Seeds of Peace

Seeds of Peace is an international youth organization, founded in 1993, that works to bring together youth from conflict regions to discuss coexistence and conflict resolution.

History

Seeds of Peace began as an idea of the American journalist John Wallach. At a state dinner with politicians from Israel, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority, Wallach toasted them, then made them pledge to bring 15 youngsters from each of their respective countries to a new camp he was founding in Maine. These 48, including 3 Americans, ranging in age from 13 to 18, comprised the first session of the Seeds of Peace International Camp, founded on the site of the former Camp Powhatan in Otisfield, Maine. The camp was organized in a manner similar to traditional Maine summer camps, with the added element of dialogue sessions between campers.

The campers from 1993 were later present in the signing ceremony of the Declaration of Principles (better know as the Oslo Accords) in Washington, D.C. President Bill Clinton and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin were photographed holding Seeds of Peace T-shirts.

Since its inauguration in 1993, the International Camp has produced over 4,000 graduates. In addition to the original countries, there are now Seeds from the Jordan, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Cyprus (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus/Republic of Cyprus), and the Balkans. The Balkan programs (Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo) and the Cyprus program (Turkish Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey) were discontinued after the summer of 2003.

Fifteen years of conflict resolution programming has produced an impressive cadre of Seeds working in international affairs, politics, business, medicine, nonprofit and media. Headquartered in New York City, Seeds of Peace has offices in Amman, Cairo, Gaza, Jerusalem, Kabul, Lahore, Mumbai, Otisfield, Ramallah, Tel Aviv and Washington, D.C.

While at camp students are prohibited from speaking their native tongue unless told to do so by the staff, or during individual delegation meetings.

Seeds of Peace also offers programs to Seeds after they return home. In the Middle East, we support their development as peacemakers through an innovative curriculum that provides opportunities to exhibit leadership by bringing people together for the purpose of dialogue, mutual understanding, service, and respect.

In 2001, Seeds of Peace expanded to South Asia. Our Seeds in this region are active leaders through various programs that bring together conflicting sides from Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. We are committed to strengthening the bonds between Seeds of differing countries in this region.

Asel Asleh

main|Asel AslehIn October 2000, Asel Asleh, an Israeli Arab graduate of the program, was shot dead by Israeli security forces during a demonstration. He had on the organizations t-shirt at the time of the shooting. [ [http://edition.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/meast/10/05/israel.seeds.ap/index.html CNN.com - Young 'Seed of Peace' dies in Mideast clashes - October 5, 2000 ] ]

Leadership

John Wallach, the founder of the organization, also served as its president until his death in 2002. He was succeeded by former State Department official Aaron David Miller, who left the job early in 2006. Later, Janet Wallach, wife of John Wallach, was named president emeritus. In 2007, Nicolla Hewitt was president of the board prior to her departure in 2008.

Seeds of Peace maintains a strict policy of remaining apolitical. Its activities are funded mainly by donations, with some activities receiving earmarked funds from the U.S. federal government.

Offices

The organization's U.S. headquarters are located in New York City, and Washington, D.C.

Seeds of Peace also has opened additional offices in Haifa, Tel Aviv, Ramallah, Cairo, and Amman. In these regional offices, graduates of the International Camp continue their activity in the organization by having additional meetings with their counterparts from across the border, as well as performing community service.

Following the steam explosion at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and 41st Street in New York, Seeds of Peace's main offices in the United States were rendered unusable due to asbestos. A board member donated temporary space, from with the New York staff plans to operate until the end of 2007.cite news | url = www.seedsofpeace.org | title = Seeds of Peace ]

The Olive Branch

main|The Olive BranchThe organization's graduates publish a magazine, "The Olive Branch", that sums up their activities over a period of several months.

Life after camp

Approximately 350 new seeds graduate from Seeds of Peace every year. The Israeli and Palestinian delegations continue dialogue sessions and activitites, many organized through the Center for Coexistence in Jerusalem. The Indian and Pakistani delegations also have travelled to each other's countries for talks and activities. Other delegations conduct reunions semi-annually or as they see fit.

References

External links

* [http://www.seedsofpeace.org/ Seeds of Peace official website]
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE7D9133DF930A3575AC0A963958260 For 130 Arab and Israeli Teen-Agers, Maine Camp Is Where Peace Begins] New York Times, 3 September 1995
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9807E1D8163BF93AA1575BC0A96F958260 In Search of Peace On Common Ground] New York Times, 29 August 1999
* [http://www.hadassah.com/news/content/per_hadassah/archive/2000/March/seeds.htm Seeds of Peace] Hadassah Magazine, March 2000
* [http://edition.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/meast/10/05/israel.seeds.ap/index.html Young 'Seed of Peace' dies in Mideast clashes] CNN.com, 5 October 2000
* [http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/meast/08/14/seeds.of.peace.cnna/index.html Mideast teens plant Seeds of Peace] CNN.com, 14 August 2001
* [http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/07/18/seeds.of.peace/ Seeds of Peace camp plants seed of hope] CNN.com, 19 July 2002
* [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,165849,00.html Arabs, Israelis Hold Peace Reunion] Fox News, 16 August 2005
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/07/AR2006080700144.html Peace Camp's Sense of Hope Unshaken] Washington Post, 7 August 2006
* [http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=117415&ac=PHnws Seeds of Peace starts its 15th year] Portland Press Herald, 28 June 2007