Lucy Ash (BBC): Hello this is Lucy Ash with Outlook from the BBC World Service. Today, why does a tranquil corner of New England need Middle East-style conflict resolution … Just over a decade ago, the state of Maine on the East Coast was labeled the whitest state in America. But in the last 12 years, refugees from dozens of countries have settled in the New England state. This change in the population has created tensions, as the so-called “New Mainers” try to … FULL STORY

VILMA FIRCE | “Treaties are negotiated by governments; peace is made by people” reads the mission statement of Seeds of Peace, a non-profit international organization that since 1993 has set the standard in international peace-building by providing exceptional young people and educators from regions of conflict with an otherwise impossible opportunity to meet their historic enemies face-to-face at its International Camp in Otisfield, Maine. This summer Andrew Singer, 15, of Toms River, was one of the 211 campers representing 8 … FULL STORY

CASCO | James Lepage is finding Casco to be just an “awesome” place to spend his summer. Working as a counselor at Seeds of Peace for the second year, the Cumberland native has enjoyed experiences that will last him a lifetime. “It’s awesome. The kids are incredible,” said Lepage, who will be a senior at Bates College in Lewiston this fall. “My older sister worked there and I had a chance to visit. I was blown away. At first, the … FULL STORY

Brennan meets with 35 artists from nine countries today at MECA PORTLAND | Today, City of Portland Mayor Michael Brennan will meet with educators and artists participating in Expressive Arts; Educational Action, a unique course offered by Seeds of Peace. The course, which runs from July 23 through August 7 at the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Otisfield, aims to connect and cultivate local and international peace-builders who believe in the power of the arts and the critical role … FULL STORY

Students at International Camp join 35 educators from conflict regions for summer’s second session OTISFIELD, MAINE | On July 24, a week after the departure of eight Middle East, South Asian, and American delegations, two new delegations—66 teenagers from Maine and 29 from Syracuse, New York—will arrive at the Seeds of Peace International Camp to engage in dialogue, build leadership skills, and tackle conflicts present in their communities. Joining them will be 35 educators from nine international regions of conflict … FULL STORY

The mission of Seeds Of Peace summer camp is simply summarized as, “Treaties are made by governments; peace is made by people”. The camp seeks to open the paths for communication, and eventual understanding, between the sides of conflicted regions. On an unassuming Sunday morning in July, a handful of Boston Demons and Lady Demons hit the road up to Maine for what can only be described as a once in a lifetime kind of day. A few weeks earlier, … FULL STORY

OTISFIELD, MAINE | The Arab Spring uprisings have brought a new sense of optimism to young people from troubled nations as they spend time at a special camp nestled in the hills of western Maine where they confront and resolve their differences. “It gives me the feeling that everything is possible and nothing is impossible,” said 17-year-old Lina, who witnessed the regime change in her home country of Egypt, on a sunny afternoon at the lakeside Seeds of Peace camp. … FULL STORY

The Seeds of Peace International Camp in Otisfield, Maine, opened on June 27 with a flag-raising ceremony to commemorate the 20th summer camp of planting the “seeds of peace” throughout the world. The camp was founded in 1993 by John Wallach, an award-winning author and journalist, to create a space where young people and educators from around the world, particularly regions of conflict, could meet face-to-face with their historic enemies, to build critical relationships and greater understanding. Seeds of Peace … FULL STORY

“This program gives me an opportunity to make friends from all over the world. Palestinians are supposed to be my enemy. Here they teach you to see each other as humans rather than just the face of a country,” said Tal, 17, of Israel. The articulate teenager was speaking of her two year experience at the well-respected Seeds of Peace, an international camp for teens in Otisfield. Tal was part of a large group of co-eds from the camp giving … FULL STORY