Annual Meeting of the NSWAS Friends’ Associations

For four days at the end of April, NSWAS hosted supporters from around the world for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of its Friends’ Associations. As usual, the schedule was intensive, with sessions dedicated to every aspect of the village’s work, its finances, and the activities of the friends’ associations themselves. Between sessions there was time for informal conversation and home visits.

After the AGM, many participants stayed for the inaugural opening and conference at the new Pluralistic Spiritual Centre building. There was also a less formal ceremony at the recently constructed primary school building.

On the evening of Sunday, April 30, we began a new tradition by presenting Hermann Sieben, chair of the German Friends’ of Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam with a special award for his many years of dedicated service. The name of the award: “Partner in Peace”.

After the meeting, the British and American Friends Associations had organized for their supporters a special visit and tour. The itinerary included, besides an in-depth acquaintance with NSWAS itself, field trips that brought the challenges facing our region into sharp focus.