In 2001, Seeds of Peace launched an unprecedented coexistence program for Indian and Pakistani youth. Since then, close to 80 Indian and Pakistani teenagers have graduated from the program, with another 24 coming to camp this summer. Regularly facilitated discussions, speaker series, workshops and homestays are part of their ongoing coexistence work.
Since the wrenching partition of India in 1947, Pakistan and India have teetered on the edge of war several times. With nuclear arsenals ready and troops skirmishing regularly over Kashmir - India and Pakistan are engaged in a dangerous struggle of catastrophic proportion.
Intent on opening new channels of diplomacy and cooperation between India and Pakistan, the US Department of State first approached Seeds of Peace in 1999 to explore the feasibility of a program designed for South Asian youth.
After conducting extensive meetings with government officials and educators in India and Pakistan, Seeds of Peace launched a pilot program for Indian and Pakistani teenagers from Mumbai and Lahore in 2001. This pilot is continuing to grow in numbers, reaching out to communities on both sides of the border.
Summer Program
For Indian and Pakistani teenagers, Seeds of Peace International Camp in Maine is the only place in the world where the enemy has a name. Back home, they simply refer to one another as “the enemy” or with a disparaging term.
When they meet for the first time, they eye each other warily, and to their surprise, soon discover that they cannot differentiate a Pakistani from an Indian by appearance alone. This is the first of many discoveries that begin to erode the stereotypes and prejudices that have built a wall between the two peoples.
In India and Pakistan, the Seeds of Peace program operates with tacit governmental support. In lieu of direct governmental involvement, a committee of educators, community leaders and consular representatives administer the essay contest and interviews that form the basis of the selection process. The committees make sure to select youth from various economic and religious backgrounds-Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Christians and Parsis have been represented.
Coexistence sessions led by Indian, Pakistani and American facilitators challenge the youth to open the wounds of history and delve into the religious, political and territorial battles that have sown so much mistrust and bloodshed. Over the course of the three-week coexistence program, insults, tears and rage are gradually replaced by words of compassion, understanding and sincere attempts at reconciliation.
Year-Round Program
Because of the great geographic distance separating Indian and Pakistani Seeds, regional activities rely in part on technology to bridge the divide. IPnet, a designated list-serve, fosters daily dialogue on serious issues like the nuclear arms race, terrorism, elections and leadership. School presentations, a speaker series in both countries, meetings with local officials and press keep Seeds and their message of coexistence in the public eye. In addition, workshops that teach Seeds the skills necessary to engage their peers and communities, help them in their efforts at outreach. To supplement these various projects, Seeds of Peace organizes cross border visits that give the teens a chance to experience each other’s culture and family life first-hand. International conferences and leadership programs sponsored by Seeds of Peace are another important vehicle for sustaining their interaction.ram.