The plan. A delegation of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) visited Germany from October 27 to November 3, 2024. The delegation was hosted by the "Naturfreundejugend Thüringen" (Nature Friends Thuringia).

The Israeli delegation consisted of young adults aged 20–27 from communities that were evacuated at the start of the war, primarily from areas surrounding the Gaza Strip. 

The goal. The primary goal of the delegation was to provide young adults from the evacuated communities near the Gaza Strip with an opportunity to step away from the challenging realities in Israel, particularly in the region around Gaza. The program aimed to create a safe space where they could process their recent experiences alongside peers who had faced similar challenges.

During the preparation phase, participants met with a social worker who provided a platform for them to express their difficulties and challenges while offering guidance for the future.

The program. The week included activities from SPNI's "Nature Heals" initiative, which has been operating in Israel for over a year. This program uses nature as a platform for emotional and physical healing. In Germany, participants explored unique natural sites in the Thuringia region, including parts of Germany's "Green Belt" – the area along the former border between East and West Germany, now transformed into a restored natural habitat.

The events of October 7th served as the foundation for the entire program. Participants were given the opportunity to express the profound and difficult experiences they had on that day and in the aftermath. This allowed them to open up and communicate more deeply with their peers and themselves.