Otisfield again hosts kids from war-torn nations; they’ve come from halfway around the world for a little Maine sunshine—and some peace.
BY GAIL ROSSI | OTISFIELD A sea of green T-shirts and hopeful young faces from the war-torn countries of the Middle East have come together again for a sixth season of planting seeds of peace for a new generation.
During Thursday’s flag-raising ceremony at the Seeds of Peace International Camp, 110 teenagers from Israel, Palestine, Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt and the United States sang their national anthems as each country’s flag was hoisted aloft. Another group of 40 Greek and Turkish Cypriot children from the divided island of Cyprus were due to arrive to join the group for the season’s initial July 1-16 program.
Then, as the teens walked inside the gate, camp founder John Wallach told them, “The only flag that flies inside this gate is the Seeds of Peace flag.” The teens were joined by camp counselors, staff and delegation leaders from the countries who are escorting the teens during their trip.
Earlier, Wallach said the governments of the Arab countries represented at the camp had frozen relations with Israel, causing a serious deterioration in the peace process since 1993, when a historic peace agreement among Middle Eastern leaders was signed on the White House lawn.
“The situation is more dire today than it was six years ago,” he told a group of reporters. Because Seeds of Peace does not rely on government support but on private donations and grants, “we are literally the only place in the world where Arabs from all of these countries and Israelis are together.”
To the teens, Wallach had strong words to say about the adults in their country, and why they have come to Maine. “We must send a strong message that you demand peace and your governments should stop wasting time, stop dehumanizing the process and get to the hard work so that you and your children can have a better future,” he said. Several young campers spoke about their hopes for their time together, which will be spent in recreation activities and conflict-resolution training sessions.
“We’re here to learn more about the problems you are facing,” said U.S. camper Emily Ratner. “By learning how cool all of you are, it inspires us to try to help you in any way we can, because we want peace as much as you do.”
Sarper Ince, A Turkish Cypriot speaking on behalf of the campers to arrive later, agreed that inspiration is what they are looking for. “We want to see how the willingness of the young people can make a big difference in finding ways to take the peace in our hearts and make it a reality,” he said.
Jerry Smith, the camp’s chief counselor, urged the campers to “take every day here like a jewel and hold it, because every day here is a precious day.”
The 150 campers from the first session will be followed by a session of 150 Middle Eastern campers from July 19 to August 10, marking the first time the camp has been able to hold two sessions in one summer. Another first will take place when the second-session campers wrap up their time together by visiting each others’ countries in the Middle East.
A special Maine Day will be held at the camp on July 23, which will be attended by Gov. Angus King.