Bethlehem Peace Centre at the Manger square in Bethlehem, only a stone's throw to the Church of Nativity (Födelsekyrkan) was only work in progress when SIPU International in 1998 was assigned by the Swedish Consulate General and Sida in Jerusalem to assist the Mayor of Bethlehem in establishíng a cultural centre," Bethlehem Peace Centre".
We, Bo Synnerholm, Linnéa Åhlander and Arne Sjöberg had to start
our job with an empty five stories building of 5000 square meters
and nothing else. The Mayor had neither financial resources nor
staff to assist. During less than two years SIPU International
managed to develop the Peace Centre's legal and administrative
framework, negotiated its finances, statutes, business ideas
and programs with all stakeholders.
We
purchased furniture, curtains,books, toys, machinery, and
equipment for the restaurant, computers and a thousand other
things. We advertised, recruited and employed some 20 staff,
established a Board for the Peace Centre and trained all staff
members to work in "the place where the people of Bethlehem meet
and learn".
Bethlehem Peace Centre could 1999 proudly open its gates,
restaurant, bookshop, tourist information bureau, auditorium, art
centre and children's department to the general public, the people
of Bethlehem and visitors to Bethlehem in time for the new
Millennium.
The mission statement, carefully developed in collaboration with
the Board and the Municipality, is "The Centre shall promote and
enhance peace, democracy, religious tolerance and diversity".
Regrettably, this is still a highly controversial and contested
statement.