The Felm Center is located in western Jerusalem, Israel, near the Old City and within walking distance of sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Felm acquired the property in the 1950s. For many years, it housed a kindergarten and a school, and some local people still affectionately call it the Finnish School.
The Felm Center offers a safe and welcoming meeting place for people from different cultural, religious, and political backgrounds. Its programmes and community initiatives bring together residents, visitors, youth groups, religious leaders, educators, and peace practitioners for dialogue, learning and cooperation. The Center also works with local partners on initiatives that contribute to peace and reconciliation across the region.
Meaningful encounters can challenge stereotypes, deepen relationships and help people imagine a more peaceful and connected Jerusalem. The Felm Center aims to be a place where every person is respected, heard and able to participate. The Center’s work reflects Felm’s values: faith, hope and love. Together with local and international partners, it nurtures hope, contributes to reconciliation, and encourages long-term cooperation between communities.
Peace education
The Felm Center helps children and young people develop peacebuilding skills and supports cooperation between the people and communities around them. Its peace education activities create opportunities to learn about dialogue, cooperation, and ways of addressing conflict.
Psychosocial support
Through its diaconal work, the Felm Center provides psychosocial support to local peacebuilders, teachers and others working with children, young people and marginalised groups. The work supports their wellbeing and their ability to carry out demanding work. The Center also increases understanding of how mental and emotional support can contribute to conflict resolution and just peace.
Interfaith dialogue and peace theology
The Center brings people from different faith traditions together through cultural events, retreats, workshops, seminars, conferences and webinars in Jerusalem and internationally.
These encounters provide opportunities for spiritual reflection, mutual learning, and cooperation. They help participants understand different perspectives, build trust and explore the contribution of faith and theology to peace.
Visits and events
The Felm Center offers customised educational visits on peace education, psychosocial wellbeing, interfaith dialogue, peace theology and related themes.
The Center can also host confirmation classes, seminars, and congresses. Programme can be planned according to the interests and needs of the visiting group.