2008 Programs and Events

Palestinian Youth Unlock their Creative Writing Potential

February 29, 2008 

In partnership with Christopher Merrill, Director of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa, the U.S. Consulate General arranged two creative writing workshops in Ramallah and Jerusalem, for 49 talented young Palestinian writers, aged 15-18 on February 29. Enthusiastic about the results, the students called the experience, “enthralling” and said the workshops motivated them to find new ways to describe Palestinian life to readers from other cultures. Mr. Merrill spoke about the importance of reading, writing, and critical observation of the world and conducted exercises to stretch their creative expression. Impressed with the students, Mr. Merrill identified many potential participants for IWP’s U.S. State Department-funded “Between the Lines” program for young Arabic writers, to be held this summer in Iowa.