"You and I Will Change the World"

-- Uzi Meron

 

"YOU AND I WILL CHANGE THE WORLD." True, it was said before, but now, it works for a change!

 

The phenomena of violence in schools break new records and surprise even the toughest among us. Cases of beaten kids, knives drawn during break time, drugs, and low accomplishments at school are diseases of so many schools all over the country.

 

Is it possible to do something about it, or just continue cry for "nowadays youth"? 

 

We too were in school, not so many years ago, and although we did not deal with draining the swamps, it seems that our set of values was different. What happened since? Is it possible to do something to change the situation?

 

A true story

 

I will start with a true story.

 

A few moths ago my wife and I were invited to a friend's wedding in a kibbutz [definition: a collective farm or settlement in modern Israel]. There was an incredible reception, and as in any kibbutz wedding, we sang songs, speeches were given and, of course, we danced. When we returned to our table we found that our bags a were gone and with them our cellular phones, our wallets, the new Palm Pilot, fashionable sun glasses, house and car keys… in short, everything was gone!

 

We got stuck in the kibbutz and the joy of the wedding was gone with our things, for us and for all our friends who searched with us. The kibbutz members had no doubt about who stole our things – one of the inboard students in the kibbutz. I thought to myself – what makes a 14 or 15 year-old boy do such a thing in the middle of a celebration? What makes him so hard-hearted in front of someone else's misery? We were forced to return home very early in the morning with one of our friends and for days we were busy with recovering all the documents, replacing door locks and ……. being angry.

 

A coincidence, or is it not?

 

With time the anger was replaced with the great will to do something. Something that its effect is bigger than cursing the whole world and thinking to myself that all is dung.

 

Accidentally, (or is it not) I got that week a call from a friend asking me to join an association that deals with reducing violence and restoring basic values for youth in schools all over the country. "Yes!" I replied and immediately started to think how am I going to arrange my time, how many hours will be required for such an activity, how will that go with my work -- and so many other thoughts.

 

I went to an activity with one of the volunteers. We arrived to a school in one of Jerusalem's neighborhoods and met a team of 30 teachers that were waiting for us, after having few incidents of violence in their school. We introduced them to the program and the teachers were so excited. The small booklet of values, "The Way to Happiness", seemed too simple at the beginning -- but the teachers and I found it incredibly powerful once you turn the precepts in it to life breathing reality by activities, shows and discussions with the students.

 

Light the flame again

 

After a few times that I joined experienced lecturers and participated in their successes with teachers and students, it was time for my solo lecture in one of the schools in the north. The principal told me that the phenomena of violence and devaluation had arrived to their school as well. They were having difficult cases of violence between the kids, vandalism, thefts and drugs.

 

After a 3-hour amazing activity with the teachers, one of them approached me, hugged me and told me, "You know, Uzi, you reminded me of the reason that I decided to be a teacher in the first place. You reminded me why I am here as an educator, and that the way to do what I dream of is still possible". I was moved to tears. I thought to myself that if I was able to re-light the cause for those wonderful people that want to be teachers, I did my share. 

 

The thug who deals drugs at break time

 

Since that lecture I have given many lectures in many places all over the country, from Carmiel in the north to Eilat in the south. I gave lectures to teenagers that in some places act as drug dealers, boys who their roll-model is the local drug dealer, with his BMW-745i (their quote, including the "i"). I lectured to youth gangs in community centers that did not believe that something can be changed in this cruel world they live in.

 

In any of this cases I saw how throughout the lecture, throughout the activity, something was re-lit in their eyes. The idea of "doing the right thing" was slowly exposed and these incredible kids re-discovered their ability to experience happiness by taking responsibility for their own life and actions.

 

I discovered an interesting thing – a person cannot "not know" something he already knows! Once the kids realize, through shows, plays and activity the magnitude of these precepts, such as "Set a Good Example", "Seek to Live with the Truth", "Safeguard and Improve Your Environment", "Fulfill Your Obligations", "Be industrious", "Try to treat others as you would want them to treat you"….. suddenly something happens….. suddenly other things are on school's agenda, and the admired example is not the drug dealing thug but the one who helps the weak, the reliable, the honest industrious guy.

 

The teachers realized that students that develop higher ethics immediately become less violent.

 

"Yes! We can change the world!"

 

-- Uzi Meron -- uzi_mr@bezeqint.net

 

 

 

Here are some responses to that article:

 

Uzi Dear,

YES, I do believe that this is our country and we must do everything. I will be glad to help, and even more. Well done for what you are doing, and be strong!!!

Nava, PR.

  

Hello Uzi,

I was very impressed of your positive actions and thanks for sending me the article.

As the chairman of the former Hi-Tech executives forum I would like to invite you to one of our next events, to introduce your blessed activity and offer our C.E.O. friends to take part in this activity.

We meet on a monthly basis and I will be glad to know if you will be willing to participate.

Shlomo G.

Chairman of Hi-Tech executives forum

 

Hello Uzi and good morning,

I was very happy to read about your influential and inspiring activity.

I am willing personally to join and give of my time as much as needed. I will be willing in the future to harness others and to distribute the message between the thousands of families who are members of "Harmony". I will be glad to listen and know better the blessed work you are doing. The article is very well and interestingly written.

Sharona S.

 

Hello Uzi,

I read what you wrote at "Daily Maily" and I was really touched and moved. I would like to hear more details. How can I join? How can I help?

Efrat S.I.

 

Hi Uzi,

What can we do to help?? I have wonderful organizational skills. I have B.A. and M.A. in Art History. You can learn from the signature what my husband does. In addition he teaches advertising and marketing in collages and writes in professional journals.

Talk to me about volunteering in the areas we know best. I believe in the way you are going and will be happy to do good deeds for a better future.

Dalit

   

Uzi good morning and hello,

I read your article in "Daly Maily" and I identify with every word. I am an elementary school teacher. I invest a lot (and this is no paraphrase) in promoting and strengthening the positive view, the positive actions of my students. On break time I stay with my students and show them ways to cooperate which is non-violent one, in the contrary. I will be glad to join you and the lecturers' team and do everything for better education and for eliminating violence and to change the world to a better place. I have a lot to say, and I am glad that there are others that think the way I do. I will be glad to hear from you.

Have blessed shiny and magical day.

Malka

 

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