Manchester's Laura Nathan has recently returned from the US where she has been using art to help Israelis and Palestinian teenagers bond over their fears and feelings about the Middle East conflict.

Miss Nathan, 25, was one of several counsellors at the inaugural Artsbridge summer camp in Massachusetts. Founded by art therapist Debbie Nathan, Artsbridge uses art to provides dialogue training for children of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Fifteen Israelis and 15 Palesinians, aged 14-17, took part in the three-week camp, privately-financed.

"What I found most interesting was that it was a new way of listening for the students," Miss Nathan tells People. Students take part in a variety of creative projects. "Art is less confrontational than just having a conversation. It is an easier way of starting dialogue and getting them to talk about their feelings on the Middle East Conflict." She hopes the students take home a newfound appreciation for self-expression, and the ability to listen to others.

Miss Nathan, who works freelance developing community projects, plans to go to Israel to work on art projects over there. She adds: "Artsbridge was one of the coolest projects I've worked on. I have never seen children so young with such passion and been able to discuss things so threatening to them."

A graduate of Manchester University, she has an MA in art as environment.