Why writing and correspondence?

Correspondence as part of the editorial work of Windows' Young Journalists is intended first of all to address the difficulty of bringing together youth from both sides of the Green Line (inside Israel-proper and from the Occupied Palestinian Territories), and to allow indirect encounters and communication when a face-to-face meeting is not possible or can take place only rarely. We soon realized that correspondence, even among those who live in the same city, allows youth to develop more sincere and constructive communication, which then continues in the direct encounter.

Writing allows participants to vent their feelings, especially emotions that weigh on them. The very act of writing about emotion helps to give it a name, understand it, and eventually understand its origin. The actual release of emotions makes it possible to make room for a positive and corrective experience. Those who have expressed their feelings are more likely to listen later to the feelings of others.

Writing a letter to the "other" allows the writer to think about the reader - who is she, what is important for me to tell her, what does she already know about me? Will she understand what I write or should I explain things, and most importantly what is the purpose of writing? Do I want to 'ventilate' my feelings, ignoring the result, or do I want to share in a way that will allow the reader to understand me? The writing process makes it possible to clarify these and other questions in advance, to make sure that the information is correct and to invest in formulating the letter.

Correspondence provides the participants with a very different source of information than they have known so far. Dealing with this information can be very difficult, but it is easier when the information comes in a letter rather than in a direct encounter with the speaker. Feelings toward the "other" are stronger in the “other’s” presence than in his/her absence. These feelings may activate defense mechanisms that do not allow for full listening and sometimes prevent listening altogether.

In the direct encounter, there is a tendency to focus more on what one wishes to say than on listening to what is being said. Real feelings of shame or guilt and even the fear of being perceived as wrong or guilty may lead to the search for excuses and justifications or attacking and blaming the other side. Another reaction may be to avoid expressing emotions so as not to spoil the atmosphere or the relationship.