OTISFIELD, MAINE | On June 22, 147 young Afghan, Egyptian, Indian, Israeli, Jordanian, Pakistani, Palestinian, and American leaders arrived in Otisfield, Maine, to participate in the 17th summer season of the Seeds of Peace Camp.
As they entered the front gate, the Seeds of Peace flag was raised to signal the beginning of their intense three-week-long leadership training and conflict resolution program. Inside the gate, a new common identity was born among diverse national and religious backgrounds. When they departed on July 13, they left as friends, empowered to lead their communities in the Middle East and South Asia toward the possibility of peaceful coexistence.
It was not an easy, quick or painless process. Campers described it as “intense”, “sobering” and “very worthwhile.” In dialogue sessions, early shouting gave way to an ability to listen to opposing viewpoints. Slowly and through hard work with each other and themselves, Israelis and Palestinians learned to communicate about divisive issues that shape their lives back home: borders, refugees, water, Jerusalem, and much more. For the first time in their young lives, instead of talking at their supposed enemies, they began to engage in conversations—however heated—with their friends.
Outside the dialogue sessions, Camp staff used sports, arts, entertainment and even religion to reinforce bonds of trust, respect and compassion. The Ropes Course forced young Indians and Pakistanis to rely on each other for balance—if one person falls off the rope, so does the other. Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Hindu religious services were open for all to observe, allowing all campers to gain a deeper appreciation for the unique differences as well as the commonality of all spiritual traditions.
During the final days of the session, campers passed the relay wand from hand to hand during Color Games. They worked as teams across nationalities and religions to produce original works of art, music, and dance, incorporating elements of each delegation’s unique background and culture. They admired the colorful traditional clothes of the Afghans and the rhythmic pounding of the tabla drum by the Jordanians. Campers watched the Indian delegation perform traditional dance steps at the talent show and were in awe when they reached out to the Pakistani delegation to join them onstage.
In the words of a Pakistani camper, Ghulam Zain, “Despite my will to stick to my views, I was compelled, not by any individual, not by the camp, but by the experience to look at the bigger picture. Seeds of Peace opened a new door in my life—and I personally feel like seeds of peace have been sown in my own personality.”
These young leaders have returned to the Middle East and South Asia. Seeds of Peace continues to support the next stage in their development as peacemakers through innovative programming and field offices around the world.
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