annual report 2013 - abraham path initiative

7/22/2019 Annual Report 2013 - Abraham Path Initiative

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STEPS ALONGTHE PATHANNUAL REPORT 2013



“The Abraham Path has changed the waythat local people feel about tourism and

feel about themselves. They never thoughtthat one day people from all over the

world would be knocking on their doorsand sharing their food. It’s great to be a

part of this.”– Ömer, Yuvacali



About Us 4

Report From Our Chair 6

Financial Facts & Figures 8

Institutional Funding 2013 9

Institutional Seed Funding 9

Thank You to our Donors 10,11

Board of Directors 12

International Partners 12

Local Partners 13

Abraham Path Online Guidebook Launch 14

In the Press 15

Host Spotlight 17

Guide Training 18

Trail Expansion in the Negev 19

Abraham Path Around the World 20

Women Inspired to Run for the Abraham Path 20

Caminho da Paz Race in Brazil 21

Travelers on the Path 22

The Path Ahead in 2014 24

Map of the Abraham Path 25

Growing the Path with our Partners in 2014 26

Join the Abraham Path Initiative in 2014 27

Contents

Photo Credits: David Landis, David Santos Jr., Izzet Aran, Joanne Jones and LauraKardasinski, Joey Marotta, Judith Ansara and Robert Gass, Julian Bender, KonstantinHoshana, Max Farrar, Omer Tanik, and Sumaya Agha



4

The Abraham Path is a long-distance walking trail across the Middle East.

The path retraces the journey of Abraham, the legendary ancestor of over

half of humanity, who is known for his hospitali ty and kindness toward

strangers. The Abraham Path Initiative is an internat ional organization

cultivating the development of the path along with local and international

partner organizations. The initiat ive is a non-profi t, non-religious andnon-political organization. The mission of the Abraham Path Initiative is

to support local partners in developing the Abraham Path as:

• a catalyst for socioeconomic development and sustainable tourism.

• a place of meeting and connection between people from the Middle

East and people around the world.

• a creative space for stories that highlight the unique culture,

heritage and hospitality of the region.

Vision: The purpose of the Abraham Path is to inspire understanding,

prosperity, and hope for humanity. By inviting us to participate in a grand

adventure: to walk together in the cradle of civilization, to meet people

from very dif ferent cultures and traditions, to learn something new about

ourselves, others, and the world, and to serve the larger community.

About Us



6

This year, thanks to generous supporters like you and thanks to our dedicated

partners in the Middle East and around the world, the Abraham Path is truly

coming alive! You have helped our team publish maps and information on over

437 km of trail, train 20 local guides, engage 53 communities, and inspirethousands of local and international travelers to come experience the other

face of the Middle East with its beauty and kind-hearted hospitality!

A trail becomes more ‘real’ when there is a guidebook. I ’m delighted to report

that, in 2013, we achieved a long-held dream by creating a virtual guidebook

of the Abraham Path. If you haven’t had a chance to see it, I encourage you to

visit www.abrahampath.org.

On the ground, our team and local partners have opened some beautiful and

culturally rich new walks along the path, developing detailed maps and trail

descriptions, and waymarking the trail. People have responded by joining

walking groups that headed out on the path every week during the spring

and fall seasons. This year we have truly seen the Abraham Path become aplatform for good, where we can walk together in the cradle of civilization,

meet people from very different cultures and traditions, and learn something

new about ourselves and others. With all this fine work serving as a founda-

tion, 2014 promises to be the best year ever for the path!

Thank you for joining us on this extraordinary adventure! By walking together

on the Abraham Path, I believe we can build a better world with greater

understanding, prosperity, and hope for humanity.Step by step...

With gratitude,

William Ury

ChairAbraham Path Initiative

From the Chair



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The Abraham Path Is

53

437

Communities

Kilometers(272 Miles)

“When locals receive hikers, they are naturally generous hosts; hospitality

exists inside of us; Abraham exists inside of us.”

– Amira Jaber, Beit Sahour



8

Income: $554,798

2013 audited statements

Expenses: $459,861

Financial Facts & Figures

74%15%

11%

Individuals

Institutions

In-Kind

83%

17%

Programs

Management & General



9

Institutional Seed Funding

Institutional Funding 2013



10

Anonymous

Alexandre Chade

Alex Maslanka and Merle Miller

Amanda B Taylor

Amanda Jones

Amy K. Brown

Anisa Mehdi and Peter Zimmermann

Annalea McCurry

Anthon Keuchenius

Babak Razzaghi

Barbara and Peter Thornton

Benjamin Friedman

Bob and Joan Feitler

Bruce Cohen

Catherine and Matthew Grainger

Carl and Tinbat TinstmanCharles A. Pillsbury

Charles and Jonelle Boteler

Charles Steel

Charles Steinberg and Torkin Wakefield

Charlie Bresnahan

Chris Jennings

Christopher BondClaire Goulding

Claude Shammas

Clifford Meek and Lucinda Holmes

Connery Cepeda

Danielle Ophelders

David Cohen

David Friedman and Tirzah Firestone

David and Anna Dintaman Landis

David Sulzberger

Dick Simon

Dominik Knill

Donna Childs

Elaine Teo

Eleanor Ross

Ellen Brock and Larry KapteinFetzer Institute

Francie and Tim Hester

Frank, Thomas, Alison Sander

Google Advertising

Gwen Davies

Harvard Arab Alumni Association

Ian Smith and Caroline FirstbrookIsabelle and Jean-Jacques Joris

James Carty

James Cooke

James Patrick Finerty

James Sebenius

Jamie and Anita Orlikoff

Jamil MahuadJanet Kardasinski

Jeff Orlowski and Exposure

Jerry Newton and David Weinberg

Jerry White

Jo Smith-Nilsson

Joanne Jones

Thank you

We gratefully acknowledge the following gifts from individuals and foundations to the

Abraham Path Initiative received between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013.



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Joao Gentil

John Jones

John Steiner and Margo King

John Whitehead

Josh Weiss

Judith DackJudith Kass and the Albert E. Marks

Charitable Trust

Judy and Mickey Gaynor

Karuna Foudrait

Katherine Bradley

Kathrin Egger

Keith FairmontKelsey Whiting-Jones

Kerry Kring

Laura Klemt

Laura O’Callaghan

Leaf and Sharon Van Boven

Lena Demashkieh and Fahad Roumani

Lew HarveyLionel Sauvage

Lis Rhodes

Liz Mirante

Louise Sibley

Lynn Maroon

George Markos and the Estate of

Madeline F. MarkosMarcel and Cynda Arsenault and the

Arsenault Family Foundation

Mark Tremblay

Mark and Shirley Yolleck

Marnie Pillsbury

Mary Sari

Matthew D BreretonMelissa Michaels and Mark Gerzon

Michael Marlowe

Morris Friedell

Murray and Sheryll Thomson

Neil and Trudie Prior

Nicholas Dunwell

Nikki Thompson

Nohad Harati

Oreg Foundation and Julie Schaffer

Pat Stocker

Paul Carpenter

Paul and De Gray

and the Gray Family FundPeggy Dulany

Peter Sommer

Raed Saadeh and the Jerusalem Hotel

Rick and Rebecca White

Rita Bourgeois

Robert and Judith Ansara Gass

Robert StruthersRonald Kertzner

Rose Community Foundation

Ross Sherbrooke

Salim Schahin

Samuel Card

Sarah Wilson

Sergio BondiShahm Al Wir

Shawn Dunning

Sheila Marshall

Simon Wethered

SOLO School of Wilderness Medicine

Sonia Rai

Stefan SzepesiStephen Goldberg

Stephen Perry and Rebecca DiDomenico

and Compton Foundation

Sujatha Rajapakse

Susan Collin Marks

Susan Jinnett-Sack

Susan KlemtThomas and Debbie Lund

Thomas Modern

Tova Jacober and Ron Claman

USAID

Veronica Martini

William and Lizanne Ury



12

Board of Directors

Verónica Martini

Lionel Sauvage

Salim SchahinJames Sebenius

Deena Shakir

Louise Sibley

Joshua Weiss

Rick White

Shahm al WirStefan Szepesi

William Ury (Chair)

Anisa Mehdi (Vice-Chair)

Raed Saadeh (Vice-Chair)Alexandre Chade

Paul Gray

Jamil Mahuad

SanFrancisco

Boulder Chicago LondonRotterdam

New York

BostonAmman

Sao Paulo

Jerusalem

United Nations World Tourism Organization

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations

Harvard Program on Negotiation

Association pour la Formation des Ruraux aux Activités de Tourisme (AFRAT)

Tetraktys

Great Himalaya Trail

Associazione Europea delle Vie Francigene

Friendship Ambassadors FoundationOne Light Cinema

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics

SOLO School of Wilderness Medicine

Leeds Metropolitan University

Sabancı University

Harvard Arab Alumni Association

Our International Partners



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Nomad Tours TurkeyAl Ayoun Society

Experience Jordan

Masar Ibrahim al-Khalil

The Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies

Palestine Wildlife Society

Rozana

SidrehBedouin Experience

Our Local Partners



14

Abraham Path Online Guidebook Launch

This year we have reached a game-changing milestone by publishing the first-

ever Abraham Path online guidebook, which brings the path to life for millions

worldwide. abrahampath.org contains over 200 pages covering more than 437

kilometers of walking trail through stories, site descriptions, photos, videos,

travel information, and even maps & GPS data you can download directly from the site. It is a beautiful and inspirational piece of work and it shines a light both

on what is and what can be. Now with the online guidebook, the Abraham Path is

a reality in a way that it never was before. People—from local and international

travelers to the armchair traveler—can discover the history, the people, and the

landscape of this path, walk its ancient footsteps, and connect and get involved

with the initiative. We invite you all to explore!

abrahampath.org

200 437 75K+Pages Km Visits



15

In the PressMedia Highlights Featuring the Path in 2013



17

Host Spotlight

Pomegranate and fig trees surrounding Fethea’s home help her support her

family, but it is not enough. Determined to send her children to universit y,Fethea, the head of her household, searched for a creative solution to

supplement her income and began hosting hikers and serving af ternoon

meals to walkers along the Abraham Path. With only a sixth grade education

and no job experience, Fethea created her homestay, teaching her guests the

magic of Arabic cooking with the fruit from her trees. Watching her children

play and connect with the walkers and develop friendships with their guests

is a rewarding sight for Fethea. From the income she has earned hosting

along the Abraham Path, she has been able to help her daughter, Salsibeel,attend Yarmouk University.



19

Trail Expansion in the NegevA new expanded section of the Abraham Path has been mapped out in the Ne-

gev desert! The seven-day route takes walkers from Abraham’s Well in Beer-

sheva to viewpoints overlooking the Dead Sea at the ancient site of Masada.

The rugged landscape of the Negev provides a veritable playground for outdoor

adventure, with stunning canyons, refreshing oases and fascinating historical

sites. The area is home to a variety of Jewish and Muslim communities as well

as over 160,000 Bedouin, nomadic people who maintain a rich desert culture.

Apart from heritage sites, walkers will almost certainly spot shepherds tending

sheep, goats and camels. The Abraham Path Initiative worked with Trails Com-

mittee of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, the Sidreh Bedouinwomen’s association, and the community of Lakiya to mark the last portion

of the trail with painted blazes, making this 7-stage route the first completelywaymarked section of the Abraham Path in the Negev! We have detailed

topographical maps and GPS tracks which you can download directly from our

website so you can start your journey. You can prepare for your trip by reading

up on the places you’ll find along the way, accommodation options, and trans-

portation tips particular to this section of the Abraham Path. Several informal

weekend walks are planned for early 2014.



20

Abraham Path’s global network continues to expand and grow. Abraham Path

Chapters are independent NGOs, charities or volunteer groups which help

promote the project. In addition to existing groups in Brazil, Spain and the UK,new chapters formed around the world in 2013-14.

Abraham Path Around the World

Joanne Jones and Laura Kardasinski

were so inspired by their trip to the

Abraham Path in the Urfa region that they decided to run a half marathon

in Istanbul to support the path. “We

decided to pledge the proceeds to

the Abraham Path after a humbling

and deeply moving visit to one of their

projects in Eastern Turkey. The sunny

dispositions of the villagers that we

met, in the face of adversity, was trulyinspirational.” Thank you to Joanne andLaura for leading a hugely successfulfundraising campaign on behalf of thepath!

Women Inspired to Runfor the Abraham Path

London

Madrid

Naples

NewChapters

CurrentChapters

Sydney

São PauloSantiagode Chile

Toronto

Jerusalem



21

On November 24, 2013 the streets of SãoPaulo, Brazil welcomed 8,000 walkers andrunners at the 5th annual Caminho da Paz

race organized by the Brazilian Abraham

Path chapter – O Caminho de Abraão. Art

installations spelling out the words ética

(ethics), respeito (respect), liberdade

(liberty),paz

(peace) andamizade

(friend-ship) adorned the 7km route. Supporters of

the event include Abraham Path Initiative

Board members Alex Chade and Salim Schahin, Ana Maria Diniz, Carlos Jereissati,

David Rockefeller, Luciano Huck and José Junior from AfroReggae, as well as the

Mayor of São Paulo, Fernando Haddad. The race in 2013 doubled in size from therace in 2012! Congratulations to our partners in Brazil!

Caminho da Paz Race in Brazil



22

Travelers on the Path

In 2013 a record 1,150 travelers walked the Abraham Path. Since the opening

of the first path sections in 2008, an estimated 4,800 people have traveled the

path. Walkers in 2013 were of many ages, creeds and nationalit ies - all coming

for their own reasons. Some came as individuals, like Boudewijin Koole from

the Netherlands who ventured out on the entire 10-day segment of the path in

Turkey. Some came with groups like Gulf for Good, Eastern Mennonite Univer-sity, or Mediators Beyond Borders.

In Kufr Malek, on a warm Ramadan summer night, an animated conversation

took place at the home of Um Qussai, an Abraham Path homestay host. The

conversation was not in Arabic, but in Brazilian Portuguese. Surrounding

Um Quassai were seven Brazilian women, all students at Fundação ArmandoAlvares Penteado University in Sao Paolo, visiting Kufr Malek with our local

partner the Siraj Center as part of a 10-day cultural exploration of the region.

To the delight of the students, Um Qussai invited her parents-in-law who spent

more than 30 years living in Brazil. Over tea and qatayef , a typical Ramadan

dessert, the group enjoyed an enriching conversation about the similarities

and differences between life in Brazil and in Kufr Malek. The students thank

Um Quassi and the Siraj Center for their “life changing experience.”



23

A group of 12 walkers took to the Abraham Path in the summer of 2013 on a

trip co-organized by Leeds Metropolitan University and the UK Friends ofAbraham’s Path. The students, led by Leeds professor Max Farrar, UK Friends

Chair Louise Sibley and longtime Abraham Path trip leader Daniel Adamson,

braved the summer heat to walk the Abraham Path; visit places like Bethlehem,

Taybeh, Kufr Malek, Jericho, Wadi Auja & Wadi Qelt, Jerusalem, Hebron, and

the Negev deser t; volunteer at community development projects at both the

Tent of Nations and Har Amasa village…and, naturally, indulge in a dip in the

Dead Sea.

“For now my physical journey on the path may be over, but the experiences

and emotions from it will impact me and my own personal path from now on.

And I WILL return to walk on the Abraham Path again.”

– Matthew Fisher, Leeds Metropolitan University



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The Path Ahead in 2014

In 2014, we will extend and connect 345 kilometers/215 miles of new trail.These new sections will be thoroughly researched and developed with

cartography and guidebook content online.

New Sections of the Abraham Path to Open in 2014

Mt. Nemrut to Yuvacali

Kisas to Harran

Ajloun to Jericho

Pella to Jenin

Jenin to Nablus

Arad to Mamshit

In 2014, we will add 35 new communities to the Abraham Path and continue

to expand, empower and equip our growing network of local partners, hosts,

and guides.Trainings and Technical Assistance to local partners in 2014

Wilderness First Aid

GPS and Cartography

Tourism and Hospitality

Marketing, Networking, and Fundraising

Connect Kilometers

Connect Communities



25

Abraham Path as developed since 2008

with scouted walking trail, community

hospitality, and local guides

Future routes of the path

Places of hospitality, Abrahamic memory and

heritage along the path

New regions and routes in development



Growing the Path withour Partners in 2014

The Abraham Path will be able to grow at an unprecedented rate in the yearsahead with generous support from individual donors, foundations, and our

institutional partners like USAID, the World Bank, and AFD.

“There have been few ideas around

as good as the Abraham Path!”-John Whitehead



27

Join the Abraham PathInitiative in 2014

Contribute to the Path Ahead

Connect

The Abraham Path Initiative is a US-registered 501c3 non-profit organization

and all of your donations are tax deductible.

To donate online visit: donate.abrahampath.org

Donations by bank check can be made to the Abraham Path

Initiative and mailed to:

Abraham Path Initiative

1563 Massachusetts Avenue

Cambridge, MA 02138

USA

Please contact us at [email protected] if you’d like to donate by bank

transfer or stock transfer, or if you’d like to discuss other ways to donate.

UK Donations: The UK Friends of Abraham’s Path is a registered charity in

the United Kingdom and your donations there are tax deductible. Please see

donate.abrahampath.org for more information.

Abraham Path Initiative

1563 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138

www.abrahampath.org | [email protected]

facebook.com/theabrahampath | twit ter.com/abrahampath

annual report 2013 - abraham path initiative

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