I have worked with exchange students from all over the world since 1999. Most of my students are from Europe, Asia, and South America but for the first time, last year, I participated in a Middle Eastern project called YES which started right after 9/11/2001. The purpose of the YES scholarship students is to bring greater understanding between the predominantly Muslim nations and the USA.
Some of the students I brought to the Quad Cities were hosted by Muslim families but some were hosted by Christian families. I think all my YES students had the experience of their lifetime and they taught us so much about their traditions and their cultures. They were amazing volunteers and touched many lives through community projects, feeding those in need programs, boy scouts, church projects, projects at the mosque, etc.
I'm happy to report, last year six of my eight students from the Middle East participated in the A BOOK BY ME writing project documenting stories from Europe (mostly from Albania) during the war. The King of Albania was a honorable man (a Muslim) who encouraged his people to save the Jewish families under Nazi occupation in his nation. As a result, many Muslims risked their own lives to save Jewish friends or neighbors. They were successful and because of them, many Jewish people were able to live and immigrate to Israel after the war.
I think these stories are awesome and deserve to be recognized. The stories, I feel, give us HOPE for a brighter tomorrow.
As I read these stories on http://www.eyecontactfoundation.org/, I was so encouraged.
I'm just naive enough to believe that perhaps if we teach our children all lives have great value, there will be a brighter tomorrow. Therefore, after copyrighted, these books will be printed and put schools in across the nation and all around the world.
Stories were written in the A BOOK BY ME children's book format by students from Oman, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Zanzibar and two boys from Yemen. The following story was documented by Ahmed Al-Kply of Yemen:
Basri Hasani
In his own words …
I am an orphan. I have lived all my life in Mitrovica, Kosovo. I have been the City Administrator for many years. Our town is known as Red Mitrovica because we have seen so much bloodshed. We suffered under the Nazis from 1941 to 1945. We experienced the Serb ethnic cleansing and NATO bombing in 1998 and 1999. I lived through it all. I know the history and suffering of the families, and especially of the Jews.
Before the war there were 11,000 inhabitants of Mitrovica. There were Turks, Serbs, Jews and Albanians. All citizens worked together and respected the individuality of all.
The Rubenovic brothers were my next door neighbors. There was Rakamin, Aron and my best friend Moshe. Moshe’s uncle was the Rabbi of Mitrovica. The Jewish families of our town were all religious and prayed at the synagogue. Most of the Jews were traders.
In 1941 the Nazis occupied our town. Rakamin’s shop was closed because he was Jewish. The leaders of our city organized an escape for the Jews. They were hiding in surrounding mountain villages. We also helped to shelter Italian soldiers whom the Nazis were killing.
The Nazis captured both Rakamin’s and Aron’s families. We never heard from them again. Moshe joined the partisans in 1941 and fought the Nazis throughout Albania and Kosovo. He came back as a captain of the partisans and I sheltered him in my home while he and his band fought the Nazis in our town.
In 1945 Moshe left for Israel and then I think he settled in America. I don’t really know as I have lost all contact with my friend. Forgive my tears, but Moshe was such a good friend during those years. I long to be reunited with him.
I do not go to the mosque, but I am a true Muslim. The Holy Koran is in my genes. I say my prayers each evening. My door is always open to anyone in need.
In his own words …
I am an orphan. I have lived all my life in Mitrovica, Kosovo. I have been the City Administrator for many years. Our town is known as Red Mitrovica because we have seen so much bloodshed. We suffered under the Nazis from 1941 to 1945. We experienced the Serb ethnic cleansing and NATO bombing in 1998 and 1999. I lived through it all. I know the history and suffering of the families, and especially of the Jews.
Before the war there were 11,000 inhabitants of Mitrovica. There were Turks, Serbs, Jews and Albanians. All citizens worked together and respected the individuality of all.
The Rubenovic brothers were my next door neighbors. There was Rakamin, Aron and my best friend Moshe. Moshe’s uncle was the Rabbi of Mitrovica. The Jewish families of our town were all religious and prayed at the synagogue. Most of the Jews were traders.
In 1941 the Nazis occupied our town. Rakamin’s shop was closed because he was Jewish. The leaders of our city organized an escape for the Jews. They were hiding in surrounding mountain villages. We also helped to shelter Italian soldiers whom the Nazis were killing.
The Nazis captured both Rakamin’s and Aron’s families. We never heard from them again. Moshe joined the partisans in 1941 and fought the Nazis throughout Albania and Kosovo. He came back as a captain of the partisans and I sheltered him in my home while he and his band fought the Nazis in our town.
In 1945 Moshe left for Israel and then I think he settled in America. I don’t really know as I have lost all contact with my friend. Forgive my tears, but Moshe was such a good friend during those years. I long to be reunited with him.
I do not go to the mosque, but I am a true Muslim. The Holy Koran is in my genes. I say my prayers each evening. My door is always open to anyone in need.
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