Seeds of Peace

To launch its first series of events, Seeds of Peace UK, headed by Michelle Mercer and her active steering committee, invited two graduate Seeds and Seeds of Peace new Executive Director Leslie Lewin for a weekend packed full of events to promote the mission of Seeds of Peace in London.

Between January 14 and 18, Palestinian Kareem Uri and Israeli Sahar Warshavsky gave a radio interview on BBC World Service, spoke to students at the Southbank International School in London as well as at Eton College, held a discussion session with members of the London interfaith community and were guest speakers at a Seeds of Peace evening reception.

Kareem Uri was born and raised in the Palestinian city of Ramallah. He attended the Ramallah Friends School, a Quaker school in the city. In 2005 he joined Seeds of Peace as a first time camper and then returned as a peer support in 2006, and visited yet again in 2007. Since his initial participation in 2005, Kareem has been part of various other organisations that promote reconciliation and non-violent conflict resolution, such as People to People, Palestinian Coalition for Peace, and Peace it Together. He has also been an avid contributor and leader in the Seeds of Peace regional programme. Kareem is now pursuing a joint degree in Economics and Middle Eastern Public Policy at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Sahar Warshavsky is 17 years old and has been involved with Seeds of Peace for three years, after having attended the Seeds of Peace Camp in the summer of 2007. Sahar was born in Beersheba to Russian immigrant parents and has a younger brother. He is currently a senior at Kfar Silver, an agricultural boarding school, where he has served as student council president for two years. He is also a basketball coach to 10 to 12-year-olds. Sahar has been an active member of Seeds of Peace regional programming, most recently attending a four-day seminar with Palestinian Seeds held in late 2009.

Leslie, Kareem and Sahar were warmly welcomed. Their presentations were inspiring and made a great impact on their different audiences. Below are snippets of their eventful weekend in London.

›› Friday: BBC Radio World Service Interview
›› Friday: Southbank International School Panel
›› Saturday: West London Synagogue Panel
›› Saturday: Cocktail Reception at Chene Residence 
›› Sunday: Eton College Presentation