Beyond Bridges is a program that takes university students of all backgrounds on a journey of transformation, combining rigorous academics and practical hands-on training to prepare them to work with groups in conflict. Our goal is to move beyond the stage of practical peace agreements or ‘building bridges.’ We transform students to look at long-term solutions to end inter-communal conflict. Peace agreements do not ensure long-term sustainability; only education does.

In summer 2010, AV will begin its fifth consecutive ten-month Vision Program. The first month of this program takes place entirely in the Balkans, taking Jewish and Palestinian university students on a 3-4 week comparative conflict analysis and experiential education program in the former Yugoslavia. Beyond Bridges: Balkans, or BB:B, is modeled after the Vision Program, and is likewise designed to explore questions of identity, narratives, religion, conflict, and more for students of all backgrounds (rather than just for Jews and Palestinians). Using the lens of comparative conflict analysis (the Balkans conflicts and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict), while engaging in carefully designed organic group discussions, BB:B aims to create spaces for both personal and collective transformation. Through this process, participants gain new understandings of the role they play in international conflicts, and how this relates to their political identities.

Our ultimate goal is to empower our fellows to find more effective ways to engage in the larger political scene in the United States and beyond. Our participants will join and help shape the movement of activists creating effective changes both domestically and abroad. In other words, BB:B allows people to see political resolutions between warring nations as an essential beginning to a much longer process towards sustainable peace in which all communities in conflict must engage in. It is our belief that deep rooted conflicts cannot be solved only by building bridges. Communities must move beyond bridges, past this initial phase of political agreements and towards actual transformation.

Trip Dates: June 24 to July 18, 2010

Click here for the 2010 Beyond Bridges: Balkans application!

Note: When filling out the application, please dowload the pdf, save a copy to your hard drive and send it as an attachment.