On 03 August 2017 ACCORD hosted two Palestinian youth activists, Janna Jihad (11 years old) and Ahed Tamimi (16 years old), who were visiting South Africa with their parents and other children who are profiled in the Shamsaan Palestine’s Children’s Art Calendar. Shamsaaan (meaning ‘two suns’ in Arabic) is a South African initiated project that promotes arts and culture as a platform for positive social change. The children have become global Ambassadors for human rights and hope to engage with South Africans nationally over a month – long national tour; aimed to educate and to foster a deeper understanding of the Palestinian condition and to build relationships with South African youth.
Prior to the visit, on 2 August 2017, ACCORD’s Executive Director, Dr Vasu Gounden attended the screening of the multi award winning film Radiance of Resistance, directed by Jesse Roberts, which was held in Durban. Radiance of Resistance tells the story of the two Palestinian youth activists who live under military occupation in the village of Nabi Saleh.
Previously, on 17 – 18 October 2011, Dr. Gounden was invited by the Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation (PYALARA) to conduct two trainings, one in Nablus and one in Hebron, for teachers and civil society representatives dealing with the youth in Palestine. Dr Gounden was also asked to be a resource person at a conference hosted by PYALARA called Id lal-Ashara (Hold Your Horses: A Multi-dimensional approach towards tolerance and non-violence). Mr. Gounden was further asked to present on his experience as a Youth leader during Apartheid South Africa.
