Seeds of Peace

Dialogue Academy launches online, with potential to reach the masses

Oct 20, 2022 / No Comments

Prior to this summer, the word “dialogue” meant quotes and movie scripts to Ibrahim and Soha. Seeds of Peace’s new virtual program, Dialogue Academy, changed that.

“Every time my mind was blown,” laughed Ibrahim, a 14-year-old student from India who participated in the program’s pilot phase this summer. Soha, a 16-year-old student from Pakistan, nodded along with him: “It didn’t actually feel like we were taking a class.”

Dialogue Academy is one of Seeds of Peace’s newest initiatives to foster compassionate and critical conversations across divides. Inspired by the separation caused by COVID-19, Qasim Aslam, a 2001 Pakistani Seed and Director of Pakistani Programs, said the online program was designed to further expand the impact of Seeds of Peace in a time of isolation: no need to obtain visas, no worrying about contracting or spreading COVID, no travel fees.

With Dialogue Academy, all that is required is a laptop and an internet connection.

“The program has the potential to ramp up our outreach to 100,000 students a year in about five years, if we have the right resources,” Qasim said.

With the support of a U.S. State Department grant, the Academy offered its first course, Essentials of Dialogue, on Zoom to approximately 70 Indian and Pakistani students over the summer.

The daily lessons varied, from learning about the power of groups of people through a video on mobs, to students taking an organizing role establishing school dress-code policy. Each activity worked to explore different perspectives, understand the importance of listening and dialogue, and learn their different types and applications.

“The most important thing is that everything starts with you,” Shweta Patole, the project’s director, said describing the program’s first steps. “The deeper you understand yourself, the better you’ll be able to understand everybody else.”

While the course gave students skills to begin immediately navigating conflict within their homes, schools, and communities, for many, it also provided their first opportunity to meet someone from the “other side.” Ibrahim was one of many Indian participants who had never met someone from Pakistan.

“But here diversity was a positive thing because we came to know about each other, they were informative, and we really connected to each other,” he said.

In a short amount of time, Shweta said that the course transformed from a class where students were shy to turn on their cameras, to a space where they could be vulnerable, listen with respect to the stories of their peers from across the border, and share their own as well.

“I learnt how important it is to respect others’ cultural beliefs and religion,” said Haleema Sadia, one of the participants. “They also taught me how to create safe spaces in the environment for other people to be comfortable around me.”

Future plans for Dialogue Academy include offering both live and self-paced options, as well as courses on mediation and facilitation. Focusing for now in India and Pakistan, the hope is to expand Dialogue Academy both within the two countries, and then, internationally.

“Imagine if this program is available to every school, to every student, regardless of whether Seeds of Peace is already on the ground in their community,” said Seeds of Peace Associate Director Renee Atkinson. “For some students, it will really spark something, and they’ll apply for more in-depth programs with a foundation for deeper and more meaningful conversations and action. And for others, at least they will have the tools to apply within their homes, schools, and communities. It’s a powerful thing to imagine.”

To be clear: The program is not designed to take the place of, or to be compared to, an in-depth dialogue experience like the Seeds of Peace Camp. But by eliminating physical and financial barriers to basics of the tried-and-true Seeds of Peace curriculum, it could drastically increase the number of young people equipped to navigate conflict—and to change its course across societies.

“What I realized is that, through dialogue, you can actually figure out and break down misunderstandings and conflicts instead of just acting upon your first thought,” Soha said. “I feel that if people were to learn to communicate through dialogue, we may have less violence in the world.”

Learn more about Dialogue Academy at thedialogue.academy.

Bob Toll (1940-2022)

Oct 9, 2022 / No Comments

On Friday, October 7, we joined a vast community in mourning the passing of Bob Toll, a luminary in the world of business and philanthropy, who, along with his wife, Jane, was one of Seeds of Peace’s most dedicated supporters and advocates.

Bob died peacefully following a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 81.

Bob’s roots at Seeds of Peace were planted in his boyhood, when he first arrived in Otisfield as a camper at Camp Powhatan. In the 1990s, the Toll family purchased the site, and John Wallach soon after approached Bob about turning the camp into Seeds of Peace’s home, recalls Janet Wallach.

“It didn’t take much to convince Bob that this was a good idea,” she said. “He knew that Seeds of Peace could change lives, even change the world.” (Read a tribute to Bob from Janet Wallach, below.)

Over the last three decades, Bob’s involvement with Seeds of Peace ranged from serving on the board of directors to teaching boating skills to campers, to organizing the annual Toll Brothers work days at Camp that brought hundreds of skilled builders and craftsmen to Otisfield to provide volunteer infrastructure support. He rarely missed an opportunity to bring others into the work of Seeds of Peace, sharing its mission with countless friends, employees, and business contacts.

“Seeds of Peace is one of the few organizations that will actually make a difference, not just in the Middle East and South Asia, but to the whole world that is impacted by their conflicts,” Bob once said. “If you can get a significant number of intelligent young adults to leave their environment, to bunk together, eat together, and go to conflict resolution sessions to discuss face-to-face their anger with their enemy, you have a tremendous opportunity to end the conflict.”
— Bob Toll

His commitment to giving young people the opportunities to grow into the leaders they were meant to be was evident in the ways in which he wove the organization’s mission into his personal relationships and business relationships—and in which he went above and beyond for Seeds.

Among them was Koby Sadan, who attended camp as part of the Israeli delegation in 1994 and ’95, and returned in 2002 as a counselor:

“I met Bob when I was a teenager, roughly 25 years ago. Having moved to the U.S. for college by myself with no resources, Bob and Jane (and their kids) embraced me in the US like family, with a big heart and genuine kindness.”

“I consider myself so lucky for the time I was able to share with Bob. Through him I was inspired to live life differently: His mind was questioning and sharp, but served with contagious humor; His heart was always open and accepting, but also clear in his values; He was serious when useful, but he knew how to have a tremendous amount of fun. He adored Jane and his family, and with them took care of so many others. I truly believe that if everyone could have someone like Bob as their role model, the world would be a much better place. I will miss Bob dearly.” — Koby Sadan (1994 Seed)

It’s impossible to measure Bob’s impact in providing opportunities for youth to create better futures for themselves and their communities.

And it’s impossible to imagine Seeds of Peace reaching the more than 8,000 young leaders around the world without that support.

Today, we join in honoring that legacy, and expressing our condolences to Jane, the Toll family, and Toll Brothers, the company that he and his brother Bruce founded and grew into a Fortune 500 company. Bob’s life was a blessing to those who seek equality and justice, and his memory will be as well.

Remembering Bob

by Janet Wallach

As people who watched him crush pretzels into his ice cream might have known, Bob Toll was born in Pennsylvania. But though he grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia, he planted his roots in Maine, more specifically at Pleasant Lake where he first attended, then worked as a counselor, at Camp Powhatan.

Later, Bob built an A-frame house close by on the lake and every day he spent there with his “honey,” Jane, and their five kids, was camp. He rose early, played tennis and golf, swam, went boating, and at the end of the day, sat on his dock and watched the sunset. Sometimes, he visited Powhatan where, thanks to scholarships from him, underprivileged youth from Philadelphia participated in the camp.

For the week or weekend he was there, he turned back to being a kid. Until, however, Sunday night approached, and the carefree camper became the penetrating corporate leader, poring over spreadsheets, analyzing reports, readying himself for the Monday morning meetings that showcased his talents as a national business tycoon.

In the 1990s when John Wallach saw Powhattan as a good fit for his new organization, Seeds of Peace, he approached Bob to finance the project. John explained his vision of a place where young Arabs and Israelis could come from a region of conflict and, by living together with their enemies for a few weeks in safe, neutral territory, learn to see each other as human beings, people just like them. “The enemy has a face,” John would say. The enemy might even turn out to be a friend.

It didn’t take much to convince Bob that this was a good idea. He knew that Seeds of Peace could change lives, even change the world. Over the years Bob raised millions of dollars, donated more, and brought Seeds of Peace into the awareness of people around the world.

John always knew that Bob was there for him. Now, as we remember Bob, he will be in my heart and the hearts of many others who knew that tough and tender, daunting and dear, sweet man who gave so much to the world.

Summer 2022 Program Update

Oct 6, 2022 / No Comments

We just wrapped an inspiring summer full of programs. Thanks to your support, over 600 young leaders came together from DC to Dubai to build community, engage in dialogue, and take action. We’re so proud of them—and excited to share highlights.

Summer of Impact: Convening 600 changemakers from Dubai to D.C.

Oct 6, 2022 / No Comments

Innovative, impactful, in-depth, and on a roll: this was one of the most far-reaching and action-packed summers in the history of the organization.

From Cincinnati to Cyprus, Maine to Morocco, we came roaring back with programs that brought together more than 600 young leaders across divides. As we enter the fall, these changemakers will begin to apply what they learned this summer in their relationships, schools, homes and workplaces. Below are some of the highlights of the summer.

GATHER Summit: Morocco (May 26-31)

In the serene desert of Marrakesh, some 50 people from around the world came together for workshops, personal and professional growth, and above all, community. This was the first GATHER event of its kind since before the pandemic began, and program organizers prioritized wellbeing—something often overlooked yet especially critical in the lonely and sometimes dangerous field of social change.

“At the Summit, we addressed that wellbeing isn’t just an activity you do once a day, it’s a lifestyle,” said GATHER International Director Pooja Pradeep.

Watch a video about the Summit ››

Seeds of Peace Camp, Session I: Maine (June 26-July 9)

The first of two sessions of Camp brought together youth from across the state of Maine. In daily Dialogue and Community Action sessions, youth developed a better understanding of themselves, one another, and how they can work together to make change in their own communities.

“I wanted to learn skills I need to impact change, and learn more about other people’s experiences,” said Ryan, a camper from Hampden, Maine. “And Camp has been a really great experience. I’ve gotten a chance to learn about how people live around the state, hear a lot of different voices from across Maine.”

Read an article about Camp ››

Kids4Peace Singing Camp: Jerusalem (July 3-7)

Music served as a cultural bridge at this weeklong camp, implemented by Kids4Peace and the Jerusalem Youth Chorus—which was founded by 2002 American Seed Micah Hendler—and supported by B8ofHope and the Jerusalem Foundation. Designed for youth ages 11-18, the program featured meaningful dialogue activities, singing, chorus, and songwriting workshops.

Each day also offered a chance to explore a different type of musical style and instruments, including from the Arabic oud and flute, African drumming, jazz, and even Aboriginal music from Australia. The camp culminated with a concert where participants performed the music they had leaned in Arabic, Hebrew, and English.

Watch a video about the camp ››

Global Institute: Washington, D.C. (July 13-27)

At one of the world’s biggest crossroads of power and influence, 42 Seeds ages 18-25 traveled from around the world to attend the first Seeds of Peace Global Institute, an advocacy and policy intensive in Washington, D.C. Hailing from India, Israel, Pakistan, Palestine, and the U.S., they each came with a keen interest in learning how to better effect change in their own communities.

Over the course of two weeks they lobbied lawmakers on Capitol Hill, met with journalists, exchanged ideas with leaders of think tanks and consulting groups, and discussed how to turn passions into policies with dignitaries like Amb. Katherine Tai, a member of the Biden cabinet.

Kitnay Duur, Kitnay Paas South Asia Film Initiative

Funded by the U.S. State Department, the project brought together 42 young and emerging filmmakers from India and Pakistan to use the latest technologies to promote a message of friendship and unity. Through COVID lockdowns, delays, and technical challenges, eight cross-border teams wrote, edited, and filmed eight short films entirely remotely.

In June, the films had simultaneous premiers in Karachi and Mumbai, and in July, the filmmakers finally had the chance to meet one another at a Seeds of Peace workshop in Dubai. (Above, participants with Haya Fatima Iqbal, a mentor on the project and Academy Award winner from Pakistan.)

The videos have collectively received over one million views on YouTube, and several have been selected for national and international film festivals.

Read more about the project ››

Core Leadership Program

The inaugural class of Core Leadership Program graduates included 178 youth from India, Pakistan, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and the U.S. Each of them took part in a leadership development program that met universal curriculum standards in dialogue, community-building and action, but the delivery method and specific activities were tailored to meet the needs of local youth.

Programs explored the deep divides within each society, around race, religion, and politics, and these newest Seeds learned the foundational skills they need to participate in our advanced global programs. These Core Leadership Programs occur on a rolling basis around the world. In early summer, for instance, the 2021 Palestinian and Jordanian participants graduated as Seeds, just as a new cohort of 2022 participants were beginning virtually in the U.S.

Read more about the program ››

Seeds of Peace Camp, Session II: Maine (July 17-August 3)

New delegations from Texas, Chicago, and Detroit joined youth from Washington, D.C., to Maine for the second session of Camp. For many youth, it was the first opportunity to truly engage with peers from different parts of the country, as well as from communities with socioeconomic and political standings that are vastly different from their own.

“Through dialogue I learned that you can never judge someone before you know them. It’s really important to learn about people and what they’ve gone through, because it’s so completely different from what you’ve gone through,” said Rebecca, a 2022 Seed from Baltimore. “I think that’s what this place is about—is learning from other people who are not like you and understanding that not everyone is going through the same things.”

Read profiles from Camp ››

Kids4Peace Interfaith Camp: Cincinnati (August 1-5)

Designed by youth (grades 9-12) for slightly younger youth (grades 5-8), this camp focused on skills like listening and teambuilding while chipping away at the walls that often stand between religious groups. Each day of the five-day camp gave participants the chance to visit a different center of worship—Bahá’í, Christian, Islamic, and Jewish—talk with their faith leaders, and develop a more intimate understanding of what it means to be a part of that community.

MEET in Cyprus (August 19-24)

Marking the first multinational, in-person seminar for youth since before the pandemic, this week-long program brought together 37 young leaders from the Middle East (Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Cyprus and Egypt). With twice-daily dialogue sessions, a special field trip to the UN Buffer Zone, group challenges, and teambuilding work, the weeklong program was designed to deepen their understanding of conflict, of one another, and of their responsibility—and ability—to change its course.

“In dialogue I started to understand what everyone is going through, what is right, what is wrong, and I better understand that what I go through on a daily basis isn’t right. I think now, I’m more passionate about this conflict,” said Adeem, a Palestinian Seed. “I have an urge to go home and educate other people I know who live through the same things, ya’ani, I have this urge to change the community, to make a difference—to be a changemaker.”

Read more about the program ››

Building solidarity: Multinational dialogue returns with 37 Middle East youth in Cyprus

Sep 27, 2022 / No Comments

At the end of a rigorous day of dialogue, group challenges, and activities, the scene at an August Seeds of Peace program looked something like a modern-day John Hughes film: Scattered across a central lawn, small groups were talking, dancing, taking selfies, and sharing TikTok videos—seemingly typical teenagers were doing typical teenager things.

Looks can be deceiving.

Below the surface, there was little typical about MEET in Cyprus, a multinational dialogue program for Middle Eastern youth.

“I’m still processing it all,” said Lara, and Egyptian Seed. “I anticipated it would be big for me, but I can’t explain just how much this has given me something that I didn’t know that I needed.”

With 37 participants from Israel, Jordan, and Palestine, Cyprus, and Egypt, MEET in Cyprus marked the first Seeds of Peace multinational youth dialogue program in more than two years.

With twice-daily dialogue sessions, a special field trip, group challenges, and teambuilding work, the weeklong program was designed to deepen their understanding of conflict, of one another, and of their responsibility—and ability—to change its course.

It had the markings of the most impactful Seeds of Peace programs, but in many ways, was an evolution of how the organization brings youth together. Primarily, it was designed and led by Middle East staff and Cypriot alumni with regional culture at the forefront and built upon a year’s worth of work in Core Leadership Programs.

“At Camp, the youth came in a clean slate, whereas these kids had already done many months of work building their skills with their local teams, so they’re coming in at a whole different level,” said Claire Dibsy Ayed, Seeds of Peace Chief of Legal and Business Affairs, Palestine, and a lead organizer of the Cyprus program.

In a tour of Nicosia led by Cypriot alumni, participants saw checkpoints along the Greek-Turkish border and ventured within the ghostly quiet UN Buffer Zone. Walking amid bullet-riddled, abandoned buildings, they learned about the conflict and visited the Home for Cooperation, which works to bring together Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

“It might not have hit them in the moment, but when they go home and see the things they talked about in Cyprus, and see similar versions of things they saw over there, that’s when it sinks in: It didn’t seem right over there, why is it okay over here?” said Jonathan Kabiri, Director of Israeli Programs.

Topics in dialogue sessions ranged from gender and human rights, to identifying with certain groups and national histories, to the impact of inherited memories, to challenging master narratives.

Outside dialogue, group challenges required them to practice what they were learning in dialogue—speaking from the “I,” working together, not making decisions for others, gaining consensus, to name a few.

Seeds like Adeem, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, described it as a supportive place to share their stories, to grow as leaders, and to better understand themselves and each other.

“At first I thought it was pointless, but I could see as dialogue went on that people started to understand me and the difficulties that I go through on a daily basis, and that it made other people understand my perspective I understood theirs,” she said. “I see how it could help us to have a more successful generation, and maybe not peace, but at least more understanding.”

By the end of the week, many said they were leaving with a feeling of relief: to have gotten things off their chest, to have heard from others who share their struggles, and to learn that there are those on the other side who want to make change.

“This was an opportunity to widen the lens of what the kids see—to understand that there’s more to the struggle than their own reality,” said Monica Baky, an Egyptian Seed and Multinational Dialogue Programs Director. “It’s not so much about making friends, but building solidarity, understanding the nuance of this work, and inspiring a desire to continue.”

In fact, in a post-survey, the vast majority of participants said they felt more inspired to work for change at home after the program. “There is much more to do, much more to speak about, and much more to hear and be heard, and I’m looking forward to more meetings like that,” said Yaniv, an Israeli Seed.

“I came here to meet Israelis—to tell them my story and what I go through at checkpoints and living as a Palestinian,” Christina said. “I know there are others at my school who would be interested in doing the same, so that’s what I want to do. Talk to them about these programs and help them find their voice.”

“I hope I can create a safe space around my community to continue having these conversations, and to talk about the many problems we face in our country,” Lara added. “Like I said, this is something I didn’t know I needed, but hearing from everyone here makes me feel that I’m not alone. That other people thought this was just as powerful as I did.”

178 Seeds complete Core Leadership Program

Sep 1, 2022 / No Comments

Change beings at home. And for many of the 2021 Seeds, there was no better place to begin.

“I felt like there was a big issue revolving around where I live my entire life, and I couldn’t just sit and do nothing,” said Amalia, a 2021 Israeli Seed. “I had to do something, I wanted to talk about it.”

Amalia was one of more than 300 youth who earned the title of “Seed” during the past year, and one of 178 who did so through joining the Core Leadership Program—intensive leadership trainings that debuted last fall, implementing proven Seeds of Peace methodologies with youth around the world.

While the programs are tailored to fit the needs of the local communities where they’re held, each requires at least 50 hours of participation and explores divides within societies (like race, religion, politics, and class) while giving participants the fundamentals of dialogue and taking action to create change.

“The essence—the core—of Seeds of Peace is an integrated experience of dialogue, community, leadership skill development, and action taking, and we learned we can teach that in a variety of shorter and scalable—but still deep and intensive—experiences,” said Seeds of Peace Executive Director Josh Thomas. “The divides within each of our national societies run deep, and there are more than enough issues of conflict and injustice around which to engage.”

With a common set of tools in hand, participants will now be better equipped to have meaningful, productive encounters across lines of difference as they progress to more advanced programs—as well as to begin making immediate change at home.

“Eventually, we are going to be the ones who will educate the next generation, so we have to start somewhere, we have to do something, and what I learned here is preparing me to do that,” said Amalia.

The 2022 Core Leadership Program launched in June with the virtual edition of the U.S. version. Program directors are learning from what worked well last year, and what could improve, with adjustments being made for elements like program duration and group size. At its heart, the programs will all still aim to empower youth to lead lasting change in their communities.

“Before the program, leadership meant just a lot of work and responsibility for me,” said Ibrahim, a 2021 Indian Seed. “But after going through CLP, the word ‘leader’ took on a whole new meaning. It had a huge impact on me.”

Fit for the movies: 42 Indo-Pak filmmakers create 8 short cross-border films

Aug 29, 2022 / No Comments

They came together across borders and often-unreliable internet service, through artistic differences, countless Zoom meetings, delays, and cancellations wrought by a global pandemic.

And in July, the 42 emerging filmmakers from India and Pakistan finally came together to celebrate the eight short films they had created as part of the first ever Kitnay Duur Kitnay Paas—an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Seeds of Peace.

“It was definitely one of the most beautiful moments of my life,” Haya Fatima Iqbal, one of the program’s three mentors, said of seeing the participants finally meet in person in Dubai for the film screenings, dialogue, and workshops.

The program was conceived by John Rhatigan, Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, with the goal of promoting peaceful connections between India and Pakistan by bringing together young visual storytellers to create short films.

“While the cultures of India and Pakistan are deeply connected, opportunities for people of both countries to interact can be limited,” Rhatigan said. “Programs like this one build greater connection and understanding.”

Beginning in October 2020, the call for emerging filmmakers ages 21-35 attracted hundreds of applicants with stories to tell. The final selected participants—21 from India and 21 from Pakistan—were brought together virtually for the first time in April 2021, where they were able to refine and build on their ideas, stories, and skills with the guidance of experienced filmmakers who served as mentors on the project: Haya Fatima Iqbal, an Academy-Award winning filmmaker from Pakistan; Sankalp Meshram, a five-time National Award-winning filmmaker and educator from India; and Marcus Goldbas, a 2007 American Seed, filmmaker, and educator at the University of Virginia.

The 42 participants were then divided into eight cross-border teams and tasked with pitching story ideas that had two primary criteria: They had to be filmed on both sides of the border and have themes of universal friendship between the two countries. The mentors selected one topic for each team, and over the next few months, the filmmakers finalized their stories and began to bring them to life.

The project’s name, which translates to “So Far, So Close,” in both Hindi and Urdu, captured the feeling described by many of the participants.

“I had never interacted with anybody from Pakistan, let alone for a creative project like this so that was also a very unique experience for us and just a huge learning curve,” said Akshaya, an Indian filmmaker whose team created “When Jay Met Ammar.”

Often drawing from their own lives and communities, the filmmakers created narratives and documentaries that take viewers across well-known and unexpected corners of India and Pakistan. Along the way, they often weave together the past and present, depicting aspects of people’s lives touched by the interconnectedness—and divisions—of the two countries.

They include films like “Nani,” in which a boy in Pakistan tries to help his grandmother fulfill her final wish by taking her to a Pakistani town that looks so identical to her childhood village in India that she is at last satisfied. And “Eik Tha Kabootar,” which explores fears surrounding the border through the true, and often humorous, story of a Pakistani pigeon keeper who names his birds after Bollywood stars.

They show two brothers split across the border; a Kakar Muslim man waiting for his Hindu neighbors to return; a family treasure divided by countries. They show the dreams of storytelling from small rural towns, and the reconnection of lost family and friends.

While the films explored diverse lives across the border as well as within India and Pakistan, at the same time, many of the characters find that they are more similar than different, more connected than they believed.

It was a lesson not lost on the filmmakers themselves.

“We need to support the people that are different from us, rather than constantly fighting, making everything a single kind of color, trying to make a nation a homogenous nation,” said Priya, one of the Indian filmmakers behind “Small Time Cinema.”

The film project is the latest in Seeds of Peace’s long history of working with and through art to connect people and create pathways to peace.

“The film project is exciting for many reasons, but most especially because it bridges proven people-to-people methodologies with powerful new technologies that have the ability to motivate and move the masses,” said Joshua Thomas, executive director of Seeds of Peace. “Here, participants were able to not only share their stories with people they may have otherwise never met, but to also create new stories that can reach hundreds of thousands of people, and that can open eyes to the past, and change minds about what the future can be.”

While the films don’t show the late nights, last-minute set changes, and creative problem solving of the teams, they serve as records of the collaboration, openness, and commitment of each of the filmmakers. Each team faced tremendous challenges, and in the end, created something better because of it.

“If left to themselves, people can find a way to interact with each other, to communicate with each other, and to like and love each other,” said Sankalp. “The success of KDKP shows that if you create such platforms where people can interact, if you let people talk to each other, if you bring people closer together, magic will happen.”

The films debuted June 22 with simultaneous screening events in India and Pakistan, and have since been viewed thousands of times each on YouTube and as part of film festivals and cultural screenings in South Asia. They are available to view on the Seeds of Peace YouTube channel through September 1, after which they will be available to view through film festival websites. Learn more about the participants and the project at kitnayduurkitnaypaas.com.

Cincinnati youth build bridges at 7th annual Kids4Peace interfaith camp

Aug 28, 2022 / No Comments

A group of students in Cincinnati is imagining a new future—one not defined by religion, race, or nationality, but by understanding and connection.

In August, Kids4Peace brought together 25 students for its seventh edition of Interfaith Camp, a five-day, youth-led program for students in grades six through 12. Here, high school youth leaders and middle school campers who hailed different faiths—or none at all—had the chance to visit different places of worship, grow as leaders, and connect with people who they might have never met otherwise.

“The goal is to bring together kids of different backgrounds to help them be friends, or at the least help them to listen to one another, seek understanding, and build empathy,” said Adam Hayden, Senior Coordinator of U.S. Programs for Kids4Peace. “We also hope to inspire the kids to want to get more involved in creating more peace in the world.”

It seems to be working. Part of what makes Interfaith Harmony Camp unique is who leads it: A team of passionate high school leaders who themselves participated in the same programs just five or six years earlier.

“I loved what they were doing because I myself felt so accepted, and I wanted other people to feel that way as well. I wanted to carry it on,” said Shahnaz, a 17-year-old youth leader.

Each day featured a visit to a different center of worship: the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, Adath Israel Congregation, Congregation Beth Adam, Knox Presbyterian Church, and Cincinnati Bahá’í Faith Center. In addition to speaking with religious leaders and learning firsthand about their values and practices, the program offered activities focused on building connections, teamwork and listening skills, as well as giving participants the space to share their own experiences, grow as leaders, and challenge themselves.

“I have to be able to work through the discomfort, confront myself and ask why I believed a stereotype in order to create change for my community,” said Jaffa, another of the camp’s youth leaders.

Kids4Peace, which merged with Seeds of Peace in 2020, opened its Cincinnati chapter in 2016, bringing middle-school aged youth together through interfaith programming like the Interfaith Camp. For many participants, the camp was their first opportunity to meaningfully interact with people of different faiths—to sit in their centers of worship, talk with their leaders, and develop a more intimate understanding of what it means to be a part of that community.

“There was a lot of divide that I saw before that I don’t really see anymore because I went through camp,” Shahnaz said. “It broke down certain religious and cultural divisions—I don’t know how to explain it in words, but you’re not separated by your religions anymore. You’re just all people.”

Beyond each new skill they gained, each broadened understanding, the participants have made new, real connections. On the last day of camp, they seemed to be savoring the final moments—for nearly two-and-a-half hours after the program had ended.

“Every single person was engaged voluntarily,” Adam said. “They were taking pictures, exchanging numbers, laughing, playing games…It felt like everyone wanted to be there because they wanted to be with each other, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Learn more about upcoming Kids4Peace Cincinnati programs and follow @kids4peacecincy on Instagram to keep up with the latest news.

Postcard Profile from Global Institute:
Kamal (2015 Palestinian Seed)

Jul 26, 2022 / No Comments

With just two weeks to make his moves, Kamal, a 2015 Palestinian Seed from Gaza, wasn’t about to miss an opportunity.

Always quick to ask a question, connect on LinkedIn, offer a resource, or to squeeze past crowds to meet a legislator, the 23-year-old entrepreneur and human rights advocate came to Global Institute—an advocacy and policy intensive for Seeds ages 18-25 that kicked off July 13 in Washington, D.C.—on a mission: build as many connections as possible.

From the 41 peers in the program, to Seeds of Peace staff, from legislative aides to legislators—anyone with a business card or a LinkedIn profile could one day bring him closer to his goals of building a more peaceful and equitable future for people in the Middle East, particularly Gaza.

“Knowing more people means wider network, means access to resources, means more impact can be done,” says Kamal.

Today, he lives and works in Saudi Arabia, where he opened a business that connects investors from areas of conflict in the Middle East as part of a goal to build bridges through economic integration. It’s work that’s not entirely unfamiliar—his father worked with Israelis for decades—but one that he said was very much affected by his decision to come to Seeds of Peace Camp in 2015, and especially by returning as a PS camper in 2016.

“Growing up in Gaza is like growing up in a prison. As a kid, I always watched movies and wondered what life could look like outside the Gaza Strip,” he says.

He heard about Seeds of Peace from a friend and saw an opportunity to see another part of the world.

“Suddenly, I was in the U.S. meeting people from different communities, people from the other side of the conflict for the first time in my life. And I was really shocked that they didn’t hate me all the time, that there were people who love me, who really wish a better future for me and other generations. It really, honestly, changed my life.”

He says his two years at Camp inspired his decision to major in human rights and law in college. There, he became involved in several organizations that advocate for human rights in Gaza, including founding the Federation of Law, a group for Gazan students that advocates for women’s rights.

After college, he moved to Saudi Arabia and opened his business as an avenue to make greater impact. He hopes to build an environment where people can see one another beyond the conflict—“to find a place where, at least, we could call it peaceful, in a way that could really affect other generations and their families.”

“When I speak about peacebuilding, that means economic enhancement, women empowerment, equal access to resources, basically, we’re trying to help the people in Gaza and West Bank live the life Israelis live in Israel. And having a better life means the country could be enhanced in the future and could be open to more prospects, but we need to start. We need to stop the drain that’s happening, the drain of land the drain of people, like, killings every single day, and we need to start to step forward towards peacebuilding. That’s what I want.”

He says his work and his views about peacebuilding are sometimes met with skepticism within his community, even within his family. But he’s not deterred. He’ll keep hustling. Keep having difficult conversations, making connections, and building bridges.

“I believe in peace. Without peace we cannot live. Just imagine living in a prison; would you live in a prison? Of course not. And that’s Gaza, that’s Israel. People in Israel, even if it’s a good country to live, they really don’t feel that it’s the healthy life they need. So they’re always threatened, it feels unstable, and it’s not a healthy environment to grow up in. So, my internal belief that I deserve a better life, and that my friends and community really deserve a better life—that’s why I work hard. It’s not only for me, it’s about my community.”

How far will one Seed go to educate Afghan’s youth? As far as it takes

Jul 20, 2022 / No Comments

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN | “At first, as the Taliban took over, I planned to leave at any cost,” said Zubair, a 2010 Afghan Seed, thinking back to the quick collapse of the Afghan government after the U.S. withdrawal last fall. “Then I thought, ‘If I leave and people like me leave, who will be here to serve our youth?’”

For most of his life, Zubair has dreamed of ensuring that all the children of Afghanistan have access to a quality education. It was an audacious hope given the limits posed by financial status, location, and gender. As the country’s future, and particularly the rights of women, grow murkier by the day, so do the chances of this hope ever becoming a reality. But some dreams—even those with significant risks—are worth holding on to.

“If we want to have change in Afghanistan, we have to educate this generation—it is the only way to combat extremism and bring peace and stability,” he said. “There are many great minds here and if we help them, they can contribute positive change to this country and to the world.”

At just 25, Zubair has already helped thousands of Afghan youth receive a quality education and continue their studies in college.

Inspired by his childhood experiences of being turned away from school when his family was unable to pay tuition, Zubair established an educational center in 2017 that offered classes and college test-prep for low or no cost to students in remote areas of the Nangarhar Province.

“We had around 70 boys in the beginning, most with extremist mindsets. We tried to teach them about new scientific inventions, share with them what was going on in the world, and tried to impart that it’s up to us all to become educated so we can make Afghanistan a better place,” he said. “They came in knowing nothing, and some of them actually went on to establish their own educational centers.”

He estimates that more than 10,000 students came through his center, but after a few years, he said threats from individuals claiming to be the Taliban and ISIS became too frequent, and too intense.

In 2020, he moved to Kabul and established Esmati Academy, where he offered free or low-cost education in math, sciences, literature, geography, and more to youth ages 14-20. Demand was so high, that even though he couldn’t afford chairs at one point, dozens of students still showed up for test prep, sitting outside on the ground.

Since the Taliban reclaimed control last fall, however, girls have not been allowed to attend in-person classes beyond the sixth grade. And while he does make online classes are available, the World Bank estimates that only about 13.5 percent of Afghans have Internet access, leaving the majority of students, especially girls in rural areas, with no options.

Undeterred, this spring Zubair applied for and received a $1,000 Seed Action Grant, a fund designated to help support Seeds of Peace alumni projects in need of emergency funds. His goal is to record lessons in each subject and grade level that will then be distributed on CDs and USB drives to students.

He also recently launched the Afghanistan Volunteer Teachers Movement, to which 400 university students applied to address a nationwide shortage of qualified teachers, and he is also distributing training videos to teachers in rural areas, many of whom are underqualified to teach their courses at international standards.

It’s an extremely laborious task, and one that could likely attract the ire of the Taliban, but with time and care, he thinks it is possible.
As he sees it, there really is no other choice.

“This is our country, and we have to fight for change,” he said. “I want every girl, every boy, to have access to education—not the kind that makes them extremists or robots. I want them to think for themselves, to have their dreams and go after them. I know it has risks but I want to do it.”