Two young women from the Middle East are attending Lane Community College this year. One is from Israel, the other from Palestine. They're working for peace through friendship.
Yaara Tal is 22 years old and comes from a kibbutz in southern Israel, near the Gaza Strip. Deema Yusuf is 18. She's from Nazareth, Palestine. Both took part in a camp for young women called "Creativity for Peace"-- which is geared toward promoting peace in the Middle East. Yusuf says the camp emphasizes communication.
Yusuf: "We share our personal stories and how the conflict affected us and affected our lives."
Yusuf says hearing each other's stories helps to break down boundaries created by the history of conflict between Israel and Palestine. Tal adds that peace begins with small personal actions.
Tal: "So I think each one of us has his own power and can affect his own community."
Yaara Tal and Deema Yusuf are attending classes at Lane through the college's new Peacemakers Scholarship Project.