Seeds of Peace
- Does Seeds of Peace share information about its donors?
- Is Seeds of Peace a non-profit organization? Is my contribution tax-deductible?
- What will my contribution fund?
- Do you have any political or religious affiliations?
- How is Seeds of Peace funded?
- Do the governments in the conflict regions support Seeds of Peace?
- What countries participate in the program?
- What is the age of the youngsters who attend the Seeds of Peace Camp?
- Where in Maine is the Seeds of Peace Camp located?
- Do campers come back for more than one summer?
- Are bunks and activities organized by conflict region?
- What exactly are the dialogue sessions?
- What is a typical Camp day like?
- How are campers selected?
- What is the role of the American Delegation and how can I be a part of it?
- Who are the Delegation Leaders and what is their role?
- What happens once Camp ends?
- How can I work or volunteer for Seeds of Peace?
- I want to hold an event for Seeds of Peace. Where do I start?
- Does Seeds of Peace provide speakers for events?
- I want to make a donation to Seeds of Peace as a gift. Can I do this?
No, Seeds of Peace will never share/sell information related to its supporters. Seeds of Peace is committed to the privacy of its donors and subscribes to the Donor Bill of Rights.
Yes, Seeds of Peace is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization and your contribution is entirely tax-deductible. Click here to make an online contribution.
Your contribution will help support the work of Seeds of Peace. This includes bringing teenagers from regions of conflict to the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Maine. The cost of sending one Seed to our Camp is $6,000 (including transportation). Your contribution will also support activities and programs in the region which allow the Seeds to sustain the relationships they have established at Camp, to keep the spirit of Seeds of Peace alive in spite of the current situation on the ground, and to spread the experience to others in their communities.
No. Seeds of Peace is a non-political and secular organization and therefore does not represent any political or religious points of view.
Seeds of Peace is funded by individuals, foundations and corporations. Earmarked funds from the United States government and private sources also help support several Seeds of Peace programs.
Many participating governments strongly support our work. Seeds of Peace has received the endorsement and support of many world leaders, including US Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former US Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, former Israeli Prime Ministers Ehud Barak, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin, the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, His Late Majesty King Hussein and Queen Noor of Jordan, and His Majesty King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan.
Seeds of Peace neither solicits nor accepts financial support from participating governments.
Delegations from the Middle East include Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian and Egyptian. Seeds of Peace has expanded to include the South Asia conflict region and delegations from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. A US delegation also attends Camp, in addition to a Maine Seeds delegation.
Most of the kids are 14-16 years old.
Camp is in Otisfield, Maine, which is about a 45-minute drive from Portland.
Yes, many campers apply to come to the Camp again and Seeds of Peace makes a point of bringing back approximately 25 Seeds, representing all delegations, to each of the summer's two sessions. They then participate in a specially-designed leadership program and act as Peer Supports for the new Seeds.
Bunks and dialogue sessions are grouped by conflict region. For example, Israeli and Arab campers share a living space and participate in their dialogue sessions together. Similarly, campers from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan share a bunk. Most Camp activities are run according to a campers’ dialogue group and therefore are conflict-specific. Other Camp activities, like meals, encourage interaction between campers from all delegations.
Campers participate in dialogue sessions for 90-minutes every day. During dialogue, approximately 15 campers from different sides of the conflict meet with professional facilitators to delve into the hardest issues of the conflict honestly and openly and speak to each other directly, in the process challenging inherited stereotypes and prejudices with real stories and experiences. Trust and understanding is fostered through dialogue that encourages participants to empathize, communicate effectively, and demonstrate respect, regardless of differences of opinion. Seeds participate in most camp activities, including sports, with the same people from their dialogue group.
On a typical day, campers are active between 7:30 a.m. until lights-out at 10 p.m. A camper's schedule will usually include sports and creative activities, a dialogue session, meals, rest hour, a period of swimming, and an all-camp evening activity.
The selection process to become a Seeds of Peace camper is very competitive. Typically, applicants to Seeds of Peace apply through the school systems in their home country. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English and leadership skills, as well as motivation, based on interviews and written essays. Some of the first time campers are chosen by the ministries of education in their respective countries.
American delegates at Seeds of Peace have an incredible opportunity to learn about international conflicts and cultures first-hand from their Middle Eastern and South Asian peers. American youth are participants in the program in every sense, from bunk life to activities to daily dialogue sessions. American youth are encouraged to engage in all discussions and share their own views. They play an important role in creating an atmosphere conducive to trust-building and dialogue. To find out how to apply to be a member of the American Delegation, click here.
Each summer, adult delegation leaders are selected by fellow educators and officials in their own countries to accompany the youth to the Seeds of Peace International Camp. The delegation leaders take part in a challenging program, including facilitated dialogue sessions, that parallels the camp experience of the Seeds.
Camp plants the seeds from which will grow lifelong commitments to pursuing peace and dialogue. However, year-round programming after campers return to their communities around the world is critical for sustaining their relationships and ideals. During follow-up activities back home, Seeds participate in advanced dialogue sessions, school presentations, cross-cultural exchanges, workshops and seminars, and outreach events. They also produce their own magazine, The Olive Branch. The peace-building and learning processes begun at Camp are then able to continue and take root back in the region, where they are most needed.
Please see the employment section of our website for open positions in our New York, Tel-Aviv or Ramallah offices, or if you are interested in working at the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Maine.
We are also frequently looking for volunteers or interns. If you are interested in volunteering or interning for Seeds of Peace, please e-mail us at info@seedsofpeace.org.
To learn about the many ways you can help support Seeds of Peace, click here. In the past, people have held events like book readings, bake sales, dinner parties, dance parties, concerts or walk-a-thons to raise money for our programs.
If you are interested in raising awareness/funds in your local community for Seeds of Peace, please visit the following pages from our Get Involved section of our website: Presentation Toolkit, Volunteer, and Speaker Requests. You may also contact us at info@seedsofpeace.org.
Seeds of Peace receives numerous requests to have either a staff member or alumni of our programs (Seeds) speak at events. We are always delighted to work with you to understand your goals and the feasibility of sending a speaker at your event. However, due to limited resources, we cannot fulfill every request. When unable to have a representative speak in person, we would be happy to send you videos and other materials.
If you are interested in holding an event in your local community for Seeds of Peace, please fill out our Speaker Request Form, available here. The information you enter will help us assess the best opportunity for you and how we can assist you. You may also contact us at info@seedsofpeace.org. We will fax or e-mail you the form.
Yes, donations to Seeds of Peace are a wonderful idea either in memory of a loved one or to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or weddings. An acknowledgement card will be sent to the honoree in your name. To learn more about tribute gifts, click here.
"Seeds is making a difference—one day at a time, one person at a time, one mind at a time, one heart at a time. I am honored to be a part of your outstanding program."
