The Friendship Caravan Maryland
October 21-25, 2003
and into December

American and Arab High School Students Dial-Up Pioneering Video-Teleconference Monday December 1 10:30 - 12:00 University of Maryland University College

Maryland Caravan 2003 in Pictures
Check out photographs of each segment of the Caravan Week in Maryland. Click on the photo corresponding to the event that interests you and an entire gallery will open! All photos by Gary Lloyd

Bahrain becomes first Arab nation to sponsor the Caravan

LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO WELCOME THE FRIENDSHIP CARAVAN: Citizens Invited To Join Historic Town Hall Meeting and Attend Cultural Programs Celebrating Arab and American Friendship

Gaithersburg, Maryland and nearby communities welcomed The Friendship Caravan from Tuesday Oct. 21 through Saturday Oct. 25.

The key players were Rotary Clubs and other organizations, school districts, city officials, corporate sponsors, interfaith groups, local media, and the nations participating. Gaithersburg hosted many programs of the pilot Caravan, including the Friendship Tent at the YMCA Wellness Center Upper Montgomery County. Other institutions in Montgomery County also endorsed the project.

Among Arab nations the Kingdom of Bahrain is taking the lead by sending a delegation of musicians and henna artists. Morocco, UAE, Egypt and the Sudan also sent participants.

 

The key words about the Caravan are “positive” and “optimistic”. At a time when misconceptions and fear are blurring understanding, the Caravan provided an opportunity to create non-confrontational dialogue and experience those things that can bring us together.

 

The people on the Friendship Caravan will be Americans who have lived for long periods of time in the Arab world, Americans of Arab ancestry together with Arabs from outside America.

 

National and local news coverage included the Associated Press, Washington Post, CNN, C-SPAN, National Public Radio (NPR), Fox-TV, NBC-TV and ABC-TV local affiliates, The Gazette, and the National Peace Corps Association WorldView. Global news coverage included Agence-France Presse (AFP), Gulf Daily News (Bahrain), and Arabic News.

 

THE FRIENDSHIP TENT
October 21-25 variable times
Art exhibits and handicrafts from around the Arab world. Arab dancers and musicians, together with Americans of diverse cultures, enjoying one another in an evening of fellowship and exchange. Where people of different cultures can mix and mingle, play music and games together, and share artistic expressions, goodwill, fellowship, food, and ideas.
Location: YMCA Wellness Center Upper Montgomery County, 10011 Stedwick Rd., Montgomery Village, MD 20886, 301 948 9622 (Montgomery Village Shopping Center)

A NIGHT OF ARABIAN MUSIC AT THE FRIENDSHIP TENT
Friday October 24 7:30-9:30 pm
Featuring renowned Arab musicians and singers. Traditional and modern performers from several Arab countries will sing, play, and dance during a celebration of Arab music past and present.

ARAB HANDICRAFTS DEMONSTRATION AT THE FRIENDSHIP TENT
Saturday October 25 10am-12pm
Arab artisans will demonstrate how to create traditional handicrafts. One-hour sessions to be followed by snacks and refreshments.

CONCERT OF AMERICAN AND ARAB MUSIC AT THE FRIENDSHIP TENT
Saturday October 25 7:30-10 pm
Arab and American musicians will perform together at the Friendship Tent. This will also be the last night for viewing the exhibition of art and handicrafts from the modern-day Arab world.

FRIENDSHIP CARAVAN CAMEL PROCESSION & WALK FOR FRIENDSHIP
Thursday Oct 23 8-9:30 am
Gaithersburg City Hall to Gaithersburg Elementary School on Summit Avenue
Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz, international guests from the Arab world, community leaders and organizations, and schoolchildren walked for Friendship in the Friendship Caravan of camels on North Summit Ave., from Gaithersburg City Hall to Gaithersburg Elementary School.

A welcoming ceremony at the Gaithersburg Elementary School featured a rousing welcome by the entire student body, including messages and expressions of friendship from students, teachers and invited guests. Participants also dedicated a Peace Pole.

Citizens were invited to view and cheer on the Walk for Friendship on North Summit Avenue.

MEDIA ADVISORY: FRIENDSHIP CARAVAN LAUNCHES IN MARYLAND; MAYOR TO LEAD AMERICANS, ARABS & ARAB DIPLOMATS IN A MILESTONE WALK FOR FRIENDSHIP Parents, Teachers and Students Join Colorful Procession of People, Camels and Arabian Horses 194kb PDF

MEET THE AMBASSADORS - A TOWN MEETING
Thursday October 23 7:30-9:30 PM
Ambassadors to the United States from across the Arab world will present their nations and cultures to citizens of Maryland at a gala town hall meeting.
Co-host: Jean AbiNader Managing Director of the Arab American Institute in Washington, DC.
Location: Montgomery College, Globe Hall, Technology Bld., 20200 Observation Drive, Germantown, MD

Media advisory: Arab ambassadors join town hall meeting to foster understanding among Arabs, Americans PDF 345kb

UNITED NATIONS DAY FRIENDSHIP CARAVAN & WALK FOR FRIENDSHIP
Friday Oct 24 10am-12pm
The Friendship Caravan celebrated United Nations Day with teachers, students, family members and international visitors joining the Friendship Caravan. A ceremony at the Oneness-Family International School, Chevy Chase, MD featured messages and expressions of friendship.
Location: Oneness-Family School Chevy Chase, MD

Sunday, November 2

6-8 PM IFTAR DINNER hosted by Embassy of Egypt. By invitation
Egyptian Embassy-hosted Iftar dinner for community leaders of Gaithersburg and elsewhere in Montgomery County, the Friendship Caravan team to join the Egyptian community in the DC area in a traditional Iftar dinner, a meal specially prepared for breaking the fast at the end of each day of Ramadan, a month of daytime fasting and purification commemorated by Muslims around the world.

Monday, December 1
Postponed due to Technical Difficulties from Wednesday Oct 22

10:30 am -12:00 pm AMERICAN AND ARAB STUDENTS CONNECT IN INTERNATIONAL VIDEOCONFERENCE University of Maryland University College
Students from Gaithersburg High School and their counterparts at the Bahrain School in Manama, Bahrain join in a two-hour international video teleconference to share cultural perspectives and insight into their lifestyles and common priorities. By invitation.

Friendship Caravan high school activities guide Word Doc 384kb

For further information contact: FRIENDSHIP CARAVAN 7 Brookes Ave. Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Tel: 301 519 2922 or 901 494 4274 or 202 361-0700 Email: info@friendshipcaravan.org

Last updated: August 1, 2004