Seeds of Peace empowers leaders of the next generation: 30 of them to meet this week
NEW YORK | From September 16-20, 2006, Seeds of Peace program graduates will convene to develop concrete strategies to strengthen channels of communication and cooperation between Arabs and Israelis and to increase the impact of these initiatives in their communities.
The Seeds of Peace Action Summit will bring together thirty Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, and Jordanian Seeds graduates whose involvement with Seeds of Peace stretches over a decade. The Seeds of Peace graduates now hold positions such as foreign policy adviser to President Abbas, senior advisor to Kofi Annan, assistant to a member of the Knesset, as well as senior posts at the World Bank, at the United Nations and in TV and radio broadcasting. The Action Summit participants will gather in New York to work towards a different future for themselves, their countries, and the Middle East at large.
The Action Summit, occurring immediately prior to the gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly and at the Clinton Global Initiative, will focus on being more effective advocates for peace, developing technology to facilitate cross-border cooperation, and interacting with key figures who can help them implement their initiatives.
“These oldest Seeds’ graduates are coming together with renewed urgency to ensure that the lessons they have learned through Seeds of Peace take root in their communities and lead ultimately to better understanding,” said Janet Wallach, president of Seeds of Peace. “Their efforts following the summit will provide an essential foundation for their continued development as the region’s future leaders.”
Seeds of Peace empowers leaders of the next generation. Since 1993, Seeds of Peace has graduated over 3,000 teenagers and young adults from several regions of conflict and has reached several thousand more in their communities through initiatives such as the Seeds of Peace Camp in Maine, numerous regional workshops, educational and professional courses, and adult educator programs, as well as the extensive Seeds network. Participants develop empathy, respect, and confidence, and gain critical leadership, negotiation and conflict resolution skills. Many are now in positions of influence such as foreign advisor to President Abbas, or assistant to a member of the Knesset, as well as senior posts at the World Bank, the United Nations and TV and radio broadcasting.
Founded by the late John Wallach, former Hearst correspondent and author, Seeds of Peace is internationally recognized for its unique model of long-term engagement with its participants, its official support by the government leadership of its participating delegations, and its ability to operate continuously to bring youth from regions of conflict together to empower them to become the next generation of leaders.