the roads are closed but our HEARTS are open

International Day of the Children. Bethlehem. Palestina - a part of Israel, but yet blocked off of the rest of Israel. Through the new built wall and israeli checkpoint. Thus politicians want to prevent contact between palestinian and israelis. Conflicts should be kept afire.

Children light their torches. "Palestinian lightening candles of hope" can be read on a poster that is held in the air. A procession of about 100 children begins to walk through the streets of the center of Bethlehem. A transport of an additional 300 children was canceled within the last hours before the event. The true organizers - a small group of youngsters with a great passion and love for life - was disappointed. They worked so hard to make this event happen for the kids. To stand up for the rights of the children. To show in this way that children are important. Infact, they are our future. But the flame of hope was stronger then the sadness. And joy won over disappointment.

Photos are held in the air. A child breaks through a wall. One child stands on top of the ruins of a demolished house. On Top. Children are strong. They keep on going. "The roads are closed, but our hearts are open" this is the core slogan. Striving for peace in a mighty but nonviolent way. That is what the volunteers keep on transmitting to the world around them. Especially to the world of children. The volunteers prove their strength and courage. They made this event happen. Even when their own organization let them down in the last minute. The effort of every single person counts.

"I want to paint a smile on the face of every disabled and diseased child", Hamdan - the head organizer of this event says. He has a handicap and can't walk properly since his birth. But a story of years of suffering tought him, that he can be stronger then the suffering. That he can actually win over the handicap. That he is so much more then a handicaped. Infact that he has lots of abilities to share with the world. And thus he sets a powerful example for the world around himself.

Love is stronger then fear. Love is stronger then suffering. Love is stronger then terror. In the end Love will always win.

With this procession, the volunteers did a step. Maybe a small but important step to prove to the kids, to themselves and to the spectators that they can make a difference. Indeed, faces alit. First by the fire of the torches, and then evermore by the fire that arose in their hearts as they marched together in a united spirit of hope. What a joy the kids experienced as the volunteers painted their faces with watercolors. Laughter filled the air.

Palestinian candles of hope.