lara - ffipp switzerland 2017-2018
You never quite know what to expect with FFIPP: I ended up learning so much more and sometimes completely different things than I expected and I ended up doing so much more and sometimes completely different things than expected. I was part of FFIPP Switzerland (which tends to be loosely based in Geneva) and was and am again part of FFIPP Europe (which is really based in « the internet »). I have particularly fond memories of the opening of the exhibition « LIFE under OCCUPATION » that we organised with FFIPP Switzerland. The exhibition was an opportunity to share some stories from people in Palestine about their daily struggles under occupation but also about the vibrant life that prevails. The opening was accompanied by a speaker from BADIL as well as Palestinian music and food and I got the impression that with these tiny glimpses into some people’s lives, we managed to make the public curious about the endless facettes of the occupation but also the rich cultural heritage and I think this is what FFIPP is really about: piquing people’s curiosity so that they will go on and pay more attention, reflect critically, ask more questions and look for more answers.
Throughout my involvement with FFIPP Europe that organises FFIPP’s yearly summer programmes I had the opportunity to learn so much about really anything that is needed to keep an organisation running: from technical skills such as budgeting and fundraising to the importance of good planning but also the need for flexibility and most and foremost how much you can achieve with great teamwork! While stressful at times, seeing it all come together in the end and getting to learn once more from all the incredible speakers of the summer programme (scholars, activists, CBOs etc. from Palestine and Israel) about their fight against the ongoing injustices as well as seeing the students’ engagement with the topics throughout and beyond the summer programme makes it all so worth it!