Continuing its support for the ECA-funded Global Connections Exchange Program (GCE) in the West Bank, the Public Diplomacy section in Jerusalem received ten Palestinian students participating in the program for a visit to the Consulate. The students, who come from Hebron, Jenin and Ramallah, gave a presentation during which they enthusiastically described their activities, including Internet exchanges with U.S. students, student clubs, community service projects, and summer camps. They thanked the U.S. government for its support for this type of outreach. The Internet Learning Centers, administered by Relief International-Schools Online, are well-respected in the local community and have earned the trust of parents, giving students unprecedented opportunities to learn Internet skills and interact with members of the opposite sex. The students gave poised presentations in excellent English and explained how their friendships with American students have changed their perceptions of the U.S. One girl, 16, said "the Global Connections project has given us an amazing chance to work with and understand others. I have learnt that we are all teenagers with the same interests. We face the same problems too, like problems in school, problems with how people treat each other or problems in society. It is just that we live in different countries. When we understand this, we can work together to fight injustice, wherever that injustice may be." The participants from the Consulate shared information about themselves, including their home towns and careers in the Foreign Service, and engaged in a Q&A with the students. The Consulate was pleased with the opportunity to reach a key audience with an improved or increased understanding of U.S. policies, society, and values.