As the school year draws to a close, there's a unique summer program that brings teens of different backgrounds together to promote diversity and tolerance. NY1's Cheryl Wills filed the following report.

Tala Mansi and Eitan Blander have a lot in common. The teenagers are native New Yorkers and they stay connected through Facebook and MySpace; typical high school friends. But they're also worlds apart: Blander is Jewish, with strong ties to Israel. Mansi is Muslim, with equally strong ties to Palestinians.

"I really don't think we're going to change each other's minds about this issue," said Blander.

"But at least we're more educated about what the other person thinks," added Mansi.

They may not see eye to eye on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but at least they can talk about it.

They met through a unique program that encourages teens from different backgrounds to spend the summer together and hang out at places like the United Nations.

For many in the Manhattan Multicultural Summer Youth program, it makes a world of difference.

"I learned that regardless of what culture you come from, you can still be a very great person and you can be friends with anybody," said Blander.

"Diversity is like a box of chocolates; you really don't know what's inside until you open it," said Mansi. "So I think the core of people, individually, is what defines them, not where they're from."

The program was Mahroo Moshari's idea. Born in Iran, she founded the program five years ago to help teach city teens about tolerance.

"It's a great world here," she said. "We live in New York City, with all this diversity, I think this is the best opportunity to get to know each other through a cultural perspective."

"I learned about the struggle that teenagers from different backgrounds face in terms of preconceived notions, stereotypes, and how that sort of untangles when they start to talk to each other," said the program's Assistant Director Gwendolyn Jack.

At first, Blander and Mansi said it wasn't easy for them to talk about the ongoing conflict between Jews and Muslims in the Middle East, but after spending a summer together, they have a better understanding of each other's views. And they hope it's an idea that will take hold a half world away.

For more information on the Manhattan Multicultural Summer Youth Program, call 212-388-8191, or go to www.manhattanculturalcounseling.com.

- Cheryl Wills