Seeds of Peace
- Is Seeds of Peace a non-profit organization? Is my contribution tax-deductible?
- What will my contribution fund?
- Do you have any political or religious affiliation?
- How is Seeds of Peace funded?
- Do the governments in the regions support Seeds of Peace?
- What countries participate in the program?
- What is the age of the youngsters who attend the Seeds of Peace camp?
- Where is the Seeds of Peace International Camp located?
- Do campers come back for more than one summer?
- Are bunks and activities organized by conflict region?
- What exactly are the dialogue sessions?
- What is a typical camp day like?
- How are the international campers selected?
- What is the role of the American Delegation and how can I be a part of it?
- Who are the Delegation Leaders and what is their role?
- What happens once camp ends?
- How can I work or volunteer for Seeds of Peace?
- I want to hold an event for Seeds of Peace, what can I do?
- Does Seeds of Peace provide speakers for events?
- I want to make a donation to Seeds of Peace as a gift. Can I do this?
Yes, Seeds of Peace is a 501-c-3, non-profit organization and your contribution is entirely tax-deductible. Click here to make an online contribution.
Your contribution will help support the work of Seeds of Peace. This includes bringing teenagers from regions of conflict to our International Camp in Maine. The cost of sending one camper to the Seeds of Peace International Camp is $5,000 (including transportation). Your contribution will also support countless activities and programs in the region which allow the Seeds to sustain the relationships they have established at camp, to keep the spirit of Seeds of Peace alive in spite of the local situation, and to spread the experience to others in their communities.
No. Seeds of Peace is a non-political and secular organization and therefore does not represent any political or religious points of view.
Seeds of Peace is funded by individuals, foundations and corporations. Earmarked funds from the United States government and private sources also help support several Seeds of Peace programs.
Many participating governments strongly support the work of Seeds of Peace. Seeds of Peace has received the endorsement of many world leaders, including President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell, President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, President Mahmoud Abbas, President Hosni Mubarak, the former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, His Late Majesty King Hussein and Queen Noor of Jordan, His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and former Prime Ministers Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin. Seeds of Peace neither solicits nor accepts financial support from the participating governments and relies entirely on private contributions to fund the program.
The main focus of Seeds of Peace is the Arab-Israeli conflict. Delegations from this region include Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians and Egyptians. Seeds of Peace has also expanded to include the South Asia region, which includes delegations from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. In addition, a US delegation is included, with youth from the inner-cities of Portland and Lewiston, Maine.
Most of the kids are 14-16 years old.
Camp is in Otisfield, Maine which is about a 45 minute drive from Portland—the nearest "big city."
Yes, many campers apply to come to the camp again and Seeds of Peace makes a point of bringing back approximately 25 teenagers, representing all delegations, to each session. They have a specially designed leadership program and act as Peer Supports for the new Seeds.
Bunks and dialogue sessions are grouped by conflict region. For example, Israeli and Arab campers share a living space and participate in their dialogue sessions together. Similarly, campers from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan share a bunk. Most camp activities are run according to a campers’ dialogue group and therefore are conflict-specific. Other camp activities, such as meals, encourage interaction between campers from all regions.
Campers participate in coexistence sessions for 90-minutes every day. During coexistence sessions, approximately 10 campers from different sides of the conflict meet with a professional facilitator to discuss their feelings and ideas about the conflict and speak to each other directly. Coexistence sessions (as well as the bunks) are intentionally conflict specific, so as to allow the kids to discuss the details in their respective regions.
This is a hard question to answer due to special activities such as taking the campers to a minor league baseball game or Color Games. With that said, on a typical day, campers are active between 7:30am until lights out at 10pm. A typical day includes sports and creative activities, dialogue, meals, rest hour and a whole-camp evening activity.
The selection process to become a Seeds of Peace camper is very competitive. Typically, applicants to Seeds of Peace apply through the school systems in their home country. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English and leadership skills, as well as motivation, based on a written essay. Most of the first year campers are chosen by the Ministries of Education in their respective countries.
American delegates at Seeds of Peace have an incredible opportunity to learn about international conflicts and cultures first-hand, by living with and participating alongside their peers from the Middle East, South Asia and throughout the United States. American youth are participants in the program in every sense, from bunk life to activities to daily dialogue sessions. American youth are encouraged to engage in all discussions and share their own views on such issues. They play an important role in creating an atmosphere conducive to trust-building and dialogue. Click here to find out how to apply to be a member of the American Delegation.
Each summer, adult delegation leaders are selected by educators and officials in their own countries to accompany the youth to the Seeds of Peace International Camp. Officials in their nation's ministries or educators, the delegation leaders take part in a challenging program that parallels the coexistence work of the teens. Click here to learn more about the Delegation Leadership program.
Camp plants the seeds from which will grow lifelong commitments to pursuing peace and dialogue. However, year-round programming after campers return to the region is critical for sustaining their relationships and ideals. During follow-up regional activities in the regions, Seeds participate in continued programs with their leaders, advanced dialogue sessions, school presentations, cross-cultural exchanges, workshops and seminars, outreach events, and they also produce their own magazine entitled The Olive Branch. The peace-building and learning processes begun at camp are then able to continue and take root back in the region, where they are most needed.
Please check out the employment section of our website for current available positions in either our New York, Washington DC, Tel Aviv or Ramallah office or if you are interested in working at the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Maine. We are also frequently looking for volunteers or interns. If you are interested in volunteering or interning for Seeds of Peace, please email us at info@seedsofpeace.org.
There are many ways you can help support Seeds of Peace one of which is through holding your own fundraising event in your local community. In the past, people have held events such as book readings, bake sales, dinner parties, dance parties, concerts or walk-a-thons to raise money for our programs. If you are interested in fundraising in your local community for Seeds of Peace, please fill out the “request for support” form on our website at www.seedsofpeace.org, on the “get involved” page. The information you enter will help us assess the best opportunity for you and how we can assist you. You may also contact us at info@seedsofpeace.org. We will fax or email you the form.
Seeds of Peace receives numerous requests to have either a staff member or alumni of our programs speak at local events. We are always delighted to work with you to understand your goals and the feasibility of sending a speaker at your event. However, due to limited resources, we have to select the events we are able to send a speaker to. But we may be able to have a speaker on the phone or send you a documentary or materials. If you are interested in holding an event in your local community for Seeds of Peace, please fill out the “request for support” form on our website at www.seedsofpeace.org, on the “get involved” page. The information you enter will help us assess the best opportunity for you and how we can assist you. You may also contact us at info@seedsofpeace.org. We will fax or email you the form.
Yes, donations to Seeds of Peace are a wonderful idea either in memory of a loved one or to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or weddings. A beautiful acknowledgement card will be sent to the honoree in your name. You may visit the “contribute” section of the Seeds of Peace website. Click here to make an online donation.