INNOVATION AHEAD Abraham Path Initiative 2019 Annual Report Dear Friend of the Path
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abrahampath.org INNOVATION AHEAD ABRAHAM PATH INITIATIVE 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Dear Friend of the Path, “Hope,” the great playwright Vaclav Havel take from this region and share with our own once observed, “is not the conviction that neighbors and friends. something will turn out well, but the While the walking paths themselves have certainty that something makes sense sometimes faded, and are divided by regardless of how it turns out.” Hope is the multiple borders, it is API’s privilege to quality we need in today’s times. And the highlight these ancient paths and the local Abraham Path is a path of hope. people with their warm-hearted hospitality. The story of Abraham’s journey has lasted Your encouragement and support helps turn in cultural memory for thousands of years strangers into friends. and inspired millions of people around the world. Abraham (Ibrahim in Arabic) is known With gratitude for bringing hope into our for his hospitality and kindness to strangers world, and that, astonishing as it may seem, is what you find when you walk in his footsteps. I William Ury often reflect on what deep lessons we can Founder and Chair Emeritus ABRAHAM PATH INITIATIVE (API) The Abraham Path Initiative promotes With local partners, API catalyzes API envisions a future in which this walking in Southwest Asia, commonly economic development, community- region may become best known for its called “the Middle East,” as a tool for based tourism, and cultural heritage spectacular walking trails and its warm, intercultural experiences and fostering preservation. Our Fellows recount welcoming people. friendships across the challenging stories about the peoples and cultures divides of our times. of this region to a global audience. Sabastiya. Photo by F. Meyst. Rummana MASAR IBRAHIM Jenin ON THE MASAR IBRAHIM Tulkarm Tubas Sabastiya ACHIEVEMENTS OF 2019 Nablus Qalqilya WEST In Palestine, Abraham’s journey Salfit BANK continues in cultural memory Birzeit and on the ground as the Masar Ibrahim, as the Abraham Path is Ramallah Jericho Aqbat Jaber known in Arabic. The route runs Jerusalem 330 kilometers along the spine of Battir the West Bank. Bethlehem Beit Sahour In 2019, the Masar Ibrahim was Hebron Tuqu’ Rashayida again named one of the top ten walking trails in the world by Beit Mirsim National Geographic Traveller. 0 20 KM 20km This year, we sponsored 100 students from the Al Fawwar and Al Arrub UNRWA refugee camps to walk on the Masar Ibrahim, under the leadership of API project manager Odate Hanna. For teenagers who rarely get a chance to roam freely, walking in the Palestinian countryside and connecting with their heritage was memorable. API seeks funds to renew this program. “I wish all UNRWA students in Palestine LEFT: Students from Al Arrub refugee camp and guide John Atick on the Masar Ibrahim. Photo by M. Baghdadi. could have the same chance we had to RIGHT: Friends on the trail. Photo by M. Baghdadi. discover our beautiful county.” Tala INNOVATIONS: NEW TOOLS FOR HIKING THE TRAIL Since its inception, the Abraham Path Guides lead walks and share their BOOK A GUIDE: EXAMPLES Initiative has aspired for the Path knowledge and insights while to serve as a vehicle for meetings, helping visitors navigate language unexpected encounters, and cultural barriers, cultural sensitivities, and exchanges. political situations. In 2019, we created new online We look forward to expanding this platforms to facilitate walking tool to additional locations in the Shatha BANNOURA ZAID AZHARI journeys on the Path. Book a Guide region. Location: Beit Sahour Location: Nablus currently allows walkers to connect View Profile View Profile directly to certified guides in ADDITIONAL informatioN: UNIQUE INTEREsts: UNIQUE INTEREsts: International Relations, Cuisine, History, Web: www.abrahampath.org locations throughout Palestine. Birding Landscapes Email: [email protected] ABRAHAM Path EXPERIENCES In 2019, we launched Abraham Path NEW CoURSES IN CUISINE, CULTURE & NEGotiation: Experiences to bring international and local participants together to explore subjects such as climate change, negotiation, and the arts. Guided by product manager Jessica Menasce, API facilitates educational Board & FRIENDS LEADERSHIP & IRAQI Kurdistan PALestinian alumni journeys, retreats for boards, WALK Negotiation EXPERIENCE CUISINE & CULTURE and family reunions. Local tour Jerusalem & Southern Southern Jordan Northern Iraq Jerusalem & Northern Palestine Palestine operators implement the walks. March 27-April 1, 2020 October 10-15, 2020 October 16-22, 2020 October 23-30, 2020 SCOUTING TRAIL IN THE KURDISH REGION OF NORTHERN IRAQ EXPANDING THE EXPERIENCE API has broadened our geographic scope into the In 2019, API scouted a 200 kilometer trail that follows Kurdish region of northern Iraq, where Abraham is the Zagros mountain range from the Silk Road-era city called “the father of the Kurdish people.” of Amedi to the snow-capped peaks of Choman, near the border with Iran. Our network has grown to include The Kurdish venture began with our Fellows, Leon local guides, homestay providers, and tour operators. McCarron and Stephanie Saldaña, who generated a network of people, places and stories with their work In November, we pioneered an Abraham Path in Iraq over the course of several years. API Director of Experience in Iraq. Walkers met civic leaders and Operations Ben Barrows built upon these relationships explored the new route. A second Abraham Path to lay the groundwork for today’s partnerships. Experience is scheduled for Iraq in October 2020. Our time in the field revealed the Kurds’ deep connection to the mountains and sincere spirit of hospitality. Leon McCarron reminds us, “Our footsteps in Iraq follow centuries of other walkers that have sculpted these landscapes.” LEFT: Snow-capped mountains in Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo by L. McCarron. RIGHT: Laween Mhamad, a partner on the trail. Photo by E. Garthwaite. API FELLOWS: CREATING NETWORKS FOR NEW TRAILS API Fellows bring uncommon stories about the peoples and cultures of the region to global audiences that benefit from insights on farming, textiles, music, mountaineering, and resilience. After the scourge of ISIS, API Fellows opened doors for new trail and community development in Iraq. Leon McCarron made exploratory visits to the environs of Karbala and Erbil to meet Muslims, Kurds and Zoroastrians. In 2019, he partnered with local trekking pioneers to scout 200 kilometers of new trail in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. Leon says, “Working in this region brings great promise and hope to a place and people that have suffered greatly, and are keen to open to a brighter path for the future.” Stephanie Saldaña undertook cultural heritage research with Christians and Yazidis in Erbil and Mosul. She completed the first draft of Anwar’s Clementine: What Refugees Can Teach Us About Hope, Compassion, and Our Common Humanity in 2019. LEFT: Leon in Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo by E. Garthwaite. We are grateful for the expertise and experience they bring to our MIDDLE: Mountains along the trail in Iraq. Photo by L. McCarron. RIGHT: Stephanie Saldaña and George Rishmawi, Director of projects. Masar Ibrahim al-Khalil, in Palestine. Photo by A. Mehdi. Dear Friends and Supporters, Kudos to the Abraham Path Initiative’s global community and streamlining staff, board members, and to you, our communications with donors using donors, for advancing API’s mission in Network for Good, a customer 2019. relationship management program. With new digital tools we are expanding We appreciate the support you’ve given visibility, functionality, and access to to API’s bold vision. You are making on-the-ground experiences. API brings a difference in the region through professional opportunities for people your investment in the Abraham Path living along the path, and joy to its Initiative. visitors and those that welcome them. Warmly, Our financial report shows promising organizational growth trends. API is Anisa Mehdi strengthening connections with our Executive Director OUR THANKS to API’S GENEROUS 2019 supporters TRAIL BLAZERS ($5,000 and above) William & Patricia Flumenbaum WALKERS ($50-$499) Reggie Gray David Rapkin* Aaron Marks Foundation Elisabeth Forney Mona Abdeljawad Scott & Tiffany Greene Lynn Reyman Cynda & Marcel Arsenault Michael & Anne Gorman Farhaud Amin Susan Hackley Lis Rhodes & Mazen Al-Derzi Ken Baca & Isabelle Guy Nohad Harati Carolyne Ashton Delinda C. Hanley* Yadilette Rivera-Colon Peggy Dulany Forsan & Reem Hussein Sergio Atallah J Hill¹ Elish Sari* Bob & Joan Feitler William Jefferson* Joe Bamberg Joanna & Tadhg Hyde¹ Tegan Smith Flora Family Foundation David Lax & Ilana Manolson Rob Banspach Mark & Ronda Jackowitz Stefan Szepesi Paul & De Gray Thierry & Katharina Leduc Clark & Susana Bernard Tracy Johnson Jocelyn Tetel Tim & Frances Hester Katie Lunday Mark & Karen Biddle Avery Kintner Carl & Tinbet Tinstman Lax-Sebenius LLC John & Susan Collin Marks Sergio Bondi Sue Ellen Klein Mark & Ellen Tremblay Prem & Susan Manjooran Miriam & Nabil Marshood Howard Brill Neil Douglas Klotz Andrew & Lucie Ury¹ Anisa Mehdi & Peter Zimmermann* Elizabeth Mirante Frank Brilman John & Cathy Knapp Priscilla & Michael Valdes Prior Family Foundation Melanie Nezer Melissa Burn Yolanta Kovalko & Jamil Simon Joceyln Wackrow Robert & Ann Ronus David Norminton James Carty* Anna Kunzler & Bruce Scott Maggie Walsh* Lionel Sauvage Marian Pillsbury Florence & Pierre Chapgier* Lori & Eric Lander Ilana Weiss Schmidt Family Foundation Oliver Pospisil Margaret