shared joy, excitement and
readiness to connect with one another. This was an exceptionally bonding
experience that each participant will remember.”
-- Dr. Meirav Naker-Sadi, the head of the Department of Informal Education
at Beit Berl College
“The performance was heart opening, inspiring and empowering. The follow
up workshop enabled many more people to open their hearts and share
their pain in a safe space. Each group seemed to have developed a circle of
trust and connection very quickly. “ – Ravit Yasur, leader, Tedarim Betnua
“ I wish this type of events could be done all over the United States and
Israel, they help so much in changing people’s prejudices and
biases…” – Tina, a Jewish participant at the Esalen workshop

18. “I will never forget that moment when I saw an Ethiopian man, a
disabled woman, and Arab and Jewish women acting the story of
one of our teachers about her son who was born deaf. It touched
me so deeply that it was beyond words….”
Orit, 34, a student who attended the Beit Berl event

19. “When we were asked to act the story of an Ethiopian
mother who travelled on her own to Israel with her five
children hoping to make a better life for them and then
lost her daughter in a car accident, I felt overwhelmed…

20. …But afterwards when I saw her surrounded by her friends,
smiling through her tears, I realized that we were actually
supporting her process of healing…” – Miriam, 58, an
actress/facilitator

21. When we transform personal and national pain that people have
carried inside for generations, they open their hearts to one
another and to the possibility of living together in Peace…..
Together Beyond Words

22. In order to
continue running
the From Stage to
Change events and
follow-up
leadership courses
throughout the
country we need
your support…
For more information:
972-4-9570481
Beyondwords.org@gmail.com
www.beyondwords.org.il
For donations:
en.beyondwords.org.il/donate
Thank you…