Friends of Open House, Inc

The North American based FRIENDS OF OPEN HOUSE (FOH), raises funds for and builds awareness about the programs of Open House in Ramle, Israel. The program in Israel has two inter-related goals: to be a place for encounters and cooperation between Jews and Arabs in the Ramle-Lod area through our "Center for Jewish-Arab Coexistence," and to provide educational and social opportunities to Arab children and their families through our "Center for the Development of the Arab Child." The Open House nursery school provides a 'Head-Start' program that strengthens Arab children's identity and self-confidence.

The Open House Center for Jewish-Arab Coexistence sponsors Jewish/Arab coexistence training programs, summer camps and youth leadership seminars for Jewish and Arab teenagers; a Jewish/Arab Parents' Network; and coexistence training programs for educators and social service professionals in the Ramla-Lod region.

In addition to raising funds and awareness about this unique community based co-existence program, FRIENDS OF OPEN HOUSE sponsors visits and exchanges between the Jewish and Arab teens active in its Israel program with their counterparts in North America. FOH facilitates interfaith (Jewish/ Christian/ Muslim) dialogue about the Middle East conflict and its resolution in cities throughout North America, basing its work on the inspiring origins and hopeful lessons of the Open House community in Israel.