Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Brussels at the moment and my own are especially with Bart Feenstra, who was travelling on the train in front of the one that was blown up. He had just dropped his daughter off at school, and was on the way to work. He was spared – others were not. Perhaps for a reason.

Bart is raising funds for Tabitha, a Belgian charity set up to run a youth camp in Benelux for Israelis and Palestinians. A place where young people from both sides can meet and talk together about their hopes and fears for the future. There have been three camps over the past 12 years, and this will be the 4th, if the necessary funds can be raised by the end of April. A documentary was made about the first camp, and when you have 30 minutes to spare, do watch it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czfaLrToOgY&feature=youtu.be.

No one is claiming that these small actions are the answer to the major issues of the Middle East, but one thing is true. Sending these young people to this camp is cheaper than having them fight, shoot, bomb and bury each other. If you can help, go to http://tabitha-belgium.org/ to learn how.

The CADS board has decided to commit 1,000 Euros as a donation to the camp this year, and we hope to have Bart come to speak to us about it afterwards. He needs 34,000 euros in total, by the end of April, in order to make it happen, and is already on the way towards that total. Let’s make it a fitting response to the murderous acts in Brussels, and a memorial to those who died or were injured. Please share the story with your network, where you are aware of individuals or groups seeking such opportunities.