Research Journalism Initiative at
An Najah National University, Nablus
“Exploring the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”
Videoconference: Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS), Colorado
Thursday, 3 December - 8:00am-9:30am (MST); 5:00pm-6:30pm (Nablus) - Library, Old Campus
At DCIS, one of Colorado’s premiere international education schools, 10th grade students of Darlene Sims’ and Gerardo Munoz’s Cross Cultural Communication course explore and analyze global events and world dynamics. Through a lens of cultural anthropology, students learn about concepts of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism, with a strong emphasis on cultural awareness and sensitivity. This group has just finished learning about the atrocities of the Second World War and is in a process of trying to make sense of the victims, perpetrators, bystanders and rescuers. What is happening today brings up deep questions that don't have easy answers.
Studying the Holocaust provides good tools for understanding the context that led to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), while hearing the voices of Palestinian youths provides an important bridge for understanding the relevance of the UDHR today. Students of An Najah National University are invited to join us to share their personal stories, perspectives and opinions on the issue of Human Rights in their lives.
This videoconference is open for all who wish to participate - please extend this invitation widely. Our event will be held in English, but translation for Arabic speaking students will be available. Please contact RJI Program Manager, Falastine Dwikat, for more information – falastine@RJIPalestine.net
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Welcome to Political Justice/Autobiography, RJI's first collaborative curriculum unit, designed in partnership by Beth Harris, Ph.D., of Ithaca College, NY and Nabil Alawi, Ph.D., of An Najah National University. This course of the Department of English Language and Literature uses autobiography as a lens to explore themes of perspective, memory and self-expression. |
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Falastine is a talented poet whose work with Poetry of Witness has created a meaningful bridge to students in the US. With the passion of the soil, and the fragrance of za'atar, she wrote her lines expressing her visions, attitudes and feelings as a young Palestinian woman. |
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23-January, 2010:
Boulder - On Sunday, Jennifer Klein, RJI's
Director of Academic Development, presented our concept to a group of high school Social Studies teachers in Boulder. This event was part of a series of professional development workshops hosted by the Center for Teaching East Asia at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Jennifer stressed the need for a paradigm shift in social studies and the need for teachers to incorporate primary sources. To illustrate the point, the presentation featured a live videoconference with Mark Turner, RJI's International Director in Haifa.
15-January, 2010:
Nablus - On Wednesday, the Research Journalism Initiative facilitated a videoconference between An Najah National University and Colorado Academy in the United States. The exchange featured three Palestinian poets, RJI Program Manager Falastine Dwikat, long-time contributor Saed Abu Hijleh and graduate student Ikhlas Shtayyeh. The panel performed poetry, reflected upon their experiences living under occupation and shared a vision of peace and justice for Palestine.
11-November, 2009:
Nablus - On Wednesday, the Research Journalism Initiative facilitated a videoconference between An Najah National University and St. Mary's Academy in Colorado. The exchange featured a range of women’s issues, including education, gender solidarity, marriage and the violence of the Occupation. This event was one in a series of videoconference between these two institutions, and part of RJI’s broader efforts to connect students of An Najah with their colleagues in US classrooms.
10-November, 2009:
Nablus - On Tuesday, the Research Journalism Initiative facilitated a videoconference between An Najah National University and Ithaca College in New York. The event, the second in a wider series of videoconference between these two universities, is part of RJI’s efforts to develop an cooperative international studies program at An Najah National University.
28-October, 2009:
Nablus - The Research Journalism Initiative facilitated a videoconference between An Najah National University and Eastern Washington University in the United States. The conference, which explored themes of poetry and identity, was RJI’s second of the semester and part of an ongoing cooperation between An Najah and Eastern Washington University.
22-October, 2009:
Denver -
Imam Ibrahim Kazerooni, besides his many other talents, happens to be a gourmet cook. He utilized his exceptional skills for the common good and prepared a full Arabic meal with dessert for guests of the first RJI Benefit Dinner. We hope this to be the first in what will be a series of annual events in Denver, where the Initiative was first conceived, in order to encourage local support and participation.
6-October, 2009:
Nablus - An Najah National University hosted a videoconference between students of the Department of English Language and Literature and Ithaca College, New York. The university was pleased to welcome Mark Turner and the Research Journalism Initiative back to campus for its first activity of the new semester. |
Learn more about RJI's philosophy and mission. Featuring RJI Founder Mark Turner, Director of Academic Development Jennifer Klein, President of Student Initiatives Katie Horvath and leading contributors to RJI's Poetry of Witness in Palestine, Falastine Dwikat and m. Faraj. - Film by Sheryle Carlson.
Jennifer Klein, RJI's Director of Educational Development, was featured in the Spring, 2008 edition of Independent School, a quarterly publication of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Jennifer will be presenting her work with the Research Journalism Initiative in February at the NAIS annual conference in Chicago.
