United Reformed Church Youth Moderator, Philippa Osei, recently joined a group of young leaders aged 18-35 from around the world at a conference in Jerusalem.
Organised by Sabeel, the annual young adults conference held from 18-27 July was the first to take place since being postponed due to the pandemic and was entitled “Time to Kumi- Time to Rise up”.
Engaging with other charities such as Kairos Palestine, Wi’Am and Musalaha as well as conversing with activists, lawyers, and professors, the young leaders predominantly engaged with a group of young adult Palestinians on an “alternative pilgrimage” to gain a fuller understanding of the situation in Israel and Palestine.
During the trip, the group visited the holy sites in the West Bank and communed with young people who live there; talking about their lives and hopes.
Philippa said: “The trip to Palestine was life changing, both spiritually and mentally, the land and the people were truly the Word manifest. We have born witness to a country at conflict and a people scarred with trauma; yet those we spoke to had so much hope for real justice and peace.”