About
Seeds
of
Peace
Founded
in
1993,
Seeds
of
Peace
is
dedicated
to
empowering
young
leaders
from
regions
of
conflict
with
the
leadership
skills
required
to
advance
reconciliation
and
coexistence.
Over
the
last
decade,
Seeds
of
Peace
has
intensified
its
impact,
dramatically
increasing
the
number
of
participants,
represented
nations
and
programs.
From
46
Israeli,
Palestinian
and
Egyptian
teenagers
in
1993,
the
organization
still
focuses
on
the
Middle
East
but
has
expanded
its
programming
to
include
young
leaders
from
South
Asia,
Cyprus
and
the
Balkans.
Its
leadership
network
now
encompasses
over
2,500
young
people
from
four
conflict
regions.
The
Seeds
of
Peace
internationally
recognized
program
model
begins
at
the
International
Camp
in
Maine
and
continues
through
follow-up
programming
at
the
Seeds
of
Peace
Center
for
Coexistence
in
Jerusalem,
international
youth
conferences,
regional
workshops,
educational
and
professional
opportunities,
and
an
adult
educator
program.
This
comprehensive
system
allows
participants
to
develop
empathy,
respect,
and
confidence
as
well
as
leadership,
communication
and
negotiation
skills
--
all
critical
components
that
will
facilitate
peaceful
coexistence
for
the
next
generation.
The
Middle
East
Program
Seeds
of
Peace
has
focused
primarily
on
bringing
Arab
and
Israeli
teenagers
together
before
fear,
mistrust
and
prejudice
blind
them
from
seeing
the
human
face
of
their
enemy.
Seeds
of
Peace
goes
beyond
international
agreements
and
treaties.
It
reverses
the
legacy
of
hatred
by
nurturing
lasting
friendships
that
become
the
basis
for
mutual
understanding
and
respect.
By
training
these
young
leaders
in
conflict
resolution
skills,
Seeds
of
Peace
helps
them
become
the
seeds
from
which
an
enduring
peace
will
grow.
Each
year
more
than
300
outstanding
Egyptian,
Israeli,
Jordanian,
Palestinian,
Moroccan,
Tunisian,
Qatari,
Yemeni
and
other
Middle
Eastern
teenagers
are
chosen
from
more
than
2,000
applicants
to
participate
in
the
program.
Selected
by
their
respective
governments
without
regard
to
economic
or
social
background,
and
based
solely
on
academic
performance
and
leadership
ability,
these
young
people
are
destined
to
become
tomorrow's
leaders.
Seeds
of
Peace:
An
International
Model
Due to its proven impact and success in the Middle East, Seeds of Peace has earned international recognition as an effective model for resolving conflict worldwide.
Due to its success, in 1998, Seeds of Peace started branching out to other conflict regions. Seeds of Peace now hosts a Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot delegation each summer as well as participants from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, the former Yugoslavia (including Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo) and Romania.
In 2001, Seeds of Peace began its South Asia program with Indian and Pakistani youth and in 2002, Seeds of Peace expanded welcoming an Afghan delegation to the Seeds of Peace International Camp. |
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