FRIENDS OF ISRAEL EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION LECTURE PROGRAMMES
Israel may only be the size of Wales but it is a subject which offers a richly varied range of topics for consideration.
This tiny land-mass contains a variety of climates; dramatically contrasting physical geographies; fabulous flora, fauna and wild life; and the historic dramas of many peoples, cultures and communities who have used it as a land-bridge between Asia, Africa and Europe.
It is a land venerated by at least four world faith communities.
It is the focus of inspiration and hope for many - and the site too of one of the most complex of world conflicts.
The modern state of Israel has evolved into one of the most dynamic, economic and scientific polities on earth.
F.O.I. can muster a small professional team of lecturers. The group is available to travel to any part of the U.K., to speak to any group, with slides and videos if requested.
No fees are levied but a contribution towards expenses would be enormously appreciated
Over the past 25 years F.O.I. has built up a strong track record speaking to primary school groups; A-level groups in the secondary school sector; church audiences, both clergy and laity; university and college students; and adult education groups of all sorts.
"Thank you very much for your talk. It was, as always, full of interest and dealt with the issues in a way that the students could grasp and from which they were able to glimpse the complexity of the situation in Israel. Thank you, it was very good to see you again. Best wishes "
Paul Roberts, WHEATLEY PARK SCHOOL, OXFORD. September 2004.
"Students were genuinely interested by your presentation and I am sure that they will now respond more critically to the portrayal of the Middle East conflicts in the media. I hope that your visit will inspire them to keep abreast of current affairs and to expand the breadth of the material which they read in their own time."
Rachel Hill, Head of General Studies, KINGSTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL. October 2004.
"Your talk, as on previous occasions, was animated, engaging and fundamentally important – it will have registered with many of the year group."
Adam Oliver, Head of Year 13 LORD WILLIAMS’S SCHOOL, THAME, Oxon. November 2004.
"Your talk was extremely informative and was exactly what was needed to give the students some insight into the Middle East. Maybe you would consider a return visit next year?"
Claire Sturgeon, Asst Head of 6th MONTSAYE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROTHWELL, Notts. November 2004.
"John was very informative and his question and answer session was very good. It was nice to have a balancing view following previous talks from the Arab League."
David Shaw, Head of Sixth, THE GRANGE SCHOOL, NORTHWICH, Cheshire. November 2004.
"Thank you very much for talking to my sixth formers so eloquently. I thought that what you had to say was, as always, most thought provoking and that their responses showed that the students had engaged with the arguments well. It is obviously important that the problems of the Middle East are aired with each generation of students and I hope we may therefore call on you again in the future."
Roger French, Head of 6th, JOHN LYON SCHOOL, HARROW. December 2004.
"Your visits have always been very positively received and staff ask if they can accompany students when you visit. Thank you for your insightful visits over the past three years. Our students and staff have learned a lot."
Jen Alderman, EATON BANK SCHOOL, CONGLETON, Cheshire. December 2004.
"His speech was terrific and the girls appreciated his introducing the topic in such an authoritative and helpful way."
Rev Terry Hemming ST SWITHUN’S SCHOOL WINCHESTER. November 2004.
"I am writing to express my thanks for providing our sixth Form students (and indeed the Sixth Form tutors and myself) with an extremely interesting and thought-provoking session. The presentation was delivered in a very appropriate manner and was well received by the students."
Dr C Pullin, Head of 6th, SIR WILLIAM ROMNEY’S SCHOOL,TETBURY, Gloucs. January 2005.
"Thank you very much for the stimulating and passionate talk you gave. The students enjoyed it very much and informed feedback from individual students suggested they had certainly seen the relevance of the issues to their own lives."
Mike Morris DROITWICH SPA HIGH SCHOOL, Worcs. January 2005.
"Many thanks for your time on Friday. Your content was both informative and inspiring."
Steven St LEONARDS-MAYFIELD SCHOOL, MAYFIELD, East Sussex. January 2005.
"His presentation was of enormous interest and students and staff alike felt very privileged to be addressed by so authoritative a speaker on a subject of such topical interest. The optimism with which he concluded his presentation impressed us all."
Ms Jo Pomeroy, Director of Sixth Form NONSUCH HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, CHEAM, Surrey. January 2005.
"Thank you very much for visiting Plymouth High School and giving such an interesting talk. The girls were most complimentary and said it was the best tutorial they had had in two years."
Mrs Caroline Enock, Head of 6th, PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. February 2005.
"My Year 13 group told me it was the best speech they had ever heard! The students were ‘buzzing’ with ideas following the speech. You really awakened their senses and encouraged them to think and enter into a debate about the Middle East situation."
Mrs S Newman, Director of 6th, BULLERS WOOD SCHOOL, CHISLEHURST, Kent. February 2005.
"Many thanks for your customarily powerful presentation. You once again conveyed the relevance of developments in the Middle East to the students while persuasively answering their questions about the political and military aspects of Israel’s position."
Mr R E Nicholson, Head of General Studies, REED’S SCHOOL, Cobham, Surrey. February 2005.
"We all found the session extremely interesting and thought provoking since it brought to our attention issues which many of us may have previously considered to be remote and unconnected with our daily lives. Your informative yet informal talk has helped broaden our understanding. I received a lot of positive feedback from my fellow students. We hope you will visit again."
Kiran Chana, School Prefect, THE DIXIE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, Market Bosworth,Leics. February 2005.
"The girls found the talk interesting and informative, but most importantly it raised their awareness as to the situation in the Middle East and challenged many preconceived assumptions."
Diane Jordan, Head of 6th SIR WILLIAM PERKINS’ SCHOOL, Chertsey, Surrey. February 2005.
"One of my Year 13 A-level group commented that she realised almost as soon as you had started speaking how little she knew, but was very glad that an hour later she knew a great deal more. My hope is that when she hears and reads this week about Lebanon, about Syria, about the possibility of peace accords between Israel and the Palestinians, she will do so more attentively and in a more informed way."
Beverley Lott, Head of General Studies, LOUGHBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, Leics. March 2005
"I appreciated the open-ended style of your approach which gave all of them an excellent chance to express their views, and they certainly learned a great deal."
Janet Briant, Head of 6th, LEEDS GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL. march 2005.
"As always, your presentation was professional and interesting. The sixth formers asked a steady stream of questions at the end, which was great."
Linda Billingham, PARMITER’S SCHOOL, Watford. March 2005.
"Many thanks again for giving us your time last week. Your overview of this diverse and fascinating region, coupled with your timely discussion of some of its contemporary issues, really helped to enlighten your young audience. The feedback was really positive - you have a relaxed and accessible manner which the students respond to."
Tom Brownlee, RICHARD HALE SCHOOL, Hertford. March 2005.