São Paulo – Nothing better than travelling to the Middle East to better understand the conflict in the region. This is the idea of a group of 25 students from Armando Alvares Penteado Foundation (Faap), which is travelling to Turkey, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and Lebanon (16). They are going to cover the "Abraham Path" a tourist and pilgrimage route that follows the steps of the prophet throughout the Middle East some 4,000 years ago.
This should be the third trip to the Middle East by Faap students. In 2008, students and former students from the institution visited the Emirates. Last year, a group visited Israel, Jordan and Palestine, a shorter trip than Abraham Path. Most of the students to participate in the trip are in the International Relations course. "These trips are a simulation of a diplomatic delegation. Students have the privilege of learning about different cultures and identifying opportunities that may contribute to their professional future," said the deputy director at the Economics College at Faap, Luiz Alberto Machado.
According to him, the travel route includes meetings with government, academic, religious and community leaders to discuss social and economic problems of the region with the students. "It is a true live international relations lesson," said Machado, who participated in the last trip.
In the route, the students should meet local inhabitants at family homes. Apart from having local guides, the students will be accompanied by the International Relations director at the organisation, Guilherme Casarões, who should complement information acquired during the trip.
The trip, which ends on February 2, plans to show the students current regions of great conflict, like the problems with the Kurds in Turkey and the Arabs and Jews in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. The cities visited are part of the crib of three of the main monotheistic religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islamism.
According to Machado, the last trip to the Middle East was very positive, so much so that the openings for this year were exceeded and many people were left out. "Abraham Path was greatly sought," he said. The trip is not part of the compulsory course at Faap, but extra.
In the professor’s opinion, these trips promoted by the institution are very important. "The students play the part of a protagonist and return much more motivated. Regarding the added knowledge, it is excellent," he added.
Abraham Path is an international project developed by Harvard University, by anthropologist William Ury. With the objective of promoting sustainable development of the region through tourism, organisation Global Negotiation Project, which is responsible for the project, is a Faap partner.
This should be the seventh mission that the organisation promotes for students since 2007. Apart from the Arab countries, students have already participated in trips to the United States and China.
*Translated by Mark Ament
