We are delighted to invite two former CAFOD staff members who have recently returned from three months serving as Ecumenical Accompaniers in the occupied Palestinian territory to speak about their observations and experiences.

The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) was set up in 2002 at the request of church leaders in the Holy Land. It brings people from around the world to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) to serve as human rights monitors or Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs). EAPPI is an international programme coordinated by the World Council of Churches (WCC), and administered in the UK & Ireland by Quakers in Britain. CAFOD has been supporting the programme with financial contributions since 2003.

The presence of EAs provides some protection to vulnerable communities, and while in post they monitor and report on human rights abuses, and support Palestinians and Israelis to work together for a just peace. On their return to the UK, EAs undertake speaking tours to give a first-hand account of their experiences, and to advocate a just and peaceful resolution to the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict.

Anne Street worked for CAFOD from 2010 to 2019 as Head of Humanitarian Policy. She now works part time as a prison chaplain in a women's prison near her home in Bristol.
She has had a long term ambition to serve as an Ecumenical Accompanier with EAPPI dating back almost to its establishment in 2003.

Ann Wilson worked for CAFOD from 2005 until 2020 both as an education volunteer, in the schools team and, latterly as the CPC for the diocese of Salford. She visited the oPt 3 times before wishing to ‘do something’ in return after learning about the situation in oPt. She now works as a therapeutic counsellor and enjoys cycling, especially the annual ‘Big Ride for Palestine’.