The project "My Country we are here" implemented an introductory cultural tour to the village Iqrith and the city of Acre, in order to increase the participants’ historical and cultural awareness and to define the historical and cultural significance of the village, as well as to show the stages of the village’s experience of wars and revolutions. Where it is known that Iqrith village is an Arab village that extends over a range of Western Galilee hills, which rise 592 meters above sea level. It is one of the villages that fell under the control of the Israeli occupation within the "Hiram" campaign in 1948.
Shadia Sabati, a member of the Village’s Residents Association, hosted the youth of “My Country we are here”, where she took them on a tour to the village’s valleys to show them the geographical and historical landmarks. The tour was launched in the village from the cemetery area and down to the church yard which are the only remaining monuments in the village after the bombing of their homes by the occupying army. A young man from the youth of the village added a lot of information to what was said by Mrs. Shadia. He began with an introduction explaining the differences between exiled villages and destroyed villages; he also mentioned some examples and projects of Zionists that ultimately led to the occupation and destroying of these villages. Afterward the participants who visited the village moved to visit the city of Acre guided by Ahmad Thatha. They moved between the city’s wall and port, and ended their tour by a visit to El Gazar mosque, one of the most important historical landmarks in the city of Acre, which underwent conflict.
Musa Abbasi, the project coordinator, explained the aim of implementing the project “My country, we are here”, which is to develop youth ability and to educate them about the most important historical and cultural information of exiled villages of Jerusalem and historic Palestine of the year 1948. He emphasized the importance of holding such tours for Palestinian youth to raise their awareness and knowledge of history, culture, and civilization, and to increase affiliation and the Palestinian identity.
Meanwhile Khulud Zenati, coordinator of the Lod and Ramle group of the Arab Association, stressed that such cultural tours will contribute to the participants' understanding of identity and citizenship and will enhance their affiliation to the cultural and historical heritage.
It is worth mentioning that “My Country, we are here” project is implemented by the Palestinian Vision Foundation, Madaa Creative Center_silwan, and the Arab Association for Human Rights. It targets the young Jerusalemites in particular and the young Palestinians in general.
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