Staff Reflections
Monica Baky, Lead Co-Facilitator
Facilitating dialogue at the South Asia Regional Camp has been a profound and transformative journey for me so far. Especially because I am co-creating and co-facilitating the curriculum with Monica Baky who is our Director for Dialogue and Training. Each dialogue session has felt a proper amalgamation of planning, structure and flowing in the moment, creating space for emergence, allowing us to respond authentically to the unfolding moments.
It was interesting to see that the participants from India and Pakistan carried with them the subconscious generational biases, stereotypes, and misinformation. We have been staggering each dialogue session, peeling the different layers of misunderstanding, revealing both the pain of division and the possibility of connection. Some moments were challenging—participants often leaned into comfort zones, avoiding conflict by presenting themselves as friends and that everything is in harmony. And as a facilitator, I challenged this narrative and invited them to delve deeper. With reflection, exploration, and honest questioning, the space began to shift.
Watching these young leaders grapple with their truths, challenge their beliefs, and lean into their stretch zone has been deeply moving for me. It reinforced my belief that dialogue isn’t about fixing or coming to consensus but its about creating a space where vulnerability, courage and understanding can emerge.
As they return back to societies which are polarized by different narratives, I hope these tools of empathetic listening, responding and not reacting, taking a pause, turning judgements into curiosity—become their anchors. As I firmly believe that ‘Dialogue’ is a lifelong journey of BEING and BECOMING and I feel grateful to have witnessed the beginnings of theirs.
Monica also serves as Seeds of Peace’s International Director of Dialogue and Egyptian Country Director.
Sagar Gangurde, Lead Co-facilitator
At the Regional Leadership Camp, bringing together youth from India and Pakistan, I was reminded again of the transformative potential of dialogue. Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of leading dialogue and facilitation teams in multinational programs, and each experience has deepened my understanding of how conflict shows up differently across contexts. In South Asia, where conflict is deeply tied to history, identity, and religion, being in the room together—sharing stories, fears, and hopes—feels both pivotal and necessary.
What stands out is that, no matter where I’ve facilitated, conflict carries the same weight of fear and misunderstanding. Yet, what also holds true everywhere is that dialogue works. Putting a face to the “other,” experiencing shared humanity, and seeing the potential for connection in the midst of division – these are moments that ripple far beyond the room.
In a time when youth are deeply connected to global issues—climate change, inequality, and injustice—their ability to engage with one another in dialogue is vital. These conversations are not just about local conflicts; they are about shaping a generation that understands the interconnectedness of our world. What starts as dialogue in South Asia echoes across borders, reminding us all that building empathy and inclusive societies is work that belongs to everyone. It’s a privilege and an honor to witness and contribute to this ripple effect.
Sagar also serves as Seeds of Peace’s Indian Country Director.
Jonathan Hefetz, Head Counselor
We operate in a multicultural, multi-identity, multilingual, gender-diverse, and multinational environment. Each of us carries within ourselves so many different identities, and in a world where such spaces struggle to exist, Seeds of Peace repeatedly succeeds in creating an accepting, inclusive, and functional space.
The values that guide us—acceptance of others and tolerance—are the foundations upon which its activities are built, whether at the camp in Maine or RLC (the Regional Leadership Camp) in Sri Lanka.
I am so humbled to be present in this space.
The unique and almost incomprehensible opportunity to connect with members of our global community in Southeast Asia not only reassures me that what we are doing is right but also serves as an invaluable learning process to strengthen the organization’s values.
I lack the words—or the time—to adequately describe the immense amount of knowledge, stories, and diverse cultures I’ve encountered in recent days. The personal conversations with our team members, the stories of the campers, and the experiences so far have further reinforced the principle we strive to uphold—a principle that sometimes feels forgotten in today’s world: we are all human beings, and even if we are physically different, we are far more alike than the world would have us believe.
A few of our campers wrote years ago: “We reject what is when we know what can be.”
The thing about this statement, which may sound far-fetched to an outsider, is that it is the truest and most accurate reflection of what I feel when I step into a Seeds of Peace space.
Education and dialogue are the most powerful tools I have encountered in my years on this earth in the fight against the forces of hatred and division. They are not only the path to fostering understanding among human beings but also the most nonviolent means I know to challenge the painful and harsh reality that surrounds us.
Because, in the end, I am Israeli, French, Palestinian, Indian, Pakistani, Egyptian, Jordanian, American, and Sri Lankan.
I am Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu.
I speak Urdu, Hebrew, Arabic, English, Hindi, and French.
I am a human being.
I am a Seed.
Jonathan also serves as Israeli Country Director for Seeds of Peace.
Daily Camp Reports
Sri Lankan dancers performing the Kandayan dance welcome 2025 Regional Leadership Camp participants.
To the Emerald Island! | January 2
Thousands of Seeds of Peace Camp alumni around the world testify to the experience being not just transformative but life-changing. As the need to reach more youths from India and Pakistan surfaced, the first edition of the Regional Leadership Camp (RLC) was launched in 2024.
“This is our intention on scaling our work in the remote and diverse regions and communities that we operate in, demonstrating the need and impact of our methods/ models,” said Qasim Aslam, country director, Pakistan, and camp director for RLC this year.
The regional leadership camp is designed to give South Asian participants a Seeds of Peace experience, but in a shorter span of 10 days, in a more proximate location, and with a focus on the complicated geopolitics and history of the two nations. In 2024, RLC took place in Thailand, but it was Sri Lanka calling in 2025!
Sri Lanka makes for a perfect setting for the second edition of the Regional Leadership Camp and 37 campers—18 from India and 19 from Pakistan—arrived on the Emerald Isle on January 2. Flying in from Mumbai, Karachi and Lahore, the campers joined the eclectic RLC staff from Pakistan, India, Israel, Palestine, the United States, and Sri Lanka.
Though tired from their journeys, the campers were energized with the cheerful Seeds of Peace “tunnel welcome” by all staff. This was followed by a formal welcome note by Qasim, some ceremonial lamp-lighting by campers, a taste of some amazing Sri Lankan hospitality in the form of delicious cuisine and a spirited performance of the traditional Kandyan dance.
In the words of Monica Baky, our International Director of Dialogue, it was a “very warm indigenous welcome for our campers coming from India and Pakistan to Sri Lanka! It was quite powerful and significant … a true ‘land acknowledgment in action.”
As the drummers and dancers jumped and swayed, and glided and played, and sang the words “bera patha,” meaning ‘blessings to all,’ it strengthened our resolve to do what we have gathered here to do: to make the world a better place.
Campers & Staff, Giant Squirrels & Komodo Dragons! | January 3
The campers were all roomed with a cross-border counterpart, well-rested, and ready for action. Against the beautiful backdrop of the lake upon which the hotel is built, Day 1 kicked off with a rooftop line-up.
The lineup is the first necessary ritual of every camp day, where the plans and expectations of the day are set but more importantly, the whole community comes together. Camp director, Qasim Aslam set the tone for camp by narrating some of his most memorable experiences from back when he was a Pakistani Seed over 20 years ago. Jonathan Hefetz, lead counselor then led the rest of the lineup with staff introductions, after which the campers headed to breakfast.
An opening session by Ariba Choudhary, the community care counselor at camp, ensured that all campers knew about consent and boundaries, and that they could reach out to her in case of any mental health or emotional well-being support.
As the day unfolded, Monica Baky, International Director of Dialogue for Seeds of Peace, accompanied by Sagar Gangurde, Country Director India and lead co-facilitator, Hana Tariq, and Mustafa Zariwala led the foundational dialogue sessions.
Meanwhile counselors Uswa, Anushah, Yash, Preeti, Laurel, Ahmed, Zahid and Kumail took turns organizing and leading sessions on space orientation, name card-making activity, and special activity sign-ups. As the beautiful property was being explored, some people spotted a grizzled giant squirrel, and even a Komodo Dragon! Admiring these beautiful creatures from a respectful distance served as a reminder of the privilege we all have of being on this lovely island nation and sharing this time and space with the other living beings on it.
On account of it being Friday, a Jumma service was also held at the premises, so Muslim campers may gather to pray. Religious services such as these are a hallmark of all Seeds of Peace camps, and it is ensured that there is a service for representatives of all faiths at Camp.
Field time and dinner were followed by ‘Bunk Night,’ which is a great bonding ritual for campers. It is a time to come together, share snacks and stories, and make friends for life. Seeds of Peace continues to shine a light on the importance of harmonious co-existence, whether it is with people from other nations, cultures, religions or indeed, creatures from other species.
Dialogue in Motion | January 4
With all the campers having settled in and acclimatized, it was time to level things up at the second edition of the Regional Leadership Camp! Day Two was chock-a-block with dialogue sessions, sports, special activities, and group challenge (GC), each designed to encourage campers to not only go deeper into their own selves, but also interpersonal connections. Indeed, at Seeds of Peace, we call our group challenges ‘Dialogue(s) in motion’.
The day started with the morning lineup, where each bunk energetically presented their chosen bunk names and chants to the community. Then it was time for breakfast and field time, during which campers were encouraged to play team sports like volleyball and football. With some gentle coaching and a lot of encouragement from their group mates, even first-time players were seen joyfully smashing and kicking the balls around in the play areas.
The spirit of sport carried over to lunch where some groups were seen having some percussion fun with the rhythmic beating of tables. This playful music-making was inspired by table counselors, who help maintain discipline but also inspire fun for each table group. Table groups are one kind of camper combination—the other two being bunk groups and dialogue groups. These different groups ensure that each camper gets to interact with as many participants at camp as possible.
After lunch, it was time for the counselors to bring their expertise to ‘GC Land,’ and present tasks and challenges to campers that push them to get out of their comfort zones and learn to collaborate with people very unlike themselves. The ‘flip-the-tarp’ challenge, for instance, requires great trust, adaptability, creativity and the formation of a hive mind. To think and act as one is no mean feat, but our campers are able to do it with even their eyes closed!
After lunch and rest hour, campers proceeded to three different kinds of special activities including improv theatre, origami, and Dabke—the Palestinian dance form. Over the next three days, campers will get deeper into these activities, acquiring foundational knowledge of these very special art forms.
The day ended with dinner and a fun evening activity, which had campers joyously lip-syncing and enacting popular ads. At Seeds of Peace, we use the language of love to create cross-cultural bonds, but sometimes, jingles are also fair game.
Sweetest, Softest, Mostest | January 5
70 frog jumps.
40 push-ups.
28 seconds of balancing a bottle on one’s head.
15 feet of a paper plane flight.
It was only Day 3 of camp, but these amazing feats of strength, endurance, balance, and skill were already on display by the Indian and Pakistani campers! Such prowess was the high point of the day, which ended in a group activity called ‘Mostest,’ and it was a pleasure to see the campers bring their best.
The day started with the usual morning line-up, and we already saw campers stepping up and into the spotlight. One camper chose to sing a song, while three others joined the counselors in presenting the WAM. WAM is the Weather Appreciation Moment, a brief but fun way of sharing weather updates for the day. It’s lovely to see all campers swaying and singing along our signature jingle “Here comes the WAM, here comes the WAM, we’re jamming with the WAM in the morning!”
Staff shared announcements, cricket updates, and a bunk inspection scores. Cleanliness and respect for the space and courtesy to the community are values that we hold dear at Seeds of Peace, and creating a slightly competitive system for cleanup inspires our campers to keep their rooms organized. Each day, two bunk inspectors check the campers’ rooms and rate them on clean floors, organized dressers, made beds, switches turned off, and general aesthetics. Scores are announced each day at evening line-up. At the end of camp, the cleanest bunk is given a special privilege as its reward.
Breakfast was followed by the first swimming session for girls, while the boys were engaged in art activities at a separate area. This gender-segregated arrangement is alternated between female and male-identifying campers for their privacy and comfort. Dialogue and special activities took place next, followed by a Group Challenge activity called ‘Minefield,’ punctuated by a scrumptious lunch.
In dialogue and through each of these activities, we see a slow but sure emergence of the sweetest and softest sides of our campers as inhibitions slowly begin to melt away.
After the evening line-up and dinner, campers got to speak with their families, and judging by the campers’ smiles and the appreciative notes of parents afterwards, the 2025 Regional Leadership Camp is moving beautifully towards success.
Delighting in our own ‘Sangha’ | January 6
One of the amazing things about a Seeds of Peace camp is a brilliantly colorful tapestry of cultures that one gets to experience and learn from. You could be learning Dabke, a spirited and celebratory Palestinian group dance form that includes vigorous footwork and moving around in circular formations, arm-in-arm one morning, and partaking in a Buddhist meditation ritual later that afternoon. At the Regional Leadership Camp 2025 unfolding in Sri Lanka, our days look very much like this.
Ahmad, one of our young Palestinian counselors who now lives in the US, has been teaching Dabke. Over three days, this dance form has not only acquainted our young participants with some Palestinian history and culture but also taught them the importance of learning, syncing, and being together in joyful communion.
When the group presented their dance piece at the evening line-up today, there were loud claps of appreciation and congratulation. Where else would you be able to see this wondrous mix of people dancing and cheering together? You would also not see Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Indians, Pakistanis, and Sri Lankans coming together in a Buddhist ritual of worship, some in veneration, some in observation.
Two Sri Lankan Buddhist members of the resort staff were kind enough to hold a small Buddhist service for the benefit of the RLC delegation this afternoon.
As they led the prayers starting with the words “Namo tassa bhagavato arahato, sammāsaṃbuddhassa …”, we were reminded of the three jewels of Buddhism, especially the third jewel. They are Buddha (the Buddha himself), Dhamma (the Buddhist faith), and Sangha (the Buddhist community).
While in the Buddhist context, Sangha points to the followers of the faith, the term refers to ‘community’ in general. The reason Buddhism spread and flourished in Sri Lanka and other parts of the world was because they were and are invested in the formation and growth of the community.
Community is also at the centre of what we do at Seeds of Peace, and there are myriad ways in which we foster and nourish it. At the RLC too, there is a palpable emergence of community, although it is just Day 4. With the gentle guidance of facilitators and role-modeling from counsellors, we see the formation of a Sangha—one that is likely to turn into bonds for life.
The day offers many scenarios and opportunities to make better behavioral choices—whether during the group swim of the boys or the art activity of the girls, whether at the group challenge of Helium Rings or the Scavenger Hunt evening activity, or even in quieter moments of rest or relaxation—and to our delight, we see the Seeds of Peace Sangha standing up for and supporting each other.
Of Ganesh Pujas, Cricket Pitches, and Meditative Paintings! | January 7
We are at exactly the mid-point of the 2025 Regional Leadership Camp and can feel the crescendo coming, as it must in any story or journey.
The day began with the morning lineup and breakfast as usual, but the range of things that occurred throughout the day was rather unusual, if we may say so ourselves! We even had a team of professional filmmakers join us, to capture these unique moments, as activities and emotions grow in intensity.
In addition to the daily dialogue, sports, and arts sessions, there were a host of new group challenges, special activities, a Hindu prayer service, and a movie screening to end the night. The Lighthouse group challenge taught groups of campers the importance of trust and vulnerability whereas the improv theatre activity did so at a more individual level. As their hearts open in these safe spaces, so does their curiosity, and their ability to hold truths that may be different from theirs.
As a number of young Muslims campers from Pakistan walked into the Hindu service with respect and curiosity, it was a testament to this openness to learning. The service went on for almost 30 minutes, in which the facilitator—a Hindu member of staff—spoke about some of the key elements of Hinduism, its pantheon of gods, its scriptures, and rituals and demonstrated a small Ganesha aarti. The staff member took care to explain the meaning behind each chant, symbol, and object that was used in the ritual.
Later, in dialogue, some of these Muslim campers shared how pleasantly surprised they were to see Hinduism in action, and how it was contrary to many of the ideas they had about Hindus and their practices. Other important themes like politics, army, religion, and nationhood were also raised in Dialogue and churned many profound reflections.
This profundity carried over to one of the special activities called ‘Beyond the Lines: Stories and Doodles Unleashed.’ In the first half of this session, campers learnt the art of Mandala-making, and in the second half, they interpreted their mandalas in the form of some very interesting stories.
However, it wasn’t an all work, no play day, as the campers had great amounts of fun in the other special activities like cricket and Bollywood dancing. Once the campers saw some pizza appear on the dinner menu and were told that the animated Disney-Pixar film Brave would be screened, their teenage exuberance reverberated through the resort.
A Seeds of Peace program holds space for a gamut of human experiences and emotions. It is where the journey of going inward takes place alongside the joyous exploration of independence. Dealing with this inner-outer churn is necessary but not easy. This deep awareness of the worlds inside and outside, is not something many want or can hold.
So, we know that by choosing to be at this camp, these youth are making a brave choice. As Princess Merida aptly says in the film, “Our fate lives within us, you only have to be brave enough to see it.”
Of Indo-Pak dialogues but also a whole lot of dancing! | January 8
Remember we spoke of reaching crescendos yesterday? If the mood in the dialogue groups in the day and the enthusiastic performances in the evening were anything to go by, we’re peaking!
We’re at a point in the dialogue journey with our campers, where some of the touchiest topics, such as Independence, Partition, War, and Terrorism are laid out on the table. Though this is a generation fairly removed from the trauma of such experiences, the memory of these wounds is seared in the collective South Asian consciousness. These, combined with present-day issues like discrimination against minorities and certain genders, the economic class divide, and narratives of Otherness, make for lively dialogue. The hallmark of these sessions is that our campers are able to engage with contrary and difficult ideas with patience, empathy, and respect.
But a thing of even greater beauty is the coming together after. Whatever discomforts arise in the dialogue room melt away just as quickly, as campers unite for something we all look forward to the most: Cultural Night! Following the Seeds of Peace Camp tradition, campers at the Regional Leadership Camp 2025 too are asked to dress for one evening in traditional outfits and where possible, share some traditional food. It is an opportunity to witness, appreciate, and engage with cultures other than one’s own. Campers are dressed to the nines, and the atmosphere becomes celebratory.
Post dinner, there is a talent show, where campers present their talents to the community and today, we were served an impressive range, including a solo song, a rap performance, a group song, several group dances, and a small skit. In true Seeds of Peace style, we had a Palestinian dancing to ‘Radha on the Dancefloor’, a Hindu Indian accompanying two Muslim Pakistanis on a Qawwali performance, a Cha-Cha-Cha performance by two Americans (and joined by almost half the RLC delegation!), a Bengali song penned by Rabindranath Tagore on the one hand, and some brilliant rap singing-songwriting by our very own camper!
Even as we marveled at these talents, our incredible group of counsellors sprung the next surprise, which was an announcement of the … *drumroll* COLOR GAAAAAAMMMMMEESSS!!! Jonathan Hefetz, the lead counselor, shared with the excited campers that RLC would have its own day-long color games tomorrow. The Color Games are a highlight of Seeds of Peace camps, where all campers are divided into Blue and Green Teams and some very competitive games are played. The victor at the end is the team with the most points, but that really isn’t the point. A deeper lesson awaits them. But tonight, the campers were assigned to green and blue teams, the coaches were announced, and some prep time given before the night ended. When they wake up tomorrow, they will be ready to be a part of something they’ll never forget. And we can’t wait!
Painting the Camp Green and Blue | January 9
If you picked a Seed (a Seeds of Peace alumnus) from anywhere in the world and asked them to list some of their favorite memories, chances are Color Games would be at the top. Nothing can beat the Color Games experience in energy and excitement, and everyone—campers and staff alike—is immersed in it mind, body, and soul!
Day 7 at the 2025 Regional Leadership Camp was dedicated to a day-long version of Color Games, which had campers, coaches, referees, and commissioners running all around the property in full vigor. Even the warm and humid Sri Lankan weather conditions could not dampen our enthusiasm as we started with the activities at 8 a.m.
A tug-of-war marked the symbolic beginning of Color Games, where Teams Green and Blue were pitted against each other. The josh in the teams’ voices and the resolve in their eyes set the tone for the day, which turned out to be rather joshila (full of fervor). After a quick breakfast, campers played badminton and volleyball, painted, and put on an amazing variety show. The variety show had the blue and green teams performing a comedy sketch, an a capella song, spoken word, group song and group dance. One camper’s accurate impersonation of Jonathan Hefetz, our lead counselor, had us all teary-eyed with laughter. Every performance was worthy of amazement and applause since the teams and their coaches had less than two hours to prepare so many acts.
The morning block of activities was followed by lunch and then it was time for the most hotly anticipated portion of Color Games! ‘Message to Hajime’ is the name for a relay race at Seeds of Peace, in which campers must perform dozens of tasks that require different kinds of skills. With the help of coaches, each team decides which of their players will perform which task. The RLC ’25 Hajime had a whopping 70 tasks ranging from braiding hair to solving an algebraic equation, from playing some notes on the ukulele to drawing blindfolded, from making a human pyramid to memorizing and reciting a long paragraph. In two electrifying hours, the Hajime relay unfolded with much running, cheering, falling, failing, rising, and racing again!
If this energy of the campers could be compared to anything, it would have to be with the zest of the counselor teams, whose impossible speed, imagination, and efficiency make it all possible. But more than achieving this incredible logistical feat, it was in the campers’ conduct that the counselors’ magic shone the brightest. Despite the pressure of performing, our campers could go through the process gracefully and joyfully.
The greatest moment of joy, however, is reserved for when the commissioners announce the winners, and this year, it was earned by Team Green. True to the Seeds of Peace Color Games tradition, the winners got to jump in the pool first, and seconds later, they were joined by Team Blue.
Past the competition and after just one tiny moment of privilege, the teams were reunited again as one community. In the pool, everyone joined hands in a circle and sang the Seeds of Peace song. It affirmed that beyond blues and green, and nationalities and religions, and genders and class, only one identity matters here—that we are all seeds of peace.
On Jumma, with love | January 10
After the intensity of Color Games, one would expect things to be mellow, but at a Seeds of Peace camp, it is what energizes us the most! Perhaps it is knowing that camp is coming to an end drives us more.
The last days at camp are the most emotional ones, and the 2025 Regional Leadership Camp is no exception. Even though the day’s activities were standard—including morning line-up, breakfast, arts and sports (we swam today!), Dialogue sessions, Group Challenge, Special Activity, Evening Lineup, Dinner, and Evening Activity—the texture of interpersonal relationships was visibly different.
Color Games is magical in its ability to stir intense competition, but also create strong, genuine friendships. What residual conflicts there may be, on account of the Green/Blue sentiments are explored and resolved in the Dialogue Groups by our expert facilitators. Themes of inherited and chosen identities, power, privilege and gender are used to deepen campers’ understanding of group dynamics and life beyond wins and losses. The capacity for solidarity that begins to build is a gift that our campers carry into life.
How else would one explain the beautiful curiosity and respect with which non-Muslim campers attended the Jumma namaaz (Friday prayers) today? As with the Buddhist and Hindu services, a Muslim prayer service was organized at camp for the faithful to congregate and pray, and for the others to observe and participate, if they so wished. In the 30-minute duration, as a Muslim staff member led the service and read out passages from the Quran extolling the Islamic values of peace and justice, there was silence and reverence from those who prayed and those who wanted to understand and appreciate.
Appreciation was the underlying sentiment of the day, as campers went about the day’s activities. Love flowed freely at all times, whether at the morning line-up when a camper recited a poem, at the evening line-up when one special activity group performed their bhangra dance and a camper performed a mono act, during the spontaneous ‘dance party’ that took place during unstructured time, and then during the game of Gaga post dinner. Gaga is like a game of dodgeball (but gentler and safer), where the last person standing is the winner.
In quieter moments, campers were seen making bead bracelets that they often give each other as gifts. The appreciation envelopes in the dialogue rooms seemed to be getting fuller faster, and we do not hesitate to assume that the notes in these envelopes, the beads in their hands, and the cheers in their throats indicate the fullness of their hearts.
Out with a bang! | January 11
The 2025 Seeds of Peace Regional Leadership Camp was too good to be true—until it wasn’t! We did end on a fantastic note, but the last day at the Centauria Lake Resort in Embilipitiya wasn’t without its challenges, because when we say we went out with a bang, it was quite literally so!
As the day began with the morning lineup and breakfast, campers had puzzled looks on their faces and there were anxious murmurs among the staff and leadership as we watched a stage being erected right in the middle of the compound of the resort. The extent of the problem dawned upon us as some sound checks began, and we realized that a full-blown, day-long concert was going to take place!
With loud music blaring through professional speakers, it would be terribly difficult if not impossible to hold the concluding—and most important—dialogue sessions for the campers. The last dialogue session is where emotions run the highest, all learnings are consolidated and processed, and hence need the most sensitive handling.
The organizing team quickly swung into action and rescheduled the dialogue sessions so that they could take place after the end of the concert at 5:30 p.m. Other activities and agendas for the day were moved around and carried out against the background of some really loud emceeing, live pop music performances, and a huge crowd of people dancing and moving around through the resort.
We managed to get through lunch, photo sessions, t-shirt signings, post-program surveys, a staff meeting, thank you messages, and lots of hugs amidst the pandemonium. We also managed to take small breaks in between to appreciate this slice of contemporary Sri Lankan culture that we were unexpectedly privy to.
As the concert ended and the audience left, campers could finally go into the three dialogue groups and finish their journeys of inquiry and empathy that they embarked on at the beginning of camp. These sessions were followed by dinner, the last line-up (that inspired many smiles, cheers and tears), saying goodbyes, and the awarding of completion certificates.
The Pakistani delegation will leave at the crack of dawn tomorrow, and the Indian delegation will follow soon after. The South Asian delegation will head back to either side of a political border, but we know that they will leave with their hearts as one.