Dubai: Nicola Holmes had been active with charities when she lived in the UK, but since moving to the UAE, she had been consumed by what she calls the "UAE bubble" — until she visited Palestine with the Zyara tour group.
That trip changed her life.
The events consultant admits she knew very little about Palestine, but was nonetheless inspired by the struggle she had witnessed on television in the UK, and wanted to see what was happening for herself.
"Living in the UAE sometimes feels surreal. I felt my sense of reality and what is important in life was being blurred a little," she says. Zyara's mission statement is to change people's lives; when asked whether it had succeeded, she responded "without a doubt".
"I went with my eyes, ears and heart open and came back full of images, sounds, stories and memories, all of them enriching."
The experience was so sobering that Nicola found herself unable to discuss it with others until she had time to digest what had seen and felt, but soon found herself determined to tell a story.
"Since returning from Palestine I have used my renewed spirit and focus to set-up a business and together with my business partner we shall return to the West Bank to teach English and dance."
The next journey
Zyara's next tour of Palestine is in October which will include the Taybeh October Fest, a visit to the Al Funoun Dance group, visit unrecognised villages, volunteer in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem experience olive picking, and visit the Freedom Theatre in Jenin.
The group will have a gathering for potential participants at the jamjar in Al Qouz on Sunday September 5 at 8.30pm.
Zyara can be contacted through its website: http://zyara.yolasite.com or email address: zyarapalestine@gmail.com
