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95 Maine, Syracuse teens to tackle intercommunal tensions via dialogue

Jul 23, 2012 / 3 Comments

Students at Seeds of Peace Camp join 35 educators from conflict regions for summer’s second session

OTISFIELD, MAINE | On July 24, a week after the departure of eight Middle East, South Asian, and American delegations, two new delegations—66 teenagers from Maine and 29 from Syracuse, New York—will arrive at the Seeds of Peace Camp to engage in dialogue, build leadership skills, and tackle conflicts present in their communities.

Joining them will be 35 educators from nine international regions of conflict who are taking part in the Camp’s second annual Educators Program summer course.

Seeds of Peace adapted its internationally recognized conflict resolution and youth leadership program in 2000 to focus on tensions in Maine between the state’s growing refugee and asylum-seeker populations and their neighbors.

This summer marks the 13th year of Maine Seeds programming at Camp, with students attending from 12 schools across the state.

Seeds of Peace’s Syracuse Program, started in 2011, is generously supported by Say Yes to Education with additional assistance from InterFaith Works. Like cities in Maine, Syracuse experiences challenges within its school system due to tensions between American-born populations and communities from Somalia, Sudan, Vietnam, Iraq, Thailand, and other countries.

The Syracuse dialogue program at Camp will focus primarily on four topics: stereotypes and assumptions, white privilege, institutionalized racism, and the role of allies.

For both delegations, this two-week session at the Camp is only a beginning; year-round local programs will enable them to continue developing strong relationships as well as the skills needed to engage others in their schools and communities in the effort to promote understanding. The new campers can preview these opportunities at Camp as 18 Maine and Syracuse Seeds return for a second summer to engage in an intensive week-long advanced dialogue facilitation program.

The Expressive Arts; Educational Action Educators Course runs parallel to the Maine and Syracuse programs. It aims to connect and cultivate peace-builders from various nations who believe in the power of the arts and the critical role they play in creating a more peaceful future. The course will culminate August 5 when participants give a multimedia community concert at Portland Stage Company alongside local performers.

Graduates of the course will join a growing global network of Seeds of Peace Educators committed to the values of respect, cross-cultural understanding, civic engagement, leadership and the peaceful transformation of conflict. The formal and informal educators in this network continue to share professional and personal insights while serving as a resource for others in their own communities.

Say Yes to Education, Inc. is a national non-profit foundation dedicated to valuing and realizing the promise and extraordinary potential of economically disadvantaged youth and families; it is committed to dramatically increasing high school and college graduation rates for urban youth in the United States.

After Camp, Say Yes as well as InterFaith Works will continue their partnerships with Seeds of Peace in order to create initiatives reducing tension and violence within Syracuse schools.

Mideast teens plant Seeds of Peace
CNN

Aug 14, 2001 / No Comments

Seeds of Peace is a nonprofit, U.S.-based international organization that promotes understanding and coexistence among teenagers from regions of conflict.

Participants are encouraged to learn about each others’ cultures and religions in a neutral surrounding, in hopes they can overcome obstacles they have grown up with.

Although Seeds of Peace hosts programs throughout the year, the main focus is a summer camp set in the woods of Maine, where the teenagers are encouraged to participate in various activities geared towards promoting coexistence. The program sponsors a Middle East delegation which includes Jewish and Arab teenagers from Israel and the Palestinian territories. There are also programs that sponsor young people from India, Pakistan, Greece, Turkey, the Balkans, and other regions of conflict.

The summer program concludes with a trip to Washington, D.C., where participants meet with members of the U.S. government as well as their own ambassadors to the United States.

Two Seeds of Peace participants joined CNN to discuss their upcoming visit with Secretary of State Colin Powell, and talk about their experiences in the program. Both Dodi Shulman, from Israel and Jamal Obu Zant, from the West Bank, are 16 years old.

CNN: What will you ask Secretary of State Colin Powell?

Shulman: I’ll ask him what he thinks about the situation and what they are going to do about it. Stuff like that. It’s very interesting for us.

CNN: What is interesting about it?

Shulman: I will ask him things like why did (the violence) happen? And what can the U.S. do to prevent the escalation?

CNN: What about you, Jamal?

Obu Zant: I would like to ask him about the issues of Israel using artillery and ammunition that are internationally illegal, for example nerve gas and radioactive ammunition bullets, etc. … being used against innocent people in Palestine. At the same time I would like to ask him about the veto that America had in the U.N. conference about sending the international inspection inquiry to the region to inspect how the violence started. I would like to know why the U.S. government did that and why Mr. Powell did that.

CNN: These are heavy topics for kids your age to have. Did the two of you meet before you got to Washington or did you know each other before you came here?

Shulman: We met in the previous session, Seeds of Peace 2000, and at the coexistence session. We had sports activities (together).

CNN: Has this opportunity to be together changed the way you see each other and the way you see this conflict that you happen to have back at home?

Obu Zant: Well, we learn to appreciate each other for just being who we are and having the opinion that each one of us has. Even if we have different opinions about something, we disagree with a lot of things but still we are able to understand each other and where that point of view came from. We come to an understanding a lot of times.

Shulman: Seeds of Peace has taught us that even if we disagree on things, we can still understand each others opinions and point of view. And through those perspectives we can help each other and support each other.

CNN: Being together in this program and actually having the chance to talk to each other as human beings, you now cannot imagine throwing rocks at each other?

Obu Zant: Of course not.

CNN: When you are here in the United States and watching media coverage of what is happening back in your homeland, what do you think of it when you are watching it on television?

Shulman: After the bombing in Jerusalem, a lot of the Israelis panicked because we had some people that live in Jerusalem, so we called home to see what was going on. And some of the parents reacted like, ‘Oh it’s just a bombing, everything is okay.’ And we were so stressed out. It’s very amusing.

Obu Zant: And at the same time … when a bombing happens in Tel Aviv, Netanya, or Jerusalem, I get worried about the friends that I met through Seeds of Peace that live in those areas, and I call them up to see if they are okay, and if their families and friends are okay. If a bombing happens in the city where I live, Tulkarem, my Israeli friends will call me up to see if I’m okay and express how they don’t agree with the way Israel retaliates and the way they use their weapons against people, and sometimes make mistakes … it just brings us together sometimes.

CNN: Has being in another country and being able to sit and talk and watch it from a distance, has that been able to change your minds about things?

Shulman: We can absorb things, observe what’s happening, and why they’re happening … and what we can do to stop that … how can we help each other, support each other, while these things are happening.

CNN: I’m sure there are many people that wish that you can successfully take that message back to your homes and your homelands. Thank you for your time and good luck talking to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Obu Zant: Thank you very much.

Shulman: Thank you very much.

Read the interview at CNN »

India Seed Ventures Face-to-Face project connects students to the “other side”

Mar 8, 2012 / 2 Comments

Cross-border Aamney-Samney initiative tackles India, Pakistan stereotypes

BY JEHAN (INDIAN SEED, 2008) | MUMBAI Before Indian Seeds arrive at the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Maine, many of them wonder, “What does a Pakistani look like? What does a Pakistani sound like? What does a Pakistani think?” Not knowing the answer to little questions such as these allow stereotypes to form based on what we hear from the media and politicians.

The main goal of this Seed Ventures project was to change that—to get as many people as possible from both sides of the India-Pakistan border to have reality-based answers to these questions. We wanted them to have a face to project in their minds when they read, spoke, or heard about the “other side.” I therefore developed the Aamney-Samney (“Face-to-Face” in Hindi and Urdu) project.

The vision for Aamney-Samney was to connect students from both Pakistan and India across the border using the current technology available to the students: Skype, blogs, and phones.

The Bombay International School and Lahore Grammar School formed a partnership in which four students from each school, led by Seeds and a teacher from each school, met regularly over the course of several Skype and blog sessions to both share commonalities and differences between the two nation’s cultures.

The first step in the cross-border communication involved setting up a private blog, allowing the two groups of students to tell each other about themselves, their beliefs, and their life goals.

Like what takes place at the Seeds of Peace Camp when we begin talking to “the other side,” their similarities surfaced, and the students were able to use those to build friendships and then even celebrate their differences. Some bonded over food, some over photography, some over motor racing accidents and some over the Twilight novel and film series. It was as if the first week of Camp was unfolding before us on our computer screens!

From there, the students began connecting over Skype. They first held an ice-breaker session which allowed them to learn more about the students from across their respective border.

Follow-up Skype sessions were more task-oriented as we formed four cross-border teams, each consisting of one Indian and one Pakistani student. Based on the theory that “the differences between India and Pakistan are blown out of proportion,” each group covered a specific piece of the cultures in order to compare and contrast the two cultures. The topics included food, language, clothing, and beliefs.

Each team corresponded with each other over the course of a month as they researched and shared about their topic as they worked toward the project’s end, a group presentation.

After a month of sharing research and information, the students met to present their findings to others through a video Skype call held at their respective schools. Over 50 guests were in attendance to hear their presentations.

The first group came up front and gave a little introduction of their topic, what people generally think of “the other side,” before presenting their video in which they interviewed family and friends about the misconceptions about the other:

The second group presented on the topic of language and showed a video they created which challenged others to decipher the differences between Hindi and Urdu. In one part of the video, the group leaders told a joke in Hindi/Urdu and asked the interviewees which language they believed the joke to be in. As expected, everyone in Pakistan said Urdu and everyone in India said Hindi. This showed that the spoken languages are extremely similar, so if an Indian speaks in Hindi a Pakistani who speaks Urdu would understand and vice versa.

The third group created a slideshow about the cuisines of the two cultures. They ended their presentation by sharing a popular dish from the other’s country to those guests in attendance. Those in India enjoyed some homemade biryani, while those in Pakistan enjoyed some vada-pav.

The fourth group covered the topic of clothing by presenting a series of images and interviews with a diverse group of people from different backgrounds.

The audience at the presentation went home with more information about the country across the border and enjoyed all of the presentations. The project participants also gained much from the experience:

“I enjoyed making new friends, learning about the similarities between India and Pakistan and how these similarities can bring us together.”
— Miraj, Pakistani student

“It was amazing to see how well an Indian and a Pakistani could just talk to each other and co-operate without any hesitation, almost like they had known each other for years.”
— Karan, 2011 Indian Seed

“Brilliantly organized! More initiatives like this must be taken at a larger scale to make the world know what Seeds of Peace is all about. Glad to be a part of it. A step towards world peace!”
— Imran Ismailjee, Teacher, Bombay International School

“A family like us yearns for the fruits of this project. We have our own family on the other side of the border. The protocol of the two nations makes the distance longer. At Karachi, unknown shopkeepers, doctors and new friends received us with the warmest hospitality—eager to know about our country and wishing to be here! My sincere invitation to all those students who would strengthen ties between the two nations, through this project. This project seems to be making our inner wish a reality!”
— Laila, parent of participant

“I think it was an amazing experience. Everyone I got to know is amazing in his or her own way. This project helped me overcome the anti-Indian sentiments I had previously had.”
— Mahnoor, Pakistani student

If just by realizing similarities and valuing differences through a small project, a strong bond could be formed, then why can’t our governments do the same?

This project instilled a sense of peace and mutual respect for each other.

Having a friend from across the border is not very common, but when one is made, thoughts, hobbies, ideas, and dreams, can converge and meet at a point where everything goes beyond our conflict, our nationality, who we are, and what we are made to believe. After all, the “enemy” does have a face.

Learn more about South Asia Seed Ventures »

60 Palestinian, Israeli Seeds engage in two-day dialogue about Jerusalem

Jan 29, 2011 / No Comments

JERUSALEM | On January 28-29, 60 Israelis and Palestinians (from across the West Bank) engaged in two days of dialogue, exploring Jerusalem as one of the defining unresolved issues of the conflict and hearing from guest lecturers.

By connecting the discussion to these issues directly, the seminar aimed to take the Camp dialogue sessions up a notch. In the weeks leading up to the event, Seeds met by delegation to research the topics relating to Jerusalem. The result was six hours of focused dialogue from which the Seeds came away with a much deeper understanding of the challenges that face Jerusalem’s residents, as well as concrete action plans to address some of these issues.

“The dialogue was so much more insightful,” said one Israeli Seed. “It was more mature than Camp. I now understand the Palestinian point of view referring to how Jerusalem should look, and sympathize with their situation of living under occupation.”

Two guest lecturers spoke about Jerusalem. Elie Isaacson, a spokesman for the Jerusalem mayor’s office, discussed various city policies.

“I was impressed by the very high level of questions asked in ways that demonstrated a genuine desire to learn and to understand complexities, in an overall constructive environment,” Isaacson said, calling the Seeds “a group of exceptional young people who quite possibly possess the right mix of conviction and open mindedness that is capable of leading us to a very different future.”

Aziz Abu Sara, Director of Middle East Projects at the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, spoke about his personal experiences growing up in Jerusalem.

“It was amazing to see the dialogue between Elie and Aziz,” said one Seed. “It was seeing what both sides think from a different angle, not through dialogue I participated in between Seeds, but by two adults who have everything to do with the conflict.”

Older Seed Peer Leaders (PLs) led activities and dialogue throughout the seminar. “If dialogue is about understanding the other’s agenda and state of mind, then the PLs made it happen,” said another Seed.
 
JERUSALEM BINATIONAL PHOTOS

Indo-Pak homestays, dialogue, BBC Radio | Newsletter

Feb 23, 2010 / No Comments

Over 100 Seeds bridge religious, political divides near Jerusalem

Seeds“Now, more than ever, I believe that it is important to dialogue with the other side,” said one of the Israeli and Palestinian teenagers who participated in an overnight seminar on February 5-6.

The binational event took place outside Jerusalem, at Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, the only intentional Arab-Jewish community in Israel.

The Seeds watched a theatrical performance detailing personal narratives of Jerusalem residents from both sides of the city, asked difficult questions of a panel of clerics, and met for intense dialogue sessions.

The clerics—a rabbi, a Catholic priest, and a sheikh—spoke about the importance of Jerusalem in their respective religions, and about tolerance of other faiths. Seeds listened intently and asked thought-provoking questions, covering topics such as Jesus’ command to love one’s enemy, the role of jihad in Islam, and the Ten Commandments.

The seminar’s three dialogue sessions were led by graduates of the 15-month Seeds of Peace facilitation course, which provides professional training to Seeds alumni in their 20s. The discussions gave both Israelis and Palestinians a chance to share their recent personal experiences and views on the conflict.

The participants were excited to be with each other again and to learn, explore and talk together—something so rare given the current situation.

An Arab-Israeli news channel aired a segment on the seminar during its evening broadcast.

Chase/Facebook Panel Awards Seeds of Peace $100,000 to Implement ‘Big Idea’

Inspired by Seeds of Peace’s proposal, the Advisory Board of the Chase Community Giving Challenge, which includes NBA Hall of Famer David Robinson and actress Eva Longoria, has awarded Seeds of Peace a $100,000 prize.

During the $25,000 first round of the Challenge, Seeds of Peace competed against thousands of other non-profits, and advanced to the final round thanks to the support of Facebook voters.

 

Peace MarketJoin us: Peace Market ’10
You are invited to Seeds of Peace’s annual Peace Market to be held March 10 in New York City. The evening will feature musical performances by Grammy-nominated John Forté and South Asian rock legend Salman Ahmad. Learn more »

 

Homestays2010 Indo-Pak Homestays
Indian Seeds host their Pakistani friends in Mumbai for a week of workshops exploring their countries’ competing historical narratives. Read more »

 

BBC Radio InterviewBBC Radio Interview
The views of an Israeli and a Palestinian Seed are heard around the globe on the BBC World Service. Listen »

 

Olive Branch“Camp has taught me how to be a good listener, and how to express my views on the conflict and the problems it creates in my life. Coming home is just the beginning—the journey has just started. Sometimes I feel like I now have the hardest job in the world: to get our message out everywhere and to everybody.” Mai (Seed from Hebron) Read more »

 

FacebookIf you have a Facebook account, click here to join the Seeds of Peace group on the social networking site.

Donate

To make a tax-deductible contribution to Seeds of Peace, click here.

Over 100 Palestinian, Israeli Seeds meet clerics, bridge religious, political divides

Feb 7, 2010 / No Comments

JERUSALEM | “Now, more than ever, I believe that it is important to dialogue with the other side,” said one of the Israeli and Palestinian teenagers who participated in an overnight seminar on February 5-6.

The binational event took place outside Jerusalem, at Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, the only intentional Arab-Jewish community in Israel.

The Seeds watched a theatrical performance detailing personal narratives of Jerusalem residents from both sides of the city, asked difficult questions of a panel of clerics, and met for intense dialogue sessions.

The religious panel was composed of a rabbi, a Catholic priest, and a sheikh: Rabbi Nir Barkin, a seventh generation Jerusalemite, serves as the spiritual leader of a congregation in Modi’in. Father Peter Mandros was born in the Old City of Jerusalem, received two doctorates in Biblical theology and science, and writes a regular column in Al-Quds newspaper. Dr. Najah Bakirat has a doctorate in Archaeology, History and Islamic Science and serves at the head of the Al-Aqsa Mosque’s Manuscript Department.

All three spoke about the importance of Jerusalem in their respective religions, and about tolerance of other faiths. Seeds listened intently and asked thought-provoking questions, covering topics such as Jesus’ command to love one’s enemy, the role of jihad in Islam, and the Ten Commandments.

The Jerusalem Stories performance was conducted in English, Arabic and Hebrew and illustrated the lives of six Jerusalem residents:

• Huda Ibrahim is an older Palestinian Muslim woman who sells olive oil and fruit on Salahadin Street. Her story related the struggles of traveling in and out of Jerusalem in recent times as well as her memories of better times in the past.
• Naomi Gutenmacher is an Israeli Jew who is the founder of a prayer group that started as a response to the violence of the Second Intifada. The performance described the value of prayer and community in times of difficulty.
• Shmuel Shefaim is an Israeli Jewish bus driver who is injured in a bombing but still returns to his work.
• Lana Abu Hijleh is a Palestinian Muslim woman whose mother, Shaden Abu Hijleh, was killed in Nablus.
• Miri Avitan is an Israeli Jewish woman whose son, Asaf Avitan, was killed in Jerusalem.
• Samir al Jundi is a Palestinian Muslim shopkeeper whose business selling souvenirs was damaged by decreased tourism during the time of escalated violence.

The seminar’s three dialogue sessions were led by graduates of the 15-month Seeds of Peace facilitation course, which provides professional training to Seeds alumni in their 20s who wish to lead dialogue sessions at the Seeds of Peace Camp, or with Seeds back home in the Middle East. The discussions gave both Israelis and Palestinians a chance to share their recent personal experiences and views on the conflict.

The participants were excited to be with each other again and to learn, explore and talk together—something so rare given the current situation.

An Arab-Israeli news channel aired a segment on the seminar during its evening broadcast.

Real-life lessons in dispelling prejudice
The Wellesley Townsman

Mar 24, 2005 / No Comments

Social studies teacher participates in organization brings together Arab, U.S. educators

BY DENISE WIDMAN | During a family dinner one night before the recent presidential election, our sixth-grade daughter reflected, “I don’t understand why countries fight. Why can’t the leaders just talk and work things out?”

It seems so simple—in theory. Yet, during the last few years, our middle school children have witnessed significant world strife: the 9/11 attacks; the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, among others. Is there a way to avoid such conflicts before they turn so destructive?

Jonathan Rabinowitz, 31, a sixth-grade social studies teacher at the Wellesley Middle School, is convinced he has found a way. Last summer, Mr. “R,” as he is affectionately called by his students, participated in a two-week program known as Beyond Borders. Sponsored by Seeds of Peace, an organization headquartered in Otisfield, Maine, and revered for its leadership camp, the Beyond Borders program brought together 25 adult educators from the United States and several Arab countries.

Led by experienced facilitators, the educators participated in an intensive exchange program. To begin the course, the group spent several mornings in sessions learning active listening and brainstorming skills. Also, in an effort to break down stereotypes, the participants exposed their preconceptions of each other’s cultures.

For Rabinowitz, who is Jewish, some of the stereotypical notions quickly hit home. He was surprised how much Arab views of America are intertwined with their opinions of Jewish people and the amount of misunderstanding that exists. While Jews represent only a tiny minority in the United States and internationally, Rabinowitz found himself dispelling the notions that “Jews control the world and the media.”

Conversely, some members of the Arab delegation were apprehensive that, while visiting the United States, American citizens would view them as terrorists.

“How the American side perceives Arab culture is often different from how they see themselves,” Rabinowitz said. “For example, there was much discussion about women’s rights in the Arab world. Democratic freedoms for women, such as the right to drive or vote, were not often viewed similarly by the Arabs and Americans. For instance, one Saudi Arabian woman felt she was treated very well in her home country, and lacking the privilege to drive was not a personal insult but simply part of her country’s cultural structure.”

In addition, contrary to what many Americans believe, not all Arabs oppose United States policies, he said. In fact, there is much disagreement among the various Arab nations regarding their positions on the war in Iraq, he added.

Next came an important part of the program. Each delegation was assigned two topics: “What do you as an American (or Arab) want the other delegation to know about your society?” and “What do you want to learn about the various Arab cultures (and vice versa)?”

The groups then prepared presentations that were delivered over the next few days. In addition to the structured exercises aimed at building relationships, the groups went on field trips to learn more about American culture. The Americans took their Arab counterparts to visit such Americana as a fire station, a bowling alley and a shopping plaza. Another outing was to the home of an elderly woman who lived alone and welcomed the team with homemade cookies.

The visit reinforced the concept of American independence, since the notion of older people living on their own is unusual in other cultures.

The second part of the Beyond Borders program is occurring as this article is published. The delegation is now in Jordan where Arabs and Americans will learn about Arab culture in “their backyard,” as the group again works through the steps of the leadership curriculum, this time on Arab soil.

Why did Mr. “R,” who was born in South Africa and emigrated with his family when he was 6 years old, choose to apply to the Beyond Borders program?

“As a teacher, it is imperative to get outside the classroom and experience what we teach. I wanted to bring fresh material back to the students for a discussion of stereotypes and religion. We are fortunate that Wellesley has a broad-based religion unit where we can explore these issues.”

When asked to summarize this invaluable experience, Rabinowitz pondered a moment. “It’s all about perceptions,” he responded thoughtfully.

India, Pak youths join hands for ‘balanced’ history
Indian Express

Jan 9, 2010 / No Comments

MUMBAI | A group of youngsters from India and Pakistan is working on a “balanced” history textbook comparing Indian and Pakistani interpretations of events between 1857 and 1947.

The book is part of an initiative by Seeds of Peace (SOP), a peace-building organisation that aims at empowering young leaders from regions of conflict with leadership skills. The organisation was set up in 1993 to establish contacts between Israeli and Palestinian nationals and was later launched for Indian and Pakistani youths in 2001.

“We are compiling a balanced book; sort of a comparative study with all the major events during the period. We don’t have to propagate which version is correct. The Seeds (members) will read it and question it themselves,” said Qasim Aslam, the oldest Seed from Lahore, who is among the group now visiting Mumbai.

Aslam said events like Direct Action Day and formation of the Muslim League are entirely different in history books of the two countries. “We have come across glaring omissions during our interactions,” said Rishi Razdan, an Indian Seed.

The 26/11 terror attack was among the topics of interaction, besides Partition and terrorism in South Asia. “Dialogue forms a critical part of the process. We get both sides of the story,” Aslam said. “During 26/11, there were strong statements from both countries against each other. But it was never mentioned that Pakistanis too were as hurt as Indians.”

A history workshop will be conducted on Saturday.

Read this article at The Indian Express »

6th annual “Stand Up for Peace Comedy Benefit” a hilarious success

Dec 1, 2009 / No Comments

NEW YORK | For one night in Manhattan, the peace process focused less on the history of the Green Line and more on the importance of the Punch Line. At Gotham Comedy Club in New York City, Palestinian-American comedian Amer Zahr hosted the 6th annual “Stand Up for Peace Comedy Benefit” and proved that humor knows no boundaries.

Joining Zahr onstage were seven other talented comedians as well as three alumni Seeds who shared their powerful stories with an audience of nearly 200 people. With the support of the Young Leadership Committee and sponsorship from the American University in Cairo, the event raised over $5,000 in support of Seeds of Peace’s programs in the Middle East and South Asia. Jacob Toll and Rami Qubain, both members of Seeds of Peace’s Junior Board of Directors, were instrumental in the planning and execution of the event.

The evening was filled with laughs as comics from diverse backgrounds, including Palestinian and Jewish comedians, shared a single stage. The comics covered topics relevant to current events in Middle East and poked fun at common stereotypes. The event proved that laughter can be a universal language, one capable of transcending national and religious divides.

Comedian Jim Dailakis was particularly moved by the evening and wrote the following on his professional blog:

“I was absolutely blown away by what this particular organization attempts to accomplish and does so with meaningful and undeniably optimistic results … The one most incredible thing I took away from the event and couldn’t stop thinking about on the train [afterwards] was the realization that we don’t have to wait for our politicians or people in power to make things happen. We can do it on our own.”

25 Maine educators, Seeds strengthen dialogue, conflict transformation skills

Sep 19, 2014 / No Comments

AUGUSTA, MAINE | Six Maine Seeds and 18 educators from six different schools across Maine met at Cony High School on September 19 for a day-long seminar about Seeds of Peace programs in the state.

The goals of the seminar were to help Maine educators strengthen their conflict transformation and dialogue skills, and to provide them with a deeper understanding of Seeds of Peace’s work. The educators can then act as adult allies to the Seeds in their schools, helping advocate for them in their efforts to create positive change.

“I walked away with a stronger knowledge of Seeds of Peace and a more thorough understanding of how I, as an educator, can be supportive of Seeds in her school,” said Sister Edward Mary, Principal Emerita at Catherine McAuley High School in Portland.

The Maine Seeds who participated in the seminar workshops were also happy to see their teachers attend the event and offer support to their efforts to bring positive change to their schools and communities.

The seminar included Q&A session facilitated by Maine Programs Director Tim Wilson and Seeds of Peace Educators Program Director Daniel Moses, and panel discussions by both Maine Seeds and Educators. Seeds of Peace Educator Deborah Bicknell facilitated various skill-building activities such as conflict transformation, nonviolent communication, and tools for deep listening.

Maine Seeds prepared a special lunch to the participants, with dished representing their cultures. Following lunch, a panel of Maine Seeds shared their experiences of Seeds of Peace programming, both and Camp and beyond, and the leadership opportunities it provides. The Seeds then led small group discussions on various topics, including the economics of education, standards-based education reform, and English as a Learning Language.

The Seeds then closed the day with a dialogue on race.
 
MAINE EDUCATORS SEMINAR