On January 9th, the eighth day of their visit to Israel, the members of the Australian Educators Study Tour headed south to the distant, daunting expanses of the Arava, which, apart from presenting a great many challenges, symbolize the creativity and determination of Israel’s modern-day pioneers. The delegates visited the Vidor Center for Agriculture in the Arava; tasted desert-grown tomatoes and peppers at Ein Yahav; prepared a meal in Shittim School’s kitchen garden; learned about wilderness therapy; and met students at AICAT (the Arava International Center for Agricultural Training).
A window to agriculture in the Arava
Samantha Levi of the Central Arava Regional Council's Resource Development Department greeted the delegates by telling them: “JNF Australia has been a friend of ours for a long time, and we are delighted to welcome you here.”
The tour began at the Vidor Center – A Window on Agriculture in the Arava, which was established with the support of JNF Australia as an expression of appreciation for the Vidor family. The delegates enjoyed an interactive experience as, with the help of advanced technology, they added to their knowledge of settlement and agriculture in the Arava and life in the desert.
The unique interactive presentations on display at the center include a sand table equipped with a computerized projection system that portrays topographical processes and which, at a mere touch, provides information about crops; wooden cupboards containing videos that present the personal stories of families who live in the Arava; a multimedia display on biological pest control; an apiary; and an aquarium.
“It’s amazing to see how the pioneering settlers of this region have succeeded, thanks to their determination and their shared goal of bringing life to the desert,” said Rob De Marco of Melbourne’s Bialik College. “The school where I teach has a modern, urban character, and this encounter with the Arava has inspired me to take on the task of creating a more natural atmosphere and adding more greenery in our classrooms. Together with the students we shall explore the challenges facing people in the Arava and try to learn from their experience.”
The buses conveyed the delegates to the site via Derekh HaShalom (“Peace Road”), which was built by KKL-JNF alongside the border between Israel and Jordan. Along the way the visitors enjoyed views of picturesque badland terrain, desert landscapes and the fields of Moshav Ein Yahav and Moshav Hatzeva.
Tomatoes and peppers from the greenhouse
On Tomer Teneh’s farm in Ein Yahav the delegates tried their hand at picking two of the Arava’s principal crops – cherry tomatoes and small peppers. Their agricultural experience proved enjoyable, especially as it concluded with the wonderful taste of fresh organic vegetables.
Tomer Teneh, who grew up on Ein Yahav, said with a smile that after his marriage, when he suggested to his wife that they live together in the Arava, he was told at first, “Over my dead body!” However, after a number of years together in the Arava, when the opportunity arose to move to the center of the country, she informed him: “You can go to Tel Aviv, I’m staying here.”
“As a geography teacher I talk to students a lot about mankind’s destruction of the environment,” said Sonia Slonim of Melbourne’s Yavneh College. “Here in the Arava we have encountered a rare example of people who have done just the opposite: they have made the desert flourish and transformed this hot, dry and desolate place into Europe’s vegetable garden.”
Growing your own meal
At Shittim School the delegates visited a special project launched with the support of JNF Australia: a beautiful green orchard with a small pool, a well-tended garden, shady seating areas and a petting zoo.
The visitors joined a group of students during their activities in the kitchen garden where the youngsters grow their own vegetables and use them to prepare meals. The Australian adults and the Israeli children worked together in the garden before taking a break to prepare a fresh, healthy and tasty meal of pita bread, tahini and salad.
The idea for this project was born out of Arava representatives’ visit to Bialik College in Melbourne, Australia. Teacher Julie Hart recalls: “We hosted the delegation about a year ago, and they were enthusiastic about our project. It’s very gratifying to visit now and see that the same thing is being done over here.”
Drawing strength from nature
The meeting with Gil and Iris Slevin, founders of the Lotan’s Way (Derekh Lotan) non-profit organization, was especially moving. Inspired by wilderness therapy methods, Lotan’s Way offers desert survival expeditions for young people at risk. Wilderness therapy combines the advantages of a journey through nature, experiential learning and psychotherapy. The youngsters develop resilience, confidence and a sense of self-worth.
The organization is named after the Slevins’ son, Lotan, an officer from Moshav Hatzeva who served in the IDF’s armored corps and fell in 2006 during the Second Lebanon War. “It was clear to us from the outset that we would commemorate Lotan in a way that expressed the vitality and optimism that were so characteristic of him,” said Iris. “Something of Lotan lives on through this project, as it does when organs are donated,” added Gil.
The delegates’ next stop was Sapir Park, which was developed with the support of KKL-JNF’s Friends in Australia and other countries. When visitors catch sight of the lake that materializes suddenly amongst the sand dunes, and of the green lawns, footpaths and shady seating areas that surround it, they understand the true meaning of the concept “oasis.” Samantha Levi explained that there are plans to develop the park further as a mainstay of local tourism that will give a boost to the region’s economy.
Feeding the world
At Ein Yahav the delegates met up with students from the Arava International Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT), where young people from different countries in Africa and the South East Asia come to study agriculture and gain practical work experience before returning home with knowledge, skills and the belief that farming can be successful even under the hardest conditions imaginable.
The training center, which was established in conjunction with KKL-JNF, is an example of how Israeli expertise can help developing countries. At a time when desertification processes are gaining ground in many parts of the world, there is no substitute for the know-how that has been developed in Israel.
Over one thousand students from different countries study at AICAT every year. Five of the program’s graduates, who today lead groups of new students, came to meet the Australian delegates, tell them what they had learned and describe how they are helping to transmit their knowledge to the next generation.
Mohamed Amin of Kenya recalled how many people had warned him that Israel was a country that engaged in terrorism against Muslims. Undeterred, he decided to come anyway, and discovered that the reality was quite different. “I was greatly impressed by the Israeli farmers, who work hard to improve their country, and I asked myself, why shouldn’t we learn from Israel? This is a great opportunity to study and progress.”
“I didn’t know much about Israel before I arrived here, and the truth is I was a little apprehensive,” confessed Ngnyen Huen from Vietnam. “I convinced myself to be brave, and when I arrived I found a country that was very different from what I’d expected. It’s tranquil, and I like the atmosphere here very much. Israel is a very creative country where agriculture is concerned, and it’s the best place to study.”
“I hope that because of these studies I’ll be able to help the young generation to progress,” said Vietnamese student Yen Nguyen.
Myint Soe, who had come from Myanmar, explained that in the past she had believed Israel to be a dangerous place. “But when I arrived I realized that it’s a quiet and advanced country that has to cope with a lot of challenges,” she said. “When I go back home I want to work in drip irrigation for growing potatoes. I’ll be able to help the farmers to irrigate with drippers to save water and improve profitability. I very much want to share my knowledge and experience.”
“Indonesia and Israel don’t have diplomatic relations and I’m glad of the opportunity to study here,” said Angela Rettob from Indonesia. “I hope that studying agriculture will change things.”
Emmanuel Sampson of Nigeria is studying in the MA program launched recently at the training center in conjunction with Tel Aviv University. “With all due respect to its big cities, for me Israel is first and foremost the Arava, and I feel lucky to be here,” he said.
The evening concluded with a lively session of folk dancing and singing. The delegates stayed the night at Ein Yahav in the Arava and gathered their forces for the next fascinating day of their Israel journey.