A TRIO from Bourton-on-the-Water are on a mission to raise as much awareness as possible of the conditions of those living through conflict in Palestine.

Myra Ford, 64, Paul Clark, 66, and his wife Sally Clark, 65, returned from a trip to a village in Palestine three weeks ago.

They visited the region with a group of around 30 others from the Amos Trust to help rebuild a house for a Palestinian family of nine.

There has been ongoing conflict between Palestinians and Israelis for decades and many houses in Palestine have been demolished, with large families having to move to crowded refugee camps.

Volunteers, such as Myra, Paul and Sally, fundraise to help those in need and visit to help re-build their homes and lives.

This year was Paul and Sally’s fourth visit to Palestine, and Myra’s second. The three residents met in the Cotswold village where they live and a friendship was formed through their joint care about the troubled region.

On their recent visit they spent 12 days in Palestine helping build a new house for one of the families living in a refugee camp, with the whole community getting involved. The Cotswold trio were even invited to the celebrations afterwards.

“We felt that although it was a nominal gesture – one house built out of 67,000 – we felt we would like to go out and rebuild a demolished home,” said Myra, who has given talks in Bourton to try to raise awareness of the conflict.

Nearly two years ago Myra asked Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Council about twinning the village with one in Palestine. But the idea was not met with enthusiasm as councillors thought the culture of the two areas was too different to make it work. Myra said she was disappointed at the time but now has plans to rekindle the idea if more people are interested.

Paul Clark, who went on the trip with Myra and his wife Sally, said it was quite an experience.

“We really experienced it with our own eyes,” he said. “There are two sides to the community. The Palestinians are so welcoming and friendly. I’ve worked abroad a lot and I’ve never met a group so friendly. And we met some nice Israelis.”

Myra added: “No matter what indignities the Palestinians have had to suffer, they refuse to be victims.”

The threesome are now trying to raise more awareness in the area and tell others their story, with Myra currently planning more talks.