Jericho "Sports Day" Brings Together American and Palestinian Youth

November 15, 2010

Jericho: On Saturday, November 13, 2010, more than sixty Palestinian youth from the Jericho municipality joined several families from the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem to participate in a special "Sports Day" event sponsored by the American Corner in Jericho. Palestinian and American children competed in popular team games, including dodge-ball, soccer, and tug-of-war. Public Diplomacy Officer Esperanza Tilghman kicked off the program by greeting the children and their families and later joined them in a few of the activities.

Popular Palestinian athlete and marathon runner Ma'moun Balo made a special guest appearance, and volunteered to lead some of the games with the children. Speaking about the event, Ms. Tilghman spoke about the high-level of enthusiasm that both the American and Palestinian children shared in playing together: "Despite a language barrier, young children from different backgrounds were able to "speak" to each other universally - through sports activities.

Having this event at the American Corner demonstrates the commitment of the U.S. Consulate General to reach out to the Jericho community and continue building friendships based on the shared values of teamwork, cooperation, and mutual understanding." Ms. Tilghman also emphasized that the event was also a wonderful opportunity for residents to become more familiar with the American Corner and the kinds of programs and activities offered there.

The American Corner in Jericho opened in August 2006 in the Jericho Municipal Library. American Corners are designed to share the cultural and historical stories of the United States with the local community, and create a positive exchange of ideas to help build bridges across cultures. The American Corner in Jericho continues to engage the residents of Jericho and the surrounding areas with a wide range of programs and activities that focus on art, literature, cultural exchange, and youth sports.

For more information please contact the U.S. Consulate's Press Office at 02-622-6908 or 02-622-6909 or Hassna Dajani at 054-678-8455.