The first-ever delegation of Afghan youth will salute the flag of the new transitional Afghan government at the Seeds of Peace Flag Raising Ceremony on Wednesday, June 26.
OTISFIELD, MAINE | Israeli, Palestinian, Indian, Pakistani, and for the first time, Afghan youth will join Seeds of Peace as it opens its 10th season with a unifying flag-raising ceremony at the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Otisfield, Maine.
The flag-raising ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 26 at 9:00 am outside the main entrance of the camp facility in Otisfield, ME. During the ceremony, each delegation will sing their national anthem and the ceremony will conclude with the raising of the Seeds of Peace flag and singing of its anthem. After the ceremony and during the three weeks at camp, the only flag that flies is the Seeds of Peace flag symbolizing the hope of gradually becoming “one nation at peace.”
“This past year we have watched the suffering of the Israeli and Palestinian, Indian and Pakistani, and Afghan people as their countries struggle through war. Amazingly, at Seeds of Peace International Camp, all these countries will be represented during our first session and it is only at our camp where Israeli and Palestinian, and Indian and Pakistani are actually meeting, cooperating, and learning the skills to make peace with ‘the enemy’,” said John Wallach, President and Founder of Seeds of Peace. “We are also thrilled to welcome our first ever delegation of Afghan youth. These young teens will be a great addition to our growing alumni who are on their way to becoming tomorrow’s world leaders.”
Since 1993, Seeds of Peace has graduated more than 2,000 teenagers representing 22 nations from its internationally recognized conflict-resolution program. The Seeds of Peace program brings hundreds of youth identified by their governments as among the best and brightest to live together at three consecutive month-long summer programs. Through the summer-long programs, participants develop empathy, respect, communication/negotiation skills, confidence, and hope – the building blocks for peaceful coexistence. This first session of camp runs from June 24 through July 17 and culminates in a trip to Washington DC where campers will meet with US and international dignitaries at the Dirksen Senate House on July 16.
The Seeds of Peace International Camp is located at 183 Powhatan Road in Otisfield, Maine. For more information on the Seeds of Peace International Camp and its activities and events, or to schedule a visit to camp, please call Rebecca Hankin, Director of Media Relations at 212-573-8040 ext. 31.