Seeds of Peace in Action

SPRING 2012

SEEDS OF PEACE IN ACTION As we welcome 300 new Seeds to our 20th summer of Camp, we are also set to launch Seas of Peace and a “Game Changers” conference for 60 Seeds in Dublin, two initiatives among the regional programs that sustain older Seeds throughout the year. As the campers learn the foundations of peace-building in Maine, their predecessors will advance their skills at home, on the high seas, and in Ireland, where they will learn from a divided island where peace is now taking root.

—Leslie A. Lewin, Executive Director

Tackling tough domestic issues: settlements, normalization JERUSALEM | Post-Camp programming builds Seeds’ knowledge of conflict issues and ability to understand differing perspectives through regular gatherings within each country. Accordingly, single-delegation meetings for Israelis and Palestinians this spring, known as “uninationals,” focused on two contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: settlements and “normalization.”

Settlements constitute a deeply divisive domestic issue for Israelis. A dauntingly complex matter with legal, security, religious and human dimensions, their existence and status have drawn international attention and engender ongoing contention within Israel as

well as between Israel and its neighbors.

As any Seed who has participated in Camp’s dialogue sessions knows, direct interpersonal experiences are the best way to gain understanding of others’ mindsets.

In this spirit, a 2010 Seed organized a mid-April visit for 16 Israeli Seeds to Ma’ale Adumim, one of the largest Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Seeds tackled tough discussions, learning the differences between Israeli and international law and the criteria that distinguish between “illegal” and “legal” settlements under Israeli law. Such knowledge—and the ability to engage with it—will enable Seeds to speak and act with greater

intention both within their own society and during cross-border dialogue and endeavors.

A Ramallah uninational also took place in April to allow Palestinian Seeds to discuss “normalization” and Palestinian identity. For Palestinian Seeds, debate on the topic looms large.

Many Palestinians define “normalization” as contact or cooperation with official institutions in Israel or, at other times, to any contact between Israelis and Palestinians where the primary stated purpose is not to resist military occupation and where the Israeli side doesn’t CONTINUED (OVER)

Leading discussions on Pakistani unity

Teaching history, shaping understanding in South Asia LAHORE | At Camp, Qasim (Pakistani Seed 2001, 2004, Counselor 2007) discovered that the national and regional textbooks of Indian and Pakistani schools, while ostensibly describing the same history, contain completely contradictory narratives. As a Seed, he knew well that such contradictions complicated the dialogue process, and he hoped someday to reshape and reconcile the Indian and Pakistani understandings.

As soon as the Seed Ventures small grants program was announced, Qasim and his Camp colleagues submitted an application for what they called “the History Project,” which they developed in order to create cohesive yet multifaceted educational materials that could be used to teach history in both countries. Winning the grant allowed them to fund travel to Lahore for six Indian Seeds, who worked intensively with an equal number

of Pakistani Seeds on the project.

All Seeds prepared for the trip by researching various topics in the standard Indian and Pakistani history textbooks. Once in the same location, the two delegations compared their findings and began to design a new curriculum that would incorporate and reflect on the different historical narratives found in India and Pakistan. The Indian Seeds spent the week living with the families of their Pakistani peers and led several presentations for students in Pakistani schools.

Ira, one of the participating Indian Seeds, said, “It has been very surreal to be here in Lahore and this will be an experience that I … will carry with me wherever I go. I found many stark similarities between the home of my host family and my own home; it felt like being home all over again, and it had that feeling of being loved.”

Using the Internet for education in Kabul KABUL | The Internet Training Course, a Seed Ventures project developed and led by Shapoor, a 2009 Afghan Seed, launched in March at the Ghulam Haidar Khan High School. Shapoor aims to provide over 300 Kabul public school students with computers and workshops on using the Internet as an educational resource, a way “to learn, search and communicate.” More than 250 teachers, participants in an Afghanistan Ministry of Education training seminar, attended the launch.

Access to the Internet is rare in Afghanistan; its absence leaves a void in students’ ability

to access information about other countries and cultures. Many schools in Kabul lack both computers and related curricula.

In addition to increasing technological awareness and facility among Kabul youth, the Internet Training Course will provide substantial leadership development opportunities: while professionals taught the first workshop, subsequent workshops will turn that first session’s students into the next session’s teachers. The investment Shapoor has led will be leveraged into widening circles of training in essential skills for Afghan youth.

LAHORE | Seeds of Peace Director of Pakistani Programs Sajjad Ahmad envisioned a forum in which youth of the many provinces of Pakistan could cross their internal borders for dialogue that would reduce tensions between the regions.

Under his guidance, 25 Pakistani Seeds and Educators coordinated the first National Integration Camp in Lahore this spring.

Representing all four provincial capitals and the federal capital of Pakistan, 50 youth, aged 14-17 years, and 10 educators came together in delegations comprised of 10 students and two educators each to discuss domestic challenges and dynamics as well as regional issues.

Pakistan’s provinces range greatly in political and economic power, and major national issues like the distribution of resources have sparked friction. While the political debate occupies the governmental level, for youth, the differences are perceived culturally.

The camp helped participants understand and appreciate each other’s cultures. The participants discussed terrorism and internal violence, law and order, and gender divides.

Ahsanullah Mohsin, principal of a public school in Quetta who escorted 10 students from Balochistan to the camp, said his students developed a better understanding of other people and “got to know about other cultures in the country and how similar we all are despite our apparent differences.”

Follow-up work with the participants in each province will continue over the next nine months as they bring the lessons they have learned back home to their schools and communities.

Looking ahead with Jared Cohen, VOICE OF A SEED on Camp Madeleine Albright & Graduates Reflecting dialogue sessions NEW YORK | Hope and determination took the stage on May 16 as the Seeds of Peace community celebrated the accomplishments of Seeds and honored two of its dedicated spokespeople, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Google Ideas Director Jared Cohen, with Peacemaker Awards.

At the Spring Dinner, speakers combined a cheerful mood with practical considerations and measured idealism.

“We cannot wave a magic wand and turn ignorance to understanding and pry open minds that have long since closed. But … we can sow the seeds of healing and knowledge,” Secretary Albright stated.

“Unlike people who believe that conflict is the natural order of things, we believe that strife comes most often from ignorance, which can be dispelled through personal contact, dialogue, and the will to understand.”

The importance of knowledge and communication formed a trope across the evening’s speakers. Parnian, an Afghan Seed who had returned to her school after the Taliban fell only to find it “destroyed,” spoke of her plan for the immediate future “to do field research and secure funds and safe access to education for girls in Afghanistan.”

“I don’t want them to live the life that I lived,” she said. “I want them to be educated.

It empowers. And it brings peace.”

Jared Cohen, the second keynote speaker of the evening, called Seeds of Peace “the quintessential example of an organization looking to bridge the divide and understanding gap that so often and unfairly plagues our world with different challenges”—an organization that he has “long admired.”

Mahmoud, a Palestinian Seed, and Lior, an Israeli Seed, joined Jared Cohen in discussion; both have significant experience in the world of journalism.

Lior and Mahmoud spoke with authority on the role that technology and the media play in disseminating knowledge and opinions.

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Lior commented, “A lot of kids in Israel, when they’re 18 and join the army, get a very powerful weapon, an M-16. I think I got an even more powerful weapon, because I got a microphone. And when you get a microphone ... a lot of people hear what you have to say.”

Lior believes that his experiences as a Seed influence the way in which he delivers the news: “I get a report about something that happened in Hebron, or in Gaza, and I get to thinking, okay, this is Hebron ... Mahmoud is in Hebron. Maybe this is close to him. It gets a different treatment than it would with any other news editor or presenter.”

Mahmoud noted, “without technology, for me as a Seed, I wouldn’t be able to continue to be in touch with many of the friends I’ve made.”

His analysis went deeper: “The way we are using the Internet as young people, it’s shifting power, but we have to know that it’s putting more responsibility on us. Now we have to share and to think about a strategy as youth, to use it in a way that unites us together ... to take us to common ground.”

Upon hearing the Seeds speak, Jared Cohen reflected that they “embody the reasons we should all be optimistic about the future.”

The evening retained a sense of solemn purpose.

“Tonight really is a time to celebrate but also to recommit ourselves,” Secretary Albright said. She noted political and psychological roadblocks to the pursuit of peace: “After all, the world is big, and the obstacles to progress can seem intractable.”

She emphasized the importance of what may seem to be small steps, advising those present “not to expect instant miracles, but instead to plant some seeds.”

“We can answer the cynics by working harder than they do, caring more passionately and relying on the kind of hope that is fertile because it never stops growing within us.”

TEL AVIV | The 2012 campers will have their most powerful experiences in Dialogue. Israeli Seed Shira (Camp 2011) describes the path they are about to travel: If I could describe my dialogue sessions in one word it would be “intense.”

Before Camp, I dreaded Dialogue: I was so afraid I wouldn’t know enough, that we would just be talking cold, hard facts. But now, dialogue is one of the things I miss most.

At first, my group would only yell at each other. Each camper came with very clear opinions and we were so set in our own opinions that we wouldn’t listen to anyone else.

If someone from one side talked, the other side would just think about something else to say to defend themselves. There was a lot of crying and anger ... I was actually scared of my group!

Every dialogue ended with everyone asking our facilitators for more time—there really isn’t enough time in the world to finish saying all you have to say about the conflict. Even by the end of Dialogue, we still had more to say to each other. About a week and a half into Camp things calmed down a bit. We actually started listening to each other—at least part of the group did.

Dialogue at Seeds of Peace teaches you to respect others’ opinions and not to judge anyone before you know them. I also learned that we are so much more than the sum of our political views.

SETTLEMENTS/NORMALIZATION CONTINUED

first support all rights asked for by Palestinians.

Some use the term as a critical accusation of those perceived to promote Palestinian acceptance of the status quo.

The day-long program featured several speakers, most notably Ali Abu Awwad, a Palestinian peace activist who came to his belief in dialogue after shocking losses. He was shot in the leg by an Israeli settler and returned from rehabilitation to find his brother had been killed by an Israeli soldier. He has teamed with the Bereaved Families Forum, a group of 500 Israeli and Palestinian families that have lost close relatives, to work toward reconciliation and a just resolution to the conflict. Awwad was joined by Maisa Shkier, whose work centers on concepts of identity and cultural development and the perception of Palestinians at home and abroad.

These uninationals provided Seeds with an opportunity to engage in honest and, at times, gritty dialogue on community-dividing issues, providing an important supplement to the binational gatherings that also occur throughout the year.

WINTER 2012

SEEDS OF PEACE IN ACTION The year is off to an incredible start! From Maine to Pakistan and many places in between, this edition of Seeds of Peace in Action gives you a great taste of the breadth and relevance of Seeds of Peace regional programming. Our Seeds continue to engage their communities and lead the way toward a more peaceful future. Thank you for believing in them, and believing in us.

—Leslie A. Lewin, Executive Director

Exploring strategies to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace JERUSALEM | Does the road to peace go through the United Nations or through direct negotiations?

Who has the right to declare independence? Can the international community deny this right?

If the Palestinian bid for statehood in the UN is successful, what effect will it have on the peace process?

Israeli and Palestinian Seeds came together to explore these and many other questions during a December 3-4 binational featuring prominent experts who presented different perspectives on diplomatic strategy and potential paths toward peace. Dr. Omar Awadallah, head of the United Nations Department of the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, and Meital Nir-Tal of the Israeli Foreign Ministry Legal Ad-

viser’s Office, both addressed the 60 Seeds who were gathered in Jerusalem.

The two-day conference also featured intensive dialogue sessions, led by a team of older Seeds trained as dialogue facilitators. The Seeds examined efforts at the UN to admit Palestine, the stalemated peace process, and the relative effectiveness of unilateral and bilateral efforts towards peace.

Leading community dialogue in Maine PORTLAND | In an extended observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Maine Seeds partnered with the Portland branch of the NAACP to help organize and lead three days of celebration and education.

On January 7, 10 Seeds met for facilitation skills training and a discussion about democracy and poverty with young adults from across Maine.

“We explored techniques for guiding a dialogue while allowing it to develop into a deep and meaningful conversation,” said Spencer, a participating Maine Seed.

Equipped with new knowledge and skills, the Seeds helped to facilitate a community dialogue in conjunction with the City of Portland, Maine Interfaith Youth Alliance, the University of New England, and other organizations.

About 150 community members participated in the January 14 discussion, forming small groups to talk about Dr. King’s ideas regarding race, class, and power.

The Seeds credited Seeds of Peace with helping them become leaders, both in the framework of this event and in tackling socioeconomic challenges facing their state.

The NAACP selected two Seeds to take part in the State of the State address on January 16. The two were also named as MLK Fellows and will continue their involvement in social action projects that address issues related to justice and poverty in their communities.

The Maine Seeds Program was created in 2000, when Seeds of Peace adapted its international conflict resolution model to focus on intercommunal tensions in Maine.

The program provides a diverse group of high potential Maine youth—including refugees and asylum seekers, as well as those whose families have been in the US for generations—with the relationships, understanding, and skills to effectively bridge divides that exist in their communities.

Learning negotiation skills from Harvard Law faculty, students JERUSALEM | In partnership with the Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program (HNMCP) at Harvard Law School, Seeds of Peace offered 32 Israeli and Palestinian Seeds a three-day training in basic mediation and negotiation techniques.

Participants in the intensive January 13-15 program engaged in a variety of role-playing and active listening exercises that highlighted the significant role emotion plays in the negotiation process. They also learned specifically about multi-party negotiation during a simulation based on the Northern Ireland conflict.

“It was a fascinating opportunity to learn how to overcome obstacles in the negotiation process and how to be a good mediator between people, which as Seeds is something we often experience,” said one participant.

HNMCP pairs Harvard Law faculty and students with corporations and organizations to provide services in the fields of negotiation, dispute resolution and conflict management.

While at the training, Seeds also met in small discussion groups to talk about how to apply the new skills and concepts they were

learning to their relationships with one another as well as to their communications with others across the conflict.

The training curriculum, designed and led by Harvard Law School faculty, was supplemented by an instructional guide so that Seeds of Peace staff can lead the training independently in the future.

“It was an honor to partner with Seeds of Peace on this project,” said Robert Bordone, HNMCP director. “I was deeply impressed by the Seeds’ passion, energy and enthusiasm for the material. The path-breaking work they do every day is inspiring and so important.”

“On behalf of the Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program, I hope this is the beginning of a fruitful collaboration that will give us opportunities to engage Seeds and help develop their skills in conflict resolution, mediation and peace-building.”

The Seeds will reconvene for day-long sessions in February and March in order to share their experiences using the techniques acquired in the training, and to continue their skill development.

Reuniting to learn the religious and historical significance of Haifa JERUSALEM | Over 100 Israeli and Palestinian Seeds reunited in Haifa on January 28 to hear about the city’s history and to engage in cross-conflict dialogue.

A city with a large Arab population, Haifa holds particular importance to many Seeds.

Some of the West Bank Palestinians who attended the event come from families who have refugee status and relatives who lived in Haifa before 1948.

Given this context, the Seeds focused on learning about the city, its past and present inhabitants, the different narratives about its history, and how these relate to the larger nar-

ratives of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The day began with Bahá’í guides providing insights on their faith and leading the Seeds on a tour of the Shrine of the Báb and its gardens.

Seeds then toured Wadi Nisnas, a neighborhood with particular historical significance in relation to the events of 1948. Today, the neighborhood is home to an arts festival and tolerance project. Guides from the Beit Hagefen Arab-Jewish Community Center led the tour, after which Seeds gathered at the Center to debrief and meet with visiting Seeds of Peace Executive Director Leslie Lewin.

Addressing local community issues in Pakistan LAHORE | Seeds Ventures initiatives continued this December as Pakistani Seeds organized a free medical clinic and the second annual Interfaith Harmony Camp.

Designed to enable Seeds to plan and implement projects addressing needs in their communities, Seeds Ventures programming in South Asia was developed in partnership with Ashoka Youth Venture.

In early December, the Seeds-run medical clinic provided health screenings and medical checkups to over 300 people, 65 percent of whom were female.

“We wanted to provide basic health screening and create awareness about the importance of health and hygiene in this underprivileged community, which cannot afford private consultants,” said Rana, one of 15 Seeds in charge of the clinic, which was located in the Green Town area of Lahore. “These people only visit doctors when they have reached the last stage of terminal diseases.”

Gynecologist and Graduate Seed Dr. Mahak was one of the four doctors who volunteered for the day to give diabetes, cholesterol, calcium, and eye tests as well as OBGYN, dermatological, respiratory, and gastrological consultations, all free of charge.

She noted that the number of women attending the clinic highlighted the need to increase opportunities for women from rural and impoverished areas to learn about reproductive health. Programs like the medical clinic, she said, were also essential to instilling a sense of social responsibility in youth.

Kathryn A. Kiser, the Cultural Affairs Officer at the US Consulate in Lahore, was among the dignitaries who visited the clinic.

At the end of December, 60 Muslim, Sikh and Christian students aged 14-16 participated in the second annual Seeds of Peace Interfaith Harmony Camp at St. Anthony’s High School in Lahore. The youth spent three days together developing mutual understanding and trust and sharing their thoughts on the religious tensions that exist in their country.

Specific topics ranged from blasphemy laws and discrimination to Christmas and Islamophobia.

“Through this camp, we hope to promote a sense of harmony, tolerance and respect in these young minds,” said Tooba, one of the Seeds who organized the event in order to bring an aspect of the Seeds of Peace experience to youth who do not have the chance to travel to Maine. Campers played team sports,

participated in group challenge activities, and engaged in dialogue sessions during which they spoke about their religions and explored each other’s perspectives.

“We discussed the similarities and stereotypes about our beliefs,” said Mubashar, a 16-year-old Muslim participant who, like many others in attendance, had never met Sikh students before and enjoyed the opportunity to learn about their culture and religion.

Through the camp, he said, he learned both to live with diversity and to respect that diversity.

Ted Gehr and Brinille Ellis from the US Consulate in Lahore distributed certificates of participation to the campers, praising the teens’ efforts as peacemakers as well as the work of Seeds of Peace.

Engaging with Sen. Mitchell and Sir Cohen on Middle East peace NEW YORK | Seeds and their supporters had two opportunities to broaden their understanding of the elements necessary to attain lasting peace in the Middle East by hearing the perspectives of prominent leaders.

In November, Sir Ronald Cohen, Founder and Chairman of the Portland Trust, and parent of a Seed, delivered an address on “Peace and Prosperity: The Connected Imperatives.”

The Portland Trust is a private not for profit British “action tank” committed to promoting peace and stability between Palestinians and Israelis through economic development.

Sir Ronald stressed the role that Palestinian financial security and growth plays in the peace process and described some of the Trust’s initiatives, which include the development of financial and economic infrastructure, housing, trade, investment and entrepreneurship. He stated his belief that “the development of a thriving and sustainable Palestinian economy is a necessary condition for peace.”

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Sir Ronald emphasized the importance of Seeds of Peace and urged the organization to “scale up its efforts” in empowering youth to create societal structures which will enable reconciliation.

Senator George Mitchell presented his assessment of the current state of the IsraeliPalestinian peace process at a forum held in January.

The Senator, who has had broad experience negotiating the conflict, both as the chair of the international summit held in Sharm El Sheikh after the outbreak of the second Intifada and during his two-year term as President Obama’s Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, cited many reasons for pessimism, but stated that he does not accept that the conflict is unsolvable. He recalled that 83 percent of people in Northern Ireland believed a peace agreement to be impossible just five days before one was reached.

Recognizing self-interest as a primary motivator during negotiations, the Senator stressed

the need for individuals and governments to realize that the positive outcomes of peace are worth the act of compromising on what may seem to be non-negotiable. At the same time, he acknowledged that leaders often display an inability to find common ground to end conflict in a way that is acceptable to their societies. He noted that each side has a profound sense of victimization and each has a realistic basis for it. There is a mutual fear of the future and anxiety about change.

Mitchell concluded his remarks by stating that what is needed to move the process forward are leaders with the courage and determination to harness their societies’ support for positions that are thought to be impossible—the type of leaders that Seeds of Peace is developing. “It is so important that organizations like yours expand at times that seem most pessimistic,” he said.

“Despair, like many diseases, is infectious.

Through its young leaders, Seeds of Peace brings hope.”

FALL 2011

SEEDS OF PEACE IN ACTION We are proud to be closing out 2011 having strengthened our impact around the world and having launched innovative programming. Our Seeds continue to provide real leadership in their societies and to engage in issues most others choose to avoid. Sixty Israelis and Palestinians will meet in Jerusalem for two days in December to examine questions surrounding Palestinian statehood, analyze diplomatic strategies and explore possibilities for moving forward towards peace. In addition, stay tuned for the much-anticipated launch of our new website, designed by a Graduate Seed and highlighting the breadth of our programming and the impact of our Seeds. We remain grateful for your support. —Leslie A. Lewin, Executive Director

Facilitation course certifies Seeds to run dialogue sessions JERUSALEM | While some Seeds have just completed their first summer of dialogue, others are taking the step to gain professional training in the pursuit of peace.

Seeds of Peace will again be offering a Professional Certificate in Dialogue Facilitation and Conflict Transformation. This is the third time Seeds of Peace has offered the year-long course, and candidates applied in record numbers.

The 20 participants, both Seeds and new peace-builders, began the program on

November 4. Through their coursework and bi-weekly class meetings, as well as mandatory field service at Seeds of Peace programs in the Middle East, they are gaining theoretical and experiential knowledge and skills.

Continuing the Seeds tradition of communication and collaboration, they will lead critically needed constructive conversations with a remarkable network of Palestinian and Israeli peers on a regular basis. After successful completion of the program, participants will use their new expertise to serve as facilitators

at the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Maine during the 2012 and 2013 summers.

Their work, however, will extend far beyond Camp in the coming years. As credentialed facilitators, graduates will lead dialogue between Seeds as part of our year-round regional programs. They will also extend support to Israeli and Palestinian organizations, contributing to a corps of new professionals in the nascent field. Their leadership and engagement will have a profound impact on the communities in which they live and work.

VOICE OF A SEED

‘We have common dreams’ HEBRON | Palestinian Seed Mahmoud (2007) continues to make headlines as a photographer and journalist. Mahmoud is a strong advocate for the role of youth in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and created one of 12 videos screened at a special session of the UN Security Council in December 2010.

More recently, he became a rallying force for Seeds and friends of peace worldwide after he was arrested in March while photographing a protest in his hometown of Hebron, one of the hazards of reporting from a conflict zone. Despite his week-long imprisonment, his commitment to peace is undeterred.

He says that Seeds of Peace affected his life “to the deepest point” and that his experience at Camp “was the beginning of my peace activism.”

“I discovered that [Israelis] were not just soldiers, settlers, tank drivers,” he recently told The Christian Science Monitor. “These were people similar to me. We have common dreams. I was seeing people differently than I did in the media.”

The following is an extract from Mahmoud’s blog: I want to draw attention to the most serious stumbling block to peace between the two sides the misinformation and dominance of political extremists and religious fundamentalists.

Young people in Israel and Palestine yearn for peace and a normal life, and if we really want to develop a future of peace between Palestinians and the Israelis which should include a seed of hope and readiness for understanding between the two sides then our leaders must be made aware of what is really influencing young people at mosques, schools and public places.

I believe that there should be action taken by young people for other young people, concentrating on giving both sides a clear and active role in the political process.

Young Palestinians and Israelis are excluded from the political process and any future progress must include a free and open education that raises awareness and expectations and limits the damage caused by ignorance and religious hatred wherever is comes from.

I call upon Israeli and Palestinian youth to send out a shared message of peace and reconciliation in front of the world community.

Seas of Peace program sets sail PORTLAND, MAINE | Conflict resolution took to the waves aboard a 140-foot schooner during the inaugural summer of Seas of Peace.

This July, 15 Israeli, Palestinian, and American Seeds learned the traditional sailing and navigation skills necessary to sail The Spirit of South Carolina while engaging in the same coexistence and daily dialogue that have made summers at the International Camp in Maine powerful for years.

While the combination of sailing and conflict resolution may seem incongruous at first, crewing a ship served as a tangible exercise in unifying disparate functions and roles in the service of a common goal.

Collaborative work aboard the vessel complemented a rigorous leadership curriculum, and Seeds ended the voyage more connected to each other and more assured in their visions for a peaceful future.

Seas of Peace is the initiative of David Nutt and Monica Balanoff, two Seeds of Peace counselors and recent Dartmouth graduates who received Dartmouth’s Richard D. Lombard, ’53 Public Service Fellowship to launch the pilot program.

Seas of Peace amplifies possible opportunities for second-year Seeds, providing a complement to Camp and a way to delve deeper into the experience of coexistence.

This first group of sailors lived up to Monica’s vision of “challenging the participants to truly engage with each other—offering them no choice with whom they interact.”

Before hoisting the sails of The Spirit, the Seeds spent 10 days learning how to navigate small boats on Casco Bay and translate

their leadership skills into action by working with local non-profits in community service.

While many might experience cabin fever on the seas, these young peacemakers united around their shared mission and made the most of every day, finding enjoyment in each other’s company as well as in their ocean environment.

Their blog (www.seasofpeace.org/blog), updated daily during the program, showcases the rapport and confidence that the crew developed during their three weeks together.

In this communal record, comments about “laughs and gleeful conversation” and the importance of plankton mingle with mentions of “the idea of dignity” and “team cohesion.”

As early as their third day on the Atlantic, one participant writes, “we were getting at the idea of how we can be optimists about the future in the days and years to come, and what we can do as individuals to make a difference.”

This first group of sailors returned from a profound experience at sea with strong friendships and renewed hope. We are already planning for next summer’s voyage.

Watch a video of the sailors performing their self-composed “Sea Shanty” at http://bit.ly/sopshanty.

South Asia Seeds as social entrepreneurs MUMBAI | Seeds of Peace has initiated a program partnership with Ashoka to provide social entrepreneurial training to Afghan, Indian and Pakistani Seeds. The new Seeds Ventures program gives our South Asia Seeds the tools needed to develop innovative, effective approaches to societal issues while emphasizing the power of youth leadership and cross-border cooperation.

Ashoka Youth Ventures “inspires and invests in teams of young people to start and lead their own social ventures.” The partnership adds an important new dimension to our programs. While Seeds of Peace as an organization connects and empowers young leaders, it is now launching the Seeds themselves as the actors who must change the future.

Seeds Ventures is now in full swing. A series of local workshops and an online training has already focused on social innovation, needs assessments and project planning.

Seeds worked under Seeds of Peace mentors to develop social impact projects focused on issues of particular concern to them and then submitted proposals online for small grants to

carry out their ideas.

Those whose projects advance to the second round will present their proposals in person to a panel of government officials, and local business and non-profit leaders. The strongest projects will receive funding.

Throughout all aspects of the program, teams in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan communicate through video conferences and social media platforms in order to gain insight into each other’s lives and perspectives, and the issues affecting their communities. They share their struggles, learn from each other’s experiences, and look for appropriate opportunities for cooperation.

Ultimately, Seeds will gain a concrete understanding of the issues affecting their societies and the steps needed to create change, as well as the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to have an impact upon their world today.

In 2012, Seeds Ventures will launch a program to equip Middle East Seeds with the skills to develop innovative, effective approaches to conflict-related challenges.

Vibrant post-Camp regional programs • 100 Israeli and Palestinian Junior Seeds are providing translation work and entertaining activities to patients and their families at a Tel Aviv hospital through the Save a Child’s Heart program.

• Indian Seeds organized the second annual Mock Parliament program this August in Mumbai, during which Seeds and their classmates learned to understand the challenges facing the Pakistani government.

• Over 40 Seeds and family members gathered for a Ramadan iftar meal at the Salam Restaurant in Gaza on August 20. Other iftars were held in Amman and Jerusalem.

• Pakistani Seeds submitted their community development projects before a Seeds Ventures panel for review on August 27.

• 76 Israelis and Palestinians who were at Camp this summer attended a reunion in Jerusalem on September 16.

• Palestinian negotiator and Seed parent Dr. Sa’eb Erekat spoke to 65 Seeds in Ramallah on September 30 about the Palestinian statehood bid, having just returned from the UN.

Multinational explores ‘People Power’ and the Arab Spring AMMAN | At the first Middle East multinational conference for younger Seeds in over a decade, 55 Egyptian, Israeli, Jordanian, Palestinian, and American Seeds united in Petra, Jordan, for a week under the guidance of 10 Graduate Seeds to explore the power of young people to create peaceful change.

They worked together to analyze and appreciate the development of worldviews and the ways in which these shape the present.

Seeds examined the forces and structures that underlie current societal dynamics, identity formation and reinforcement, the difference between power and influence, and the concept of personal agency.

At the close of the People Power program, the Seeds explored various tools and methods that have been employed successfully by young people in the pursuit of change throughout the world, gaining comfort with them during a final simulation.

The Seeds appreciated the practicality of “really eye-opening” workshops, designed and taught in their entirety by Graduate Seeds and ranging in topic from business to national identities, that emphasized the translation of ideas into actions. As one Seed commented, “We’ve got the chance to turn what we learned from Camp into something that can affect our society.”

Participants met with the Commission for Community Development in Petra, as well as with senior US diplomats.

Before People Power, American Seeds spent a week in Amman meeting with local

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NGO representatives, volunteering with a community service project, working on their Arabic vocabulary, and learning more about the history and role of the United States in the Middle East.

In hallmark Seeds of Peace style, the multinational was an opportunity for Seeds to travel and live together. At at time when crossborder contact among Arab and Israeli youth is exceedingly rare, this diverse, tightly-knit gathering was exceptional.

The Graduate Seeds who led the workshops reported that this event, taking place at a pivotal moment in the history of the region, counts among the best programs that Seeds of Peace has ever run.

“People Power is the first Seeds Reunion I

attended since I returned from Camp,” said Hatem, a 2010 Egyptian Seed. He called the program “an effective, extraordinary experience that I will surely never forget” and cited “the two excursions in Jordan, the awesome workshops” and “seeing so many Seeds and spending time with them” as highlights.

“The things I learned will always be pillars in what I do in becoming a better leader in my community.”

Clearly, our older Seeds have transferred their energy, knowledge and enthusiasm to younger Seeds. One Egyptian Seed was busy planning for the future before the program had even ended: “When I get back, I can’t wait to apply all the things that I’ve learned.”

SUMMER 2011

SEEDS OF PEACE IN ACTION I’m writing as we start the second session of Camp while anticipating the return of our American travelers from the Middle East and our sailors off the coast of Maine. This has been one of our richest summers ever, and we look forward to an equally full edition of Seeds of Peace in Action this fall, when we tell you about People Power, Seas of Peace, and the amplified Educators’ and ongoing regional programs. We are incredibly grateful to the many people who made this extraordinary summer possible, from you, our

supporters, to the hundred Toll Brothers volunteers who hammered, sawed and swept Camp into shape, to the counselors, facilitators and support staff who provided the Seeds a life-changing experience. Thank you. —Leslie A. Lewin, Executive Director

Skype-bridged dialogue: an American Seed’s initiative NEW YORK | American Seeds are also building on the power of their Camp experience: recently, Jacob Blumenfeld-Gantz (Camp 2006) together with his college roommate Corey Metzman created Dorm Room Diplomacy (DRD), a program that aims to cultivate mutual understanding for young people in the Middle East and United States.

This program won accolades from longtime Seeds of Peace champion President Bill Clinton. This April, at the Clinton Global Initiative University 2011, President Clinton noted that Dorm Room Diplomacy echoes Seeds of Peace—“the most astonishing example of this kind of interaction I have personally

witnessed”—as he honored Cobi and Corey at the award ceremonies.

Dorm Room Diplomacy is coupling University of Pennsylvania students with college students in the Middle East, engaging them in weekly two-hour facilitated dialogue sessions using online technologies such as Skype.

In these conversations, students have the opportunity to go beyond media coverage in understanding issues. They examine their own assumptions and even biases, and build cultural connections.

Cobi drew on his Seeds of Peace Camp experience in crafting the new initiative and serves as one of the program’s facilitators.

Camp for Cobi was “eye opening” as he was able to hear many personal narratives from the Middle East conflict. He wanted to make such opportunities more broadly available. Dorm Room Diplomacy is a forum to “discuss the undiscussable.”

VOICE OF A SEED

‘Be the hope for the hopeful’ OTISFIELD, MAINE | Jehan (Indian Delegation 2008, 2011) addressed his fellow campers at the first session of Camp on June 29. He implored new campers to understand the magnitude of their work and time together, and to think, then act, in the name of peace.

Here, he shares an abbreviation of his remarks; for the full version, please visit www.seedsofpeace.org/jehan.

Largest Camp session ever in Maine OTISFIELD, MAINE | At this pivotal time in history, when the power of young people to bring about change is being demonstrated in countries across the globe, the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Maine hosted its largest ever summer session.

There, in a safe and secure environment, 190 remarkable Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, Jordanian, Indian, Pakistani and American teens met their historic “enemies” face-to-face (often for the first time) and began to develop the friendships, understanding and trust necessary to build lasting peace.

“I was really scared to come here,” wrote an Israeli camper at the end of the session.

“I met my enemy. He doesn’t have wings or a tail. He was a kid. He was a kid just like me.”

An Egyptian camper wrote about being partnered with an Israeli on the high ropes course. “I’m not afraid of heights, but in this particular situation, I had to depend on him for balance ... He had to close his eyes while

he walked on the rope. I thought he wouldn’t accept, but he just smiled and said, “I trust you.’ ” For three and a half weeks, the Seeds worked hard and played hard. Through bunk life, daily dialogue sessions, sports and other activities, they discovered their common humanity and former enemies soon became friends. The apprehension and fear that many of the teens experienced when they first arrived at Camp turned to tears on departure day as they took leave of their new friends and prepared to face the challenges of home.

The transformative Camp experience is just the beginning of a long journey for the Seeds. Year-round Seeds of Peace programs in their respective communities keep them connected and provide the knowledge, skills and relationships they need to become agents of change and make their mark on the world.

Read the Camp blog at www.seedsofpeace.org/camp2011

We all wake up to the most beautiful lake in the world, the greenest grass. And the first thing we do is jump out of our bunks and charge for the shower house. Just when you think you’re going to have a nice hot water bath, someone overtakes you and steals your precious first place. There is anger and conflict in the bunk for around 30 seconds and then we’re all friends again and another happy day at Seeds of Peace begins.

Now, multiply that “conflict” by a million and that’s what’s happening in the world. To make that million a zero—well, that’s why we come to Camp.

A great leader once said, “Dream, dream, dream. For dreams transform into thought and thoughts result in action.”

We’ve all been dreaming and at Seeds of Peace, we’ve got to think—just coolly, calmly, and collectively, think. Think of yourself; think of the other side, and then think of the millions and millions of people we represent.

We just think and at the end of Camp we return home, and act. We act because we want to have an impact; because we don’t want our family to be afraid. We start acting because we want the world to smile with us.

To many, a world without boundaries—no fear, no war, no nuclear weapons—is a farfetched dream. But it’s not. It really isn’t. Not when we Seeds are around.

Seeds of Peace changes lives. Camp shows what a world full of smiles looks like. I have learned to smile a brilliant smile all the time.

We children can’t go to a nightclub, but we can make the entire world dance to one rhythm. We can’t get a tattoo, but we can ink history. That’s how Seeds of Peace empowers us. That’s the power we have to make the world a world like Seeds of Peace.

So, be the hope for the hopeful; be the motivator and the motivation; be the story and the storyteller; be the teacher and the teaching.

Be a Seed of change; be a Seed of love; but, most importantly, be that Seed of peace who makes a difference.

2011 SPRING DINNER

Seeds head organization’s Middle East programs JERUSALEM | This summer, we continued to build a leadership of Seeds in our programs.

Most recently we welcomed Ethan Schechter (Camp 1994) as our new Middle East Program Director following the June appointment of Mohammed NasserEddin (Camp 2002) as Director of Palestinian Programs.

A few months ago we said a sad goodbye to Sawsan Samara (Camp 1998), who guided our Palestinian programs for almost four years and then decided to pursue graduate studies. Sawsan left big shoes to fill, but we are delighted that a team of Seeds is now in place.

Mohammed has been an active participant in regional programming for more than eight years, and brings great professional experience, passion for Seeds of Peace, and vision for Palestinian programs. After earning a bachelors degree at the University of Jordan, he began his working life with the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan and then spent two years as a program officer with the Norwegian Refugee Council in Palestine.

Mohammed is also a partner with the Oxfam International Youth Program. He is multilingual (English, French, Hebrew as well as his native

Arabic) and will be working closely with Mohammed Isleem, our Program Director in Gaza, and fellow Seed Eldad Levy (Camp 1998), our Israeli Program Director, who joined us in September 2010.

Ethan, who has known Seeds of Peace almost from its inception, will work to strengthen a coordinated, connected program for Egyptian, Israeli, Jordanian, and Palestinian Seeds. We have been looking for a Middle East Programs Director with strong knowledge of Seeds of Peace and have in Ethan a Seed, former counselor and regional program coordinator (2002-2003).

Ethan holds a Masters degree in Coexistence and Conflict, and has worked at the United States Institute of Peace and CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, a non-profit committed to improving the effectiveness of international actors who provide humanitarian assistance, engage in peace practice, and support sustainable development. Ethan will be moving to Jerusalem this summer. This strong team knows first-hand the challenges and needs Seeds face as they return home, and launched their connection to the newest Seeds by visiting them at Camp in Maine.

Two powerful women, noted journalist Kati Marton and Carlson Chairman Marilyn Carlson Nelson, affirmed the importance of Seeds of Peace as guest speakers at the Spring Dinner on May 18. Marton (above) accepted the John P. Wallach Peacemaker Award given posthumously to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and Nelson (below) accepted the Corporate Peacemaker Award on behalf of her company, Carlson, which provides worldwide travel services to Seeds of Peace.

Using media and Homestays to build unity in South Asia MUMBAI | In May, 32 Seeds from Afghanistan, Pakistan and India participated in Voices of the People—an eight-day regional Homestay program in Mumbai, India designed to teach Seeds how to use media to generate awareness and understanding of varying perspectives on issues central to the conflicts in South Asia.

During the conference, Seeds worked in groups of three—one from each country—to learn videography, photography, and creative writing.

Local educators who participated in our Adult Educators program at our International Camp were on hand to teach techniques and serve as resources for each group. Seeds were invited to propose their own ideas for a group project, and each team produced media content around its chosen topic.

Themes ranged from religious coexistence to marriage, corruption, and even food distribution. Each group worked together to produce

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a narrative, photo gallery and short video.

As part of this initiative, Seeds built a website to showcase and house the content they created. They will continue to update this website monthly.

Voices of the People culminated in a media exhibition where Seeds presented their projects to an audience of more than 300 friends, family members, partners and local educators. Those in attendance had the opportunity to hear from each group of Seeds about their projects during an enthusiastic question-and-answer session. Two of the most popular presentations were “Coming Together with Cricket” and “Bonding through Biryani.”

Visit www.seedsofpeace.org/vop to learn more about these and other projects created

by Seeds.

Since its launch earlier this year, the website has already begun to provide an accessible platform for peer-to-peer and peer-to-community sharing and dialogue. Teachers, community

leaders, NGOs and others working toward peace have begun to benefit from the VOP website as Seeds have shared stories from the site formally and informally with their networks of peers. Currently, the VOP site has an integrated Facebook connect feature, which allows for ease in sharing the contents of the site as well as for live interactive feedback on the stories.

A critical component of this project was the Homestay. More than 15 Indian families played host to Seeds from Afghanistan and Pakistan, allowing Seeds to experience the family environment of their counterparts.

Simple things such as morning wake-up routines, family time around the dinner table, and evening chores and activities helped to build unity across borders.

Through this shared living experience and afternoon trips around the city, Seeds immersed themselves in the daily life that makes up the local culture.

SPRING 2011

SEEDS OF PEACE IN ACTION At a time when the power of youth in the Middle East is on full display, the need for our conflict resolution programming and leadership development is all the more pressing. For nearly 20 years, Seeds of Peace has been empowering a new generation of leaders uniquely capable of and committed to promoting dialogue and peace—and they are at the forefront of efforts to bring change to their regions. On behalf of our Seeds around the world, huge thanks for all you are doing to allow our work to continue and to grow in these remarkable times.

— Leslie A. Lewin, Executive Director

Seeds on the Front Lines of Peace in Egypt CAIRO | Drawing on leadership skills acquired through Seeds of Peace, Egyptian Seeds have been deeply engaged in many of the changes sweeping their country.

In Tahrir Square, Seeds protested peacefully and helped shape opinion about the demonstrations through reporting and information sessions.

Seeds also initiated events ranging from fundraisers to dialogue groups for young people.

Journalist Mona El-Naggar, a Seed from 1999, helped US audiences make sense of the revolution through her reporting from Tahrir for The New York Times.

Mona wrote or contributed to dozens of stories, many front page, in the Times and authored a New York Times Week in Review piece, ‘The Legacy of 18 Days in Tahrir Square.’ She also appeared on Charlie Rose twice to share her analysis of the situation.

Another 1999 Seed, Mostafa Fahmy, filmed a music video in Tahrir called The Voice of Freedom. The video went viral, receiving 800,000 hits in its first four days on YouTube and has now exceeded 1,300,000 views.

“I used passion and all my abilities to peacefully defend what I believe in,” Mostafa says. “We made the song with love and pride. We wanted to make our voices loud—really loud—for all the world to hear.”

To view Mostafa’s four-minute video and read more about its creation, please visit www.seedsofpeace.org/freedom.

As the protests wound down, and the demonstrators headed home, world-wide

audiences were touched by the headlines of youth clearing the protest sites of litter.

In fact, Seeds organized a day-long community service activity to clean up after their compatriots, removing refuse and rubble from the streets.

The commitment to peace is enduring, and Seeds are creating new NGOs to sustain dialogue, writing op-eds and continuing to organize the youth voice for peaceful change.

Preserving History in Afghanistan

Dialogue Across Indo-Pak Border LAHORE/MUMBAI | Pakistani and Indian Seeds held a direct video conferencing session in January as part of a series of meetings that will help the two sides gain a deeper understanding of each others’ socio-cultural and political systems.

The series will prepare Seeds for a threeday Mock Parliament, scheduled for this summer, during which Seeds will simulate each others’ parliaments by stepping into the roles of legislators from across the border.

The video conference series addresses issues that include the role of youth in promoting peace and non-violence, the Taliban, social entrepreneurship and community work, terrorism in the subcontinent, and the Indian elections.

During the video conference, three

Indian Seeds presented to their Pakistani counterparts the working of the Indian Parliament and system of governance, covering topics like the role of the civil service and media, recent judicial activism, local self-governance, representation of women in politics and efforts to keep India a democratic republic.

Their presentation was followed by an interactive question and answer session with the Seeds in Lahore, who asked about India’s electoral system, whether there were any benefits to reserving seats in parliament for women and minority groups, and about the secular image of, and the place of Muslims in, the politics of India.

Pakistani Seeds will present their form of governance to Indians in an upcoming video conference.

KABUL | Mujib Mashal, an Afghan Seed from 2002, initiated the “2011 Stories from Kabul” oral history project and led its first workshop in January.

Mujib, who trained at the Columbia University Oral History Summer Institute, imparted the skills he developed interviewing compatriots in his own coursework to a group of 13 younger Afghan Seeds.

In Afghanistan, a country where oral tradition is the central vehicle for preserving history, a rich national narrative is being lost, a casualty of war and insurrection.

When these stories go untold, a nation’s lessons, pride, culture, and identity vanish.

“Through this project I can learn a new way of expressing all those stories that have dried up on every single Afghan’s lips,” said project participant Feroz.

“We discussed the importance of oral history in Afghanistan at a time when factual histories of the atrocities of the past four decades cannot be written because those who caused the atrocities are still prominent,” Mujib said.

“Our generation is also working with an absence of archives, what traditional histories are based on. So oral history can play a massive role here—to record stories that are at risk of being lost.”

Mujib taught the Seeds the basics of interviewing, transcribing, and writing narrative pieces based on their interviews with their elders. Some interviews relate nostalgic tales of youth. Others are filled with accounts of misery and suffering.

The collection of stories will be published later this year in their original language (Pashto/Dari) and in English.

Jerusalem: A Core Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Issue JERUSALEM | Sixty Israelis and Palestinians (from across the West Bank) engaged in two days of dialogue exploring Jerusalem, one of the defining unresolved issues of the conflict. By connecting the discussion to these issues directly, the seminar aimed to build on the Camp dialogue sessions.

In the weeks leading up to the event, Seeds met by delegation to research topics relating to Jerusalem. The result was six hours of focused dialogue that gave the Seeds a much deeper understanding of the challenges that face Jerusalem’s residents, as well as concrete action plans to address some of these issues.

“The dialogue was so much more insightful,” said one Israeli Seed. “It was more mature than Camp. I now understand the Palestinian point of view referring to how Jerusalem should look, and sympathize with their situation of living under occupation.”

Two guest lecturers spoke about Jerusalem. Elie Isaacson, a spokesman for the Jerusalem mayor’s office, discussed various city policies.

“I was impressed by the very high level of questions asked in ways that demonstrated a genuine desire to learn and to understand complexities, in an overall constructive environment,” Isaacson said, calling the Seeds “a group of exceptional young people who quite possibly possess the right mix of conviction and open mindedness that is capable of leading us to a very different future.”

Aziz Abu Sara, Director of Middle East Projects at the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution at

Conflict Resolution Week in London LONDON | As they led a full week’s worth of classes for students of all ages during the American School in London (ASL) Conflict Resolution Week in December, six Seeds—three each from India and Pakistan—saw their own life lessons from Seeds of Peace profoundly reinforced by imparting them to American and British students.

The Seeds conducted classroom visits and met with the South Asia, Model UN, and Amnesty International clubs on campus. The ASL students gained exceptional insights into the South Asian conflict, as well as practical methods for resolving conflict through purposeful dialogue in their daily lives.

The Seeds of Peace network offered an experience that no other group could provide. For example, in Peggy Elhadi’s 9th grade English class, which had just finished reading Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns, students were eager to ask someone from Afghanistan whether the novel reflected the reality of life under the Taliban, how women really felt about the veil, and how families handled the restrictions imposed on them.

Although our Afghan Seeds were unable to obtain visas, technology bridged the distance. The class wrote interview questions and Seeds of Peace arranged for two ASL students to record an interview

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with one of our Afghan alumni via Skype.

(The time difference did not allow the full class to join in real time.)

Students were captivated as a young woman, close in age to them, answered each of their questions. Every page Hosseini wrote, she said, resonated with her life. She highlighted a particular incident near the end of the book that depicted a young woman being stoned to death at a sports stadium, and spoke of the day that her father and brother returned home from the nearby stadium with news of a similar event.

She assured them that the novel’s passage was not a flight of imagination. She went on to discuss the meaning of the hijab and spoke firmly about the importance of women’s choice in wearing the veil. She briefed them on the complicated history of Afghanistan, life in Kabul now, and her hope for the future. She made their assigned text come to life.

The Seeds, invited from Lahore and Mumbai to London by ASL, were impressed by thought-provoking questions and responded with their reflections on the importance of distinguishing between governments and people.

Following one of the activities led by Seeds, an ASL student commented, “If we kids understand what needs to be done to create peace, why don’t the leaders?”

George Mason University, spoke about his personal experiences of the conflict in Jerusalem.

Older Seed Peer Leaders (PLs) led activities and dialogue throughout the seminar.

Thus the event was also an effective apprenticeship for PLs, who won the praise of the younger participants.

“Dialogue is about understanding the other’s agenda and state of mind [and] the PLs made it happen,” said one younger participant.

Graduate Seeds Orient New McKinsey Partners Jerusalem | As part of the McKinsey & Company Global New Partner Orientation week, recently held in Jerusalem, pairs of Israeli and Palestinian Graduate Seeds teamed with groups of new McKinsey Partners to engage in dialogue, and explore the theme of leadership and ways in which a new generation of leaders can pave the way to a more peaceful future in the Middle East.

A total of 40 Seeds joined 250 McKinsey Partners and their spouses for a full day of formal and informal gatherings.

“The Seeds of Peace were the energy, passion and drive for the whole atmosphere of the day,” said one McKinsey organizer. “The Seeds’ engagement and interaction transformed strangers into friends.”

In addition to the opportunity for Graduates to tell their personal stories of living in conflict, the event allowed the Seeds to reconnect with one another and network with some of the world’s leading business professionals.

“We could not be more grateful to McKinsey for including Seeds of Peace in their program and believing in the importance of supporting local initiatives and voices,” said Seeds of Peace Executive Director Leslie Lewin.

FALL 2010

SEEDS OF PEACE IN ACTION With this edition we launch a newsletter that will illustrate some of the extensive programming that is sustaining our Seeds in their life-long mission as leaders serving the cause of peace and mutual understanding. As you will see in this and future issues, Seeds of Peace is an active force in zones of conflict through the wide-ranging personal and professional pursuits of individual Seeds. — Leslie A. Lewin, Executive Director

Sharing traditions and perspectives on Jerusalem JERUSALEM | There was an air of excitement on September 4th when 86 Israeli and Palestinian Seeds from the 2010 Camp season reunited in Jerusalem for continued dialogue and a dinner to mark Ramadan and Rosh Hashanah. The gathering was remarkable in a conflict zone where research shows that less than one percent of Palestinian and Israeli youth have had an opportunity to engage in an organized dialogue or encounter with someone from the other side since the start of the Second Intifada in 2000.

Seeds graduates gave presentations and led discussion on the significance of Jerusalem for Jews, Muslims and Christians.

The youngsters were then encouraged to share their family traditions surrounding Ramadan and Rosh Hashanah and seek information from each other about specific religious practices. The event culminated with a holiday meal when the East Jerusalem canon fired to mark the end of the Ramadan fast.

The evening was made possible through the generosity of an American Seed’s family.

Aiding victims of the Pakistan floods LAHORE | In response to the recent devastation in Pakistan, Seeds have mobilized to aid in the flood relief efforts.

In an appeal to their peers, Pakistani Seeds wrote: “With many lives already lost and millions more at risk, we urge you all to help us fuel a coordinated effort to do the best we can to support those in need.”

In answer, over 60 Seeds from around the world have launched initiatives in their communities: • Seeds in India working with schools to collect and send materials and supplies to Pakistan.

• School-wide campaigns in Jordan, the US, and other countries to reach out to students and ask for their support; • Educational events that raise awareness about the situation in Pakistan and raise money to help those affected;

• A “Two-gether for Pakistan” campaign jointly run by campus Hillels and Muslim Student Associations asking students to donate $2 to the campaign; • Barbecues, bake sales, henna tattoos, raffle tickets, and play performances all benefiting flood relief; • Outreach to other Seeds, family members, schoolmates, and community groups to let them know about the campaign and ask for their support.

“It really is great to see all the Seeds over the globe participate in this and take the initiative,” said a Pakistani Seed.

“People at home are really impressed by the fact that Seeds are raising money even in India. It makes me so happy to see our SOP mission come to life through this.”

To donate or learn more, please visit www.seedsofpeace.org/flood

Planting trees; tackling heroin trade KABUL | In partnership with the Afghan Ministry of Education, Seeds designed and implemented a project intended to encourage farmers to halt poppy cultivation and at the same time beautify Kabul schools. The Seeds purchased 150 trees from nurseries in the Nangarhar/Jalalabad region that participate in the Alternative Livelihoods Project—a USAID-funded program to combat opium production by providing meaningful economic options to poppy farmers. Our Seeds then recruited friends and family to help them plant the trees at partner schools throughout Kabul.

Upon completion of this project, the Ministry of Education held a ceremony in honor of Seeds of Peace which was cov-

ered by Afghan television and radio.

This project—along with all of our South Asia regional programming, is made possible through a grant from the U.S. Department of State.

Leading Middle East programs JERUSALEM | When Eldad Levy was appointed Director of Israeli Programs this fall, he joined Palestinian Programs Director Sawsan Samara whom he first met when they were campers in 1998. Now the leadership of year-round programming in the Middle East is led by Seeds, who are building on their experience of the past 12 years.

Sawsan and Eldad are working together to design and implement high impact regional programs to provide Seeds of all ages with the leadership skills, experiences and opportunities to enable them to become agents of change in their societies and advance lasting peace.

In commenting on the critical need for year-round programs, Sawsan and Eldad said, “As former campers, we know how important these leadership development and conflict resolution programs were for us. There were many times throughout the years when we felt pressured to give up on peace. But the programs and the Seeds of Peace family kept us on track.”

Eldad and Sawsan are working closely with Executive Director Leslie Lewin to define programs that implement the vision of being a Seed as a life-long identity, not just a summer experience.

Learn more about our graduates at www.seedsofpeace.org/graduates

Learning the art of effective communication JERUSALEM | More than 50 Israeli and Palestinian Seeds participated in a sixweek summer leadership institute focused on the Art of Communication.

The program, led by counselors who had spent past summers at the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Maine, began with a series of local training sessions designed to encourage self expression and active listening.

The sessions included activities to encourage greater understanding of stereotypes and core conflict issues, illustrate the power of words and learn how best to frame an issue for targeted audiences.

Following the trainings, Seeds spent several weeks creating media projects that addressed topics that were of greatest interest to them.

Projects ranged from original documentary films to short videos edited from

existing content to spoken word poetry, photography exhibits and more.

The program culminated in a three-day

cross-border seminar where the Seeds presented their projects and entered into an in-depth discussion about their work.

Reflecting on the International Camp

By Michael Avi-Yonah, 2010 American Seed CRANBROOK, MI | It took me 15 years to meet the enemy, only to find that the enemy was me.

Because of my heritage, I was the enemy, both in other people’s perceptions and my own unacknowledged prejudices against them. First I reacted with confusion, then anger, and finally empathy and the beginning of understanding.

I am an American, but after my dialogue group discovered that my parents are Israeli and that I speak Hebrew, a number of Arabs and Muslim South Asians were less willing to speak with me.

In one fateful dialogue session, a Palestinian girl rhetorically asked the Israelis in the room what Palestinians should have to give up for peace. I blurted out that Israelis should be able to travel throughout the country without the fear of terrorist attacks. My response only made the Palestinians less willing to talk to me. … But we behaved completely differently outside of dialogue, when we played sports, ate, and bunked together. By the

end of camp I became very good friends with some of the people I had the nastiest fights with, including a boy who said in a dialogue session he could not be friends with any Israelis.

It was not just teenagers from conflict regions who changed—I did too. While still disagreeing with some of his views, I understand the Gazan who declared he would not be friends with Israelis after getting bombed by Israeli planes and tanks, suffering food and water shortages, and seeing his friends die in front of his own eyes during the 2009 Gaza War. During the last few days of camp I felt sad thinking about the lives of some of my new friends and the daily challenges they will face upon their return home. … I am more convinced than ever that no matter how great the differences that divide us— religious, ethnic, racial, national—what we have in common is even greater. When we lose that perspective, we lose ourselves, and we are left with only the enemy inside, while creating enemies outside.

Michael is one of 4,337 Seeds who have graduated from the Camp since 1993.

Comforting young heart patients & their families TEL AVIV | Pairs of Palestinian and Israeli Seeds are making weekly visits to a Tel Aviv hospital where young patients from the Middle East and Africa receive emergency heart surgery.

The visits, which will take place throughout 2010, are coordinated with the Save A Child’s Heart non-profit and are funded by the European Union.

During their day-long visits, the Seeds work with the patients, their families, and

hospital staff to provide translation work and fun activities.

“The importance of what Seeds of Peace does here is enormous!” said one Seed.

“Seeing these kids smiling and laughing is priceless. I’m so happy to have the chance to help them feel better, and give their families a few minutes to themselves.”

Another Seed added, “The most important thing was meeting people from the Gaza Strip and listening to their stories.”

Exploring conflict through the eyes of their peers Seeds participate in pilot program in Israel, West Bank JERUSALEM | A group of American Seeds visited Israel and the West Bank this summer as part of a unique program planned by the Seeds of Peace Graduate Association.

Each of the 12 days of the trip was planned and executed by Graduate Seeds consultants and included visits to Seeds’ families, historical sites, local NGOs and areas affected by the conflict. During the course of the trip the Americans met with over 50 Israeli and Palestinian Seeds, ranging from those who were part of the first group of campers in 1993 to those that began their lives as Seeds in 2003.

This provided the group with an incredibly diverse set of perspectives and allowed them to see the region through the eyes of Israelis and Palestinians rather than those of a tourist.

The Americans Seeds credited the participation of so many Graduates as key to the success of the trip.

“We were able to see the different ways the Seeds of Peace experience affected each of the Graduates we met as well as catch a glimpse into our own future as Seeds,” said one participant.

“This is the most challenging thing I have done with Seeds of Peace,” said another.

“I have been to Camp twice and my views on the conflict never really changed. This trip has given me a whole new set of questions I never knew to ask before.”

Learn more about programming at www.seedsofpeace.org/us

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