This presentation explores the CliVEx project (https://clivex.eu/), a ten-week dialogue and collaborative climate action Virtual Exchange (VE) involving students from An Najah National University (ANNU) in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, West Bank and the University of Padova (UNIPD) in Italy among other MENA and European institutions. Focusing on qualitative data from reflective diaries and key informant interviews, the session will share learning outcomes, recommendations, and discuss specific components of the program framework that enabled equitable peer to peer learning. 

Participating in the CliVEx program came at a very eerie time for the Palestinian students, due to them witnessing for months a genocide being committed (Albanese, 2024) just a bit over a hundred kilometers away from them. Although they were born into apartheid, the recent unprecedented violence deeply influenced their experience. 

One student encapsulated this feeling, stating, “it is kind of a paradox to make projects to save climate change when you are living in this country under occupation.” 

The presentation will address some of the learning outcomes for Palestinian students as well as practical hurdles, like the inability of many students to implement their Climate Action Projects due to these restrictions.

Italian students reported that the experience of working with and learning from Palestinian students at this historical moment made the unfolding genocide and ongoing apartheid seem somehow closer to them.  By engaging with students in a diversity of contexts students  seemed to develop a greater understanding of the political dimensions of the climate crisis and how climate (in)justice relates to socio-economic and colonial injustices (Singh, 2023).

Conference Title

IVEC - International virtual exchange conference

Conference Country

United States of America

Conference Date

Oct. 21, 2024 - Oct. 24, 2024

Conference Sponsor

https://iveconference.org/sponsors-2024/

Additional Info

Conference Website