YOUNGSTERS from the Palestinian West Bank were welcomed to Worcester last week to share culture, history and arts.
A group of ten teenagers aged between 13 and 16 from the warn-torn area were welcomed to the city by the Worcester Palestine Friendship Group.
The youngsters travelled as guests of the Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association and are touring the UK sharing their experiences of living in the West Bank.
The group arrived at Luton Airport on Sunday, February 25 and were given a warm welcome by the Birchwood Hall Community in Storridge.
The following day, two Worcester youth leaders accompanied the young people to the city’s central mosque to meet the Imam, Mufti Muhammed Wali Raza.
This was followed by a trip to the Commandery Museum which gave the Palestinian teens a chance to see medieval buildings up close.
Other highlights from the trip included tea with the Mayor of Worcester, Coun Louis Stephen, during which the youngsters posed for pictures with the sword of state.
And the day finished with a trip to The Cube youth club in Malvern where local children took part in crafts activities, played sports and talked with the Palestinian teens.
A spokesperson for the Worcester Palestine Friendship Group said: “It was a pleasure meeting the Palestinian teens and hearing about their experiences.
“The language barrier was no obstacle to the young people’s curiosity in each other’s experiences and the questions the Palestinian teens asked of the Worcester teens reflected the similarities and contrasts in their daily struggles.”
