OTI functions as both a forum for civil discourse throughout different communities, and as an organization that provides strong academic engagement and rigorous experiential learning on international conflicts.
Program Expansion
The success of the Olive Tree Initiative’s experiential approach to education has led to subsequent trips every Fall and has now become an annual educational experience at a number of UC campuses. At the moment, there are 5 active UC campus chapters and more in the making (see Campus Chapters). There are also a number of non-UC campuses in California, throughout the nation, and in other countries that are in the process of establishing OTI chapters.
OTI is also expanding its focus to other conflict regions outside of the Middle East. The first OTI Turkey-Armenia program plans to visit that region on its inaugural trip in the Spring of 2012.
Academic Expansion
Many Universities with OTI chapters have established complementary academic curricula and programs. As an example, at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), students enroll in the Certificate Program in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. They receive training in dialogue techniques, mediation skills, cultural understanding and languages to prepare them for their experiences in the region. They also take courses on the history, politics, and myriad narratives of the Middle East. The Experiential trip to the region is itself embedded in an intensive program of preparation, follow-up and evaluation, thus ensuring that the first-hand learning experience is even more effective and long-lasting. The academic curriculum also allows for adapting the program to other conflicts outside of the Middle East and has been implemented in the new OTI Turkey-Armenia program. The anticipation is that all schools with active OTI chapters will establish similar complimentary academic activities.
Community Expansion
In addition to its activities on campus, the Olive Tree Initiative has been very active in the wider “off-campus” community. OTI student participants have made many community presentations (over one hundred so far), and have been active in community service learning activities. Furthermore, the Olive Tree Initiative has established a community support group that is engaged in community outreach and discourse. Following the example of the OTI student regional trips, there have already been two OTI “Community Trips” to the Middle East, with more are planned for the future.