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A Message from the Chairman
Carlson Wagonlit Travel applauds the important work Seeds of Peace undertakes helping young people from the Middle East and South Asia. We’re proud to sponsor this terrific organization. Programs that help young people with conflict resolution and leadership training do indeed plant seeds of peace, creating a network of young leaders ready to support peace on a global scale. – Jack O’Neill, President North America, Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Dear Friends: At Seeds of Peace, we empower young people from regions of conflict to be leaders and agents of positive change. We call them “Seeds.” Against a backdrop of fear, mistrust, and violence, the story of how Seeds from around the world overcome these challenges and evolve into leaders and peacemakers is a source of great hope for our shared future. Their stories are the ones we would like to share with you, our supporters, without whom none of it would be possible. The year 2007 marked the 15th anniversary of the founding of the International Camp operated by Seeds of Peace. Some 320 Seeds participated in the camp program this year. What began as an improbable dream in 1993 was made a reality by the vision and determination of John Wallach, our late founder. That year the first delegation of 46 Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians, and Egyptians arrived in the United States to participate in what would become an internationally recognized conflict resolution program that drew teenagers together, face to face with their supposed enemies.
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For most Seeds this camp is the first time each has ever met a young person from the other side. Dialogue sessions elicit painful emotions that force each Seed to confront others’ stereotypes, along with his or her own. The sessions break down barriers and build bridges in their place. Netta, an Israeli camper, said, “As I looked to the side for a moment, I caught a glimpse of my two best friends—one Israeli and one
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will be like—because we knew each other at Seeds of Peace.”
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The hard work of peace does not end when camp is over, however. Seeds of Peace operates in Amman, Cairo, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv,
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Palestinian. At that moment I realized that I love them both the same way. No doubts. No limits.” And Jawad, a Palestinian camper, had this to say: “My friend wants to be prime minister of his country, and I want to become the head of my country. Imagine what that
Ramallah, Lahore, Mumbai, and Kabul to augment understanding once the Seeds return home. Our engaging and original follow-up programs support Seeds as they navigate the transition back into their daily lives with altered beliefs, new perspectives, and new friends. Leadership programs such as our Conflict Management and Mediation Training course allow Seeds and other
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members of the community to effectively facilitate conversations between opposing sides of conflict.
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Nearly 4,000 Seeds are dispersed around the world today, working to spread hope for peace by living our values of respect,
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empathy, understanding, and tolerance. Hundreds of Seeds, including those from the first delegation in 1993, have grown into young leaders in business, the nonprofit community, government, education, media, medicine, and politics. Our mission is to inspire young people to be future leaders with a new vision of the path forward. But the truth is, they inspire us every day. We are so often reminded by our Seeds how much this work matters. They possess an abiding faith in the future—a future filled with mutual respect, understanding, shared prosperity, and lasting peace. Thank you for your support.
Richard Berman Chairman Board of Directors Seeds of Peace LEFT: Seeds walk together playing music at the International Camp in Otisfield, Maine. RIGHT: Seeds return home to be leaders in their communities. (All photography: Seeds of Peace)