Dear Compassionate Friends and Peace-builders,

I am Muna, an Arab Muslim woman born in the United Arab Emirates and raised in Jordan to Palestinian parents from Jerusalem. I am a US citizen now living in California. For the last three years, I have been speaking out from my own journey on how to build peace from the inside out. This April, I am joining a US group to Israel and Palestine on an educational action driven peace-building tour with Combatants for Peace. I wish to meet game changers and change makers involved in humanitarian and peace work. My goal is to establish connections, deepen my work and blog about it. It will be my first trip to my ancestral home of Palestine and the State of Israel, of which I heard many stories of pain and conflict growing up as a child in Jordan. I am asking for your support to help me become a more conscious and effective peace builder.

Some Background

I embarked on a life transforming journey in 2008; coming to USA as an international student. I wanted to seek higher education in mental health counseling, with the intention to evolve as a compassionate human being. I was and still am curious about exploring all colors of cultures, communities and religions by delving into the diversity of America. Through this journey, I have become a spiritual seeker, an enthusiast for personal and social transformation, and an advocate for peace and cross-cultural reconciliation.

In facilitating workshops, I help people explore our inner biases, so we can develop awareness and empathy. I invite others to question our past conditioning, and to find tools for open-mindedness and compassion. How can we build human connection rather than judgments towards others who are different from us? Our time now necessitates that we heal the wounds of historical and cultural conflicts by forging a vision for an inclusive society and a peaceful planet for all.

The Upcoming Trip

This is why I am super excited to be part of this 10-day trip, organized by the American Friends for Combatants for Peace. I am flying to Israel/Palestine at the end of April. Combatants for Peace is an egalitarian, bi-national, grassroots organization, founded on the belief that the cycle of violence can only be broken when Israelis and Palestinians join forces. They were nominated in 2017 and 2018 for the Nobel Peace Prize, as a unique group of former fighters in both Israel and Palestine, who laid down their weapons in 2006 to form a joint Israeli-Palestinian nonviolent resistance group, working for equality, dignity, safety and security for both peoples. The group has grown and achieved success in Israel and Palestine, as they continue their commitment to the cause for peace with great passion.

My Turning Points

After I took my bold move by coming to America in 2008, my educational and personal experiences in Ohio deepened my quest for human understanding and universal spirituality. I started meeting and praying with Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Shamans, Native Americans, and others, trying to find links and commonalities between us all. Stepping outside my comfort zone, I befriended a Jewish man in my first year here: now that was a transformative experience for someone from Palestinian roots, who never met a Jew in her life and was intimated by the whole idea. To challenge my biases even further, I shared a home with a homosexual man. Through this humbling experience, I learned a great deal about the gay culture and connected with him as a human being without any labels. It was very heart opening for a conservative woman from the Arab world. It taught me how ignorant and biased I was, and my close-mindedness about others who came from a different culture and religion than mine.

I realized that people in the Middle East, USA and probably around the world are trapped in limited, stereotypical ways of perceiving each other. This is destructive to our minds and hearts. It creates hatred, anger and judgment, which are the root of human’s misery, racism, violence and separation.

In a small dialogue group I am part of in the SF Bay Area, I met one of the Combatants for Peace activists last November. He is a Palestinian living under the Israeli occupation, was imprisoned for ten years where he endured torture. Listening to his story and observing his attitude lit a fire in my heart to be part of this peace building movement. He shifted from hatred and vengeance into someone who is free in the mind and heart. He travels to Europe and USA sharing his story and change, and how he co-founded Combatants for Peace with his Israeli partners. This encounter reminded me of the work of Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr.

The Fundraiser

I must admit, starting this fundraiser and asking for support in such a public manner was challenging for me. Even so, what encouraged me was the passion to share my story, and the belief in a vision that peace building is not only my path, it is ours. It impacts all humans on micro and macro levels. It is so needed in the world right now. My intention is to include my community and the new friends worldwide on my journey. I will write further about my experiences and share them with you. I will tell the stories of those who are coming together in unity, to take humanitarian conscious actions to overcome enmity, those who work hard to replace fear and judgments with respect and empathy, and who are helping the oppressed and the lost.

For this trip, I wish to raise $3,812. Costs are as follows: $2,014 airfare, $1,700 partial cost of the tour (I received a $1,500 scholarship from a generous donor to Combatants for Peace, total cost was $3,200), $98 travel insurance in case of medical or trip emergencies. However you feel called to support, it will be greatly appreciated. I am grateful for everyone who reads my story and feels moved by it. If you can’t afford to donate, it will mean a lot to me to send me your good thoughts :). Thank you!

My Vision

For so long I have envisioned a world with less pain and agony, a new story of creating inner and cross-cultural peace. I am passionate about bringing people together from different backgrounds. Through my own personal journey in the last two decades, I sought to build peace inwardly so I can share it outwardly. This is my passion and mission. I am a firm believer in Gandhi’s famous statement: Be the Change you Want To See In The World.

My Middle Eastern background, with all its entailed political and social charge, heightens my passion for diversity and social inclusiveness. I know in the depth of my heart that I am meant to do work of compassion, unity and understanding of our pain. For more information about me, here is my website - which is still a work in progress :)  www.arabquestforpeace.com

The human race is historically a rainbow of cultures, beliefs, expressions and values, which shapes humanity in its wholeness. We all add a piece to this equation called life. Understanding and respecting our differences broadens our minds and sets our hearts free. Once we engage effectively and compassionately within a safe, nonjudgmental environment with others, we can challenge ourselves to move beyond our mental and emotional comfort zone, where maturity resides and peace is born.