Insight into life as a refugee

6:47am Saturday 23rd August 2008

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Enclosed by an eight metre high wall, surrounded by security checkpoints and blighted by poverty, Palestine is not most teenagers' first holiday choice.

But one group of 17- and 18-year-olds from Oxford made the trip to Ramallah, Palestine, to stay in a refugee camp and meet some of the people affected by the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

The visit, organised by the Oxford Ramallah Friendship Association, was the first time the organisation has sent young people to the troubled country.

Nikki Marriott, from East Oxford, was one of the adults leading the group, all of whom paid their own way.

She said: "The main thing was the young people got to experience a little of what it is like to live in Ramallah.

"At one point the coach was turned back at a checkpoint because we had Palestinians on board. For all of us it was this kind of realisation that we were still in Palestine where you are not allowed to take your kids to the seaside.

"You read about the wall, but you can't imagine how horrendous it is until you see it.

"It was a very interesting - and moving - experience."

Nine teenagers went to the Al Amari camp, accompanied by five adults, and met some teenagers who last year visited Oxford as part of a trip organised by the association.

Among those visiting was Lauren Carter, 18, from Fairacres Road, and a pupil at Cheney School, Headington.

She said: "It was just amazing, the best experience I have ever had, and it was so eye-opening.

"Everything was so different to here and what struck me most was how closed in everything was due to the wall and checkpoints, and living in a refugee camp compound.

"It showed me how much freedom I have. It was shocking."

It was also a revealing experience for Cherwell School pupil Laila Morris, 17.

She said: "Everyone's family had a story of something terrible which had happened.

"Everyone was living in really hard conditions, but at the same time people just got on with their lives."

The teenagers attended video training workshops prior to their trip, which took place between July 22 and August 2, and passed on the skills they learned to young Palestinians in the camp.

The group also gave the camp two video cameras, which will be used to record memories of some of the older women who became refugees in 1948 at the establishment of the state of Israel, and work with young people to record significant events in their lives.