Americans have been involved with Seeds of Peace from its inception in 1993, taking part in the Middle East dialogue program at the Camp in Maine and remaining involved in programs at home and abroad.
This continues to this day, with Americans and youth from the United Kingdom participating in dialogue alongside their peers from the Middle East as well as South Asia.
In 2000, Seeds of Peace first adapted this internationally-recognized conflict transformation and youth leadership program to launch its first United States-focused initiative working with youth from Maine.
Over the past two years, with new waves of racism, xenophobia, interreligious tension, and fear of difference washing over the United States, we have expanded our dialogue and leadership development program with the goal of building more inclusive schools and communities across the country.
Our model begins at the Seeds of Peace Camp in Maine where we build a shared living environment of support and respect in which Seeds have the opportunity to form strong, authentic relationships; daily facilitated dialogue sessions that explore concepts of identity and analyze stereotypes and misperceptions; and group challenge activities designed for team-building, cooperation, and communication.
Seeds of Peace alumni join a community of over 7,000 changemakers around the world. Following Camp, they return home and actively translate their experiences back to their schools and communities. Seeds of Peace’s year-round local activities, run in partnership with schools and local community organizations, further equip Seeds through continued dialogue, changemaking projects, and workshops to engage their peers and teachers in education and outreach initiatives.
Through these programs, they continue to develop as leaders with the skills and relationships necessary to create positive change through community action and conflict transformation.
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“Seeds of Peace gave me the confidence to believe that I can do something for the world. Every one of us has the ability, but very few ever use it. I want to be one of those few.” — Jack (Maine)
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