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

DUBLIN | ALIA LAHLOU This July, approximately 60 Seeds from the Middle East, South Asia, and the United States are coming together in Ireland to learn about past approaches to international conflicts, with an emphasis on peace-building processes between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland. While focusing on the people, events, and ideas that lead to a “game-change” in situations of conflict and war, delegates at the week-long international conference consider practical ways to apply the lessons they are learning … 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

WASHINGTON, D.C. | Thirty-two returning Peer Support campers visited Washington, D.C., to share their stories and learn about international peace-building efforts. On July 9, United States Institute of Peace (USIP) Executive Vice President Linda Jamison welcomed the Seeds from the Middle East, South Asia, and the United States and spoke about the importance of youth involvement in peace-building. Jeff Helsing, dean of curriculum at the Institute’s Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding, and others spoke about USIP’s work at … FULL STORY