The LSE Faith Centre invites students to participate in the Israel and Palestine Mentorship programme, which takes the form of discussion-based sessions led by external experts Hamze Awawde and Magen Inon.
Hamze Awawde is a Palestinian peace activist and conflict resolution expert, and Magen Inon is an educator with a PhD in the philosophy of education, and a leading voice for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Hamze has lived experience of living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank, his family were affected by the Nakba, and his grandfather was killed during the struggle for Palestinian national identity. Magen’s parents were killed in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023. The two met in the course of their activist work, and were inspired by their direct experiences of bloodshed, grief, and loss, to collaborate on building university programmes which will enable the next generation to engage in peacebuilding processes in the region.
Magen and Hamze have been appointed as Visiting Fellows to lead an initial programme of 4 discussion-based sessions covering topics like law, media, and activism in the region. Students are invited to attend the introductory session on Wednesday 22nd October, and we envisage a collaborative process where student feedback shapes future session topics.
Professor James Walters explains how Magen and Hamze’s work aligns with the mission of the LSE Faith Centre:
The Faith Centre’s mission is to promote leadership across difference, particularly where those differences map onto intractable religious divisions. We believe that only by listening to those with whom we disagree can conflicts be transformed and a shared future built. We’re delighted that Magen and Hamze have joined us as visiting fellows and will be mentoring students who care passionately about the future of Israel and Palestine, either because they are from those countries or they are deeply connected with them. Our intention is to host a space where people can speak honestly, listen courageously, and do the work together of imagining a just and peaceful future for the region.
We are particularly interested to hear from students from the region, students engaged in activism on both sides of the conflict, and students exploring careers in advocacy, diplomacy and peacebuilding.
Apply now.