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Published on Seeds of Peace (http://www.seedsofpeace.org)

Education Program

Seeds of Peace Education Program

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NovConf1 The Education Program enhances the mission of Seeds of Peace by providing leadership training for its alumni through educational opportunities. 120 Seeds graduates currently study at 50 prestigious secondary schools, colleges and universities in the United States. These "Seeds Scholars" are making an extraordinary impact on their campus communities by creating dialogue groups, organizing cultural events, and participating in student government, athletic teams and campus clubs. Many of our Seeds are on the Dean's List or Honor Roll and have received distinguished awards including the Goldman Sachs Global Leaders Award, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and the Outstanding International Student Award. Equipped with both academic strength and a renewed confidence, these graduates will return to their home countries prepared to join the new generation of international leaders.

Global Leadership Initiative

It is the goal of Seeds of Peace to continue to offer its graduates opportunities to cultivate their leadership skills and engage in meaningful dialogue with their peers through a year-round program. Starting in 2002, Seeds of Peace has held annual conferences, seminars, and workshops for the Seeds Scholars currently studying in the United States. Emphasis is placed on team building, cross-cultural communication, and academic excellence in order to encourage their role as leaders both in their schools and in the global community. Global Leadership Initiative Highlights: The educational seminars serve to bring together Seeds, scattered at universities across the US, for intense discussion and analysis, and of course, social cohesion. Far from home, the group relies on each other as social and intellectual networks and resources a particularly compelling vision when once considers that the group is comprised of Israelis and Arabs, Indians and Pakistanis.

Art of Negotiation Seminar, 2004.

Over the course of three days, Seeds graduates enrolled at universities throughout the US participated in a program targeted at increasing their skills in areas of negotiation, mediation and facilitation. This seminar consisted of lectures on negotiation by Aaron Miller, President of Seeds of Peace and adviser to six secretaries of state on US policy on the Middle East and the peace process, as well as a day long conflict management group negotiation workshop.

Social Entrepreneurship Seminar, 2006

In February, 40 Israeli and Arab Seeds living in the US came together for a three day seminar in New York City on the topic of social entrepreneurship. The group heard from leaders approaching social entrepreneurship from a variety of fields and then met together to develop ideas and initiatives that suit their school and local communities.

Seeds Advisory Council & Graduate programming

In the Spring of 2004, the Education Program launched the Seeds Advisory Council made up of Seeds graduates currently studying in the United States. This select group is integrated into the decision making process of the organization and represents the voices of Seeds graduates to the staff. They are responsible for planning the activities of the Global Leadership Initiative in the United States and for spreading the message of Seeds of Peace to colleges and university campuses nationwide.

Summer Internship Program

Internships can be a critical tool for academic and professional development. In light of this, Seeds of Peace has announced the creation of an Internship Funding Program to help Seeds fulfill their ambitions. Three internship programs have taken place to date: The Washington Fellows, placing Seeds with Senators and Congressmen on Capitol Hill; the Daniel Pearl Media Internship Program, placing Seeds at the Center with various media organizations and this past summer’s Business internship program. This program provides our graduates with practical experience as well as preparing them for future employment in their home countries.

Seeds Scholars

Education Program Seeds of Peace is maximizing efforts to provide Seeds alumni with educational opportunities unavailable to them in their home countries. The Education Program assists deserving Seeds graduates in the secondary school, college and university application process and defrays their travel and associated costs when needed. Any college or university is enriched by a Seeds of Peace presence. Seeds of Peace works closely with many top colleges and universities in the United States to introduce them to the Seeds of Peace program and the Seeds applicant pool.

SEEDS SCHOLARS ATTEND

Arab Educators Program

Building school environments that encourage responsible citizenship in youth In 2005, Seeds of Peace launched a continuing education initiative for outstanding Arab Educators, the Arab Educators Program: Building School Environments that Encourage Responsible Citizenship in Youth. Funded by the US State Department- Middle East Partnership and Seeds of Peace, the seminars are designed to make available to participants lessons and methods that can be useful in creating school environments which encourage young people to communicate effectively, to think analytically, and to work respectfully and cooperatively with one another. Background: The concept of this seminar program derived from the work undertaken by enthusiastic Arab educators who, over the past thirteen years, have attended Seeds of Peace International Camp in Otisfield, Maine. In that camp setting, the mission of creating an egalitarian learning environment which encourages active citizenry has been tested amongst the adult educators who participate in the Delegation Leaders Program. Communication skills, critical thinking, problem solving, and negotiation training are basic to the creation of that vibrant camp community, and suggested themselves as important elements of any learning environment. Participants: The program participants are selected on the basis of their experience as seasoned educators, as well as their interest and openness to such concepts. The Jordanian Ministry of Education plays an active role in helping to identify appropriate participants. Participants come from Egyptian, Jordanian, and Palestinian middle schools and high schools and each school sends its principal as well as a member of the teaching staff. Once selected, participants offer program staff feedback on program design and content to ensure it will be relevant to their needs. Program Design: Each summer, a cohort of participating educators attends an intensive 10-day seminar in the United States, taught by experts in the field of education from the United States and the Middle East. During the seminar, participants explore five content areas through interactive workshop sessions: Communication Skills; Mediation and Negotiation; Discussion and Dialogue; Equity in the Classroom; and Critical Thinking. During the Seminar, participants design action plans to implement elements of the material in their schools, tailoring individual plans to each school’s unique challenges and strengths. Over the course of the following year participants implement their action plans, contribute to an email listserve, and access technical support from Seeds of Peace staff. The following summer, the same group attends a follow up seminar in the Middle East to share experiences in implementing their training in their schools, analyze problems encountered and lessons learned, and plan for strengthening their skills and expanding their newly acquired knowledge to other schools and communities. Program Impact: The program has had a successful two years. As a result of their participation in the seminar, 100% of educators stated their communication skills increased, 97% stated they had acquired critical thinking skills, 93% believe they have gained new insights to help colleagues implement new ideas into their curriculum, and 90% feel better qualified to teach conflict resolution skills to others. In the words of one of the participants, “In fact, the seminar had a lot of major effects that go with our needs. Really, it is something great to learn about [ways to create] a peaceful school. All of these things help us fulfill our goals to encourage our students to be involved with everything around them and to be more active and positive citizens.” Since training two cohorts of Arab Educators Program participants, the sixty educators have reached over 27,000 people in their communities through classroom instruction, afterschool clubs, training colleagues, and family outreach. For more information on Seeds of Peace- Seminars for Arab Educators, please contact Barbara Zasloff, Ph.D, barbara@seedsofpeace.org [1].
Source URL:
http://www.seedsofpeace.org/programs/education

Links:
[1] mailto:barbara@seedsofpeace.org