April 30, 2005
Egyptian Minister of Tourism Meets with PTPI Delegates
Egyptian Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Maghrati met with PTPI delegates tonight in an informal briefing about the situation which took place today in Cairo and which has been reported on the international news networks.
Here's what he told us --
The Cairo police have been looking for the accomplice of the bombing incident which took place in the crowded marketplace since it happened about two weeks ago. His picture has been posted in the local newspapers, on the television and elsewhere. Today, the police were closing in on him and instead of being captured, decided to jump off the bridge with a bomb in hand....this is when the explosion occurred. Distraught upon hearing the news, his sister and fiance one hour later starting shooting at a bus and then turned the gun on themselves. The Minister said he believes this is "the final chapter of an incident two weeks ago ...it was a loose gun that has been apprehended." The Arab press is reporting the incident in this manner.
In addition to personally introducing himself to every delegate who walked in the room, the Minister offered to take a group of delegates and walk to the famed Egyptian Museum and give them a walking guide -- a rare and unique opportunity for any tourist. Many of our delegates took him up on the offer.
PTPI offers thanks to the Minister for personally coming to discuss this incident with our group -- especially during what must be an extremely stressful time. Our thanks also to Amr Badr and the A&K group for arranging this meeting.
Here's what he told us --
The Cairo police have been looking for the accomplice of the bombing incident which took place in the crowded marketplace since it happened about two weeks ago. His picture has been posted in the local newspapers, on the television and elsewhere. Today, the police were closing in on him and instead of being captured, decided to jump off the bridge with a bomb in hand....this is when the explosion occurred. Distraught upon hearing the news, his sister and fiance one hour later starting shooting at a bus and then turned the gun on themselves. The Minister said he believes this is "the final chapter of an incident two weeks ago ...it was a loose gun that has been apprehended." The Arab press is reporting the incident in this manner.
In addition to personally introducing himself to every delegate who walked in the room, the Minister offered to take a group of delegates and walk to the famed Egyptian Museum and give them a walking guide -- a rare and unique opportunity for any tourist. Many of our delegates took him up on the offer.
PTPI offers thanks to the Minister for personally coming to discuss this incident with our group -- especially during what must be an extremely stressful time. Our thanks also to Amr Badr and the A&K group for arranging this meeting.
Update from Cairo...1520 GMT Time
The news of the bomb blast has surely reached many of you. The blast was not near the hotel we are at. We are closely monitoring the situation and will always keep safety as our number one concern.
April 11, 2005
Welcome to PTPI Peace Camp 2005
Peace Camp 2005 - Egypt
April 30, 2005 - May 10, 2005
Cairo - Luxor - Aswan - Alexandria
Welcome to People to People International's Peace Campers blog for this year's exciting adventure! Stay tuned and watch the progress of 53 students from around the world meet in Egypt and learn about each other and skills to use in life to create peace through understanding. Students arrive in Egypt April 30 and depart for their homes on May 10.
The People to People International (PTPI) Peace Camp is a safe environment in which young people of different nationalities and religions can freely express their views and experiences while learning valuable listening, communication, and conflict resolution skills that will allow them to develop empathy and understanding for one another. The PTPI Peace Camp helps teenagers from various world regions learn the skills of creating peaceful solutions on an individual, communal, and global level. There will be up to 20 hours of educational, classroom time during the Peace Camp. Topics will include:
- Group Development
- Communication
- Team Building
- World Issues
- Leadership
- Conflict Management
- Planning & Stakeholder Involvement
April 9, 2005
Messages from 2003 Peace Campers
"Friends, that for some reason which I still can't understand, become so close to you in a matter of days that you feel that a part of you is missing when you leave them behind… I still don't know what made this trip unforgettable. I don't know why out of all the many groups I have met in the past this group has stuck to my memory and heart."
Maya, Israel
"We have been seeing one side of the building for all our lives never assuming that there might be another side. Peace Camp made me stroll around that building in circles day and night observing the different sides and the different colors reflected on each side."
Ivana, Croatian citizen living in the United Arab Emirates
"Right now I'm worrying about college acceptance letters but I realize an acceptance letter from my dream school could never be as life changing as the day I received my Peace Camp acceptance letter over a year ago."
Kevin, Texas, USA
"The day you arrive at the airport to leave for Peace Camp is the last day of your life of innocence… Peace Camp goes on inside you, a part of you, large or small, is ALWAYS at Peace Camp."
Bridget, New York, USA
"The one thing that made the largest impact on me was seeing people from opposing nations get along. I saw people from Israel and Palestine shake hands and exchange email addresses. I saw people from Jordan, Egypt, and Yemen get along with people from the USA."
Alan, Pennsylvania, USA
"Peace Camp is an unforgettable experience in my life. People I met there, became my best friends. Getting the letter of acceptance, made one of my happiest day in my life and then I had 10 more days like that, in Egypt. It's difficult to say what I have overlived during the trip. I wish everyone could touch this experience which seems to be a beautiful dream".
Armando, Tirana, Albania
"My childhood dream was to visit Egypt to see the pyramids, a Wonder of the Ancient World. But once I arrived in the Cradle of Civilization I had a new dream. My dream was to help build 60 new pyramids. For the students who attended Peace Camp are the new pyramids, Wonders of the Modern World. And who said the pyramids could never be moved? These 'pyramids' are being moved to nations all around the globe."
Barb, Buffalo/Niagara Falls, NY, USA
Delegation Leader, Peace Camp
"Peace Camp was easily the most phenomenal experience of my life. A year and a half later the trip still affects my daily view of the world around me and it has changed what I want to do with my life. Peace Camp was my first visit to the Middle East, my first time setting foot in Africa and in the climate of today's world, this could not have been more important. As an American I was able to share my culture with delegates from around the world and they in turn could share theirs with me. Is there anything more simple, yet more vital?"
Piya, New Jersey, USA
"Everyone told me that it would be a trip of a life time, but before attending the Peace Camp 2003 I wasn’t sure of that!! But during and after the camp I felt that I was another person. After you attend the Peace Camp & return back to your home, you will be changed to the better! Something from inside you will make you change, something will happen & until now I really don’t know what it is... maybe its Peace through Understanding."
Mickey, Cairo, Egypt
Maya, Israel
"We have been seeing one side of the building for all our lives never assuming that there might be another side. Peace Camp made me stroll around that building in circles day and night observing the different sides and the different colors reflected on each side."
Ivana, Croatian citizen living in the United Arab Emirates
"Right now I'm worrying about college acceptance letters but I realize an acceptance letter from my dream school could never be as life changing as the day I received my Peace Camp acceptance letter over a year ago."
Kevin, Texas, USA
"The day you arrive at the airport to leave for Peace Camp is the last day of your life of innocence… Peace Camp goes on inside you, a part of you, large or small, is ALWAYS at Peace Camp."
Bridget, New York, USA
"The one thing that made the largest impact on me was seeing people from opposing nations get along. I saw people from Israel and Palestine shake hands and exchange email addresses. I saw people from Jordan, Egypt, and Yemen get along with people from the USA."
Alan, Pennsylvania, USA
"Peace Camp is an unforgettable experience in my life. People I met there, became my best friends. Getting the letter of acceptance, made one of my happiest day in my life and then I had 10 more days like that, in Egypt. It's difficult to say what I have overlived during the trip. I wish everyone could touch this experience which seems to be a beautiful dream".
Armando, Tirana, Albania
"My childhood dream was to visit Egypt to see the pyramids, a Wonder of the Ancient World. But once I arrived in the Cradle of Civilization I had a new dream. My dream was to help build 60 new pyramids. For the students who attended Peace Camp are the new pyramids, Wonders of the Modern World. And who said the pyramids could never be moved? These 'pyramids' are being moved to nations all around the globe."
Barb, Buffalo/Niagara Falls, NY, USA
Delegation Leader, Peace Camp
"Peace Camp was easily the most phenomenal experience of my life. A year and a half later the trip still affects my daily view of the world around me and it has changed what I want to do with my life. Peace Camp was my first visit to the Middle East, my first time setting foot in Africa and in the climate of today's world, this could not have been more important. As an American I was able to share my culture with delegates from around the world and they in turn could share theirs with me. Is there anything more simple, yet more vital?"
Piya, New Jersey, USA
"Everyone told me that it would be a trip of a life time, but before attending the Peace Camp 2003 I wasn’t sure of that!! But during and after the camp I felt that I was another person. After you attend the Peace Camp & return back to your home, you will be changed to the better! Something from inside you will make you change, something will happen & until now I really don’t know what it is... maybe its Peace through Understanding."
Mickey, Cairo, Egypt
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