2 NOA EPSTEIN, TOMER PERRY, IDDO FELSENTHAL, IDDO BACK COVER ART: ROLA SAHER IMAN AZZI, ELISHTEINBERG The Olive Branch Winter 2006• Spring 2007 31 12 28 26 24 22 20 16 14 29 (CLOCKWISE, TOP LEFT): COVER PHOTO CREDITS 4 9 FRONT COVER ART: IDDO FELSENTHAL, IDDO FELSENTHAL ERIC KAPENGA, TOMER PERRY, TOMER PERRY, her whatshe’s discovered. doctorate. Oron Michaeli asks researched SOP forher Edie Maddy-Weitzman INTERVIEW stage tothesidelines. family movefromcenter Two membersoftheSeeds BOBBIE &TIM the judges’ topthreepicks. AMIDEAST contest.We have students participate in a SOP/ Seventy-five Egyptian Egypt ArtContest activities aroundtheworld. A lookbackatSeeds 90 studentsfromPortland. Games tobringtogether Maine SeedsuseColor GREEN &BLUEiNMAINE shares partofherportfolio. Afghan SeedZubaida Akbar THROUG ELENS reflect onpeaceprospects. Turkish andGreekCypriots THE CYPRUSDIVIDE Wall/Fence sharetheirviews. living ontheinsideofIsrael’s In PartIIofaseries,Seeds B build housesinIndia. Indian &PakistaniSeeds H between Hizbullah&Israel. reflect onasummerofwar From BeiruttoHaifa,Seeds Witness toar 2006: run Campdialoguesessions. Seeds traininfacilitationand Older Israeli&Palestinian Seed RUNDIALOGE coordinating yourprograms. Some newfaceswillbe MEET YOURSTAFF ARRIER A B ITAT YearinReview F TO 19 Poems/Art 10 SeedsintheLead 6 Letters 3 “All-UP!”with Tim 3 FromtheEditor DEPARTMENTS OR /F HUM OR
PEA ANIT C E Y ? required to end the cycles of war. leadership and conflict resolution techniquesteenagers can air their views and learnis created the at our camp in Maine whereand these conflict resolution. A safe workenvironment towards peace through coexistenceyoung leaders from regions of conflictorganization to that develops and empowersSeeds of Peace is a non-profit, non-political Totry, Yossi Zilberman Tamara Qaraqe’,SawsanSamara,Maisa Mukarkar, RashaMukbil, Tomer Perry, Jreisat, EldadLevy, InbalLeibovits,Mira Rona Harari,DanielHyams,Michel Ali El Alfy, Tareq Arow, KheirallahBazbaz, Barbara Zasloff Mai Tamimi, Omar Tayeh, Leena Yahia, Haya Shapira,InessaShishmanyan, Neshat, EyalRonder, Azza ElSherbiny, Reem Mustafa,NassimMajidi,Jawed Lewin, FeruzanMehta,DanielMoses, Isleem, EricKapenga,Leslie Adelson Hancock, DorothyHarman,Mohammed Mohammed Dajani,EvaGordon, Tom Farhat Aghbaria, Sajjad Ahmed,
and the American people. Agency forInternationalDevelopment is madepossiblebyagrantfromtheUS Kapenga andprintedbyV&VVisuals. It The OliveBranchisdesignedbyEric [email protected]. content orstyle.Sendcorrespondenceto of Peaceandmaybeeditedforlength, All submissionsarethepropertyofSeeds USA JoeyKatona Turkey Alp Kutlualp Jordan Dana Audallah & Agam Rafaeli Shuki Hasson, Aya Zuaiter, OronMichaeli Israel &PalestineIbrahim Abu Arafeh, Nijah Khan India &PakistanDivyaMoorjaney Egypt Cyprus Ersev Ersoy & Suleyman Gelener Balkans GentSalihu Afghanistan Mir Akhgar Assistant Editors Manar Al-Natsha &EliShteinberg, Eric Kapenga,Editor Branch Olive The any government, ofPeace, by Seeds shared necessarily not are and magazine the for edit and write who Seeds of the those are pages these on expressed opinions All program. ofPeace Seeds ofthe part are who ofconflict regions from by youth produced and edited written, amagazine is Branch Olive The (who identifythemselvesascomingfrom) Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 The OliveBranchStaff Program Staff/Regional Offices Khaled Sallam Volume XIssueII Janet Wallach, President John Wallach, Founder Regional Coordinators Seeds ofPeace Regional Editors contents staff. its or funders, , its [email protected] the editor
n this issue of The Olive Branch, we take a look back at some of the highlights (and low points) of the past year. This summer marked the first time that older Seeds facilitated most Middle East dialogue sessions at Camp. On pages 14 & 15, three of these facilitators reflect on their training and experiences leading dialogue. The summer also saw renewed war between Israel and Hizbullah. Many Jewish and Arab Seeds in the north of Israel spent many long hours in bomb shelters during the month-long conflict. MembersI of the Seeds of Peace family followed the war in Lebanon and its aftermath through the report- ing of Iman Azzi (2001) in the Lebanon Daily Star newspaper and the FoxNews blog of counselor Spencer Witte (2004 & 2005). On pages 16 to 18, six Seeds including Iman share their thoughts on living through the war. You’ll also hear about Seeds and events in Maine, Cyprus, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. We are cur- rently working on stories from Jordan and the Balkans for the next issue. If you are interested in writing for The Olive Branch, or you have suggestions for stories, please write to Manar, Eli and me at olivebranch@ seedsofpeace.org. It’s been a busy year for Seeds of Peace around the world, and your SOP staff is gearing up for an even busier one. As you read this, Seeds of all ages are working with staff to plan projects, workshops and events. If you are interested in participating, let us know!
“ALL — UP!” with Tim Director Emeritus, Seeds of Peace International Camp
ear Olive People who work for the Branch readers, organization will come and go, but a This installment Seed is someone who has walked of “ALL-UP!” is the walk of living together, eating special. Maybe it together, talking together, playing has to do with my semi-retirement. together. A Seed is someone who DAnyway, I am going to try to has made the commitment to listen, express my feelings to all of you to discuss, to learn from the other with the hope you will understand person. A Seed has decided to be how I am feeling at this moment. the very best human being they can It is hard to put into words 14 years of love for be. A Seed has decided to be a part of the world. some wonderful people. You allowed me and my You are what is going to happen in this world. family to share in your lives: your moments of My life has been quite full because of all of you. happiness and sadness, your growth in knowledge, Yes, there have been bad times, but there have your desire to respect, to trust and to communicate. been good times, too. I will never be able to thank Most importantly, you shared your desire for a just you fully. peace in your homelands. Please never give up. Life is an ongoing struggle. I have said it before: Seeds of Peace is about It is not always fair, but it is what you make it. What the SEEDS. It is your organization. It will sink or is your legacy going to be? swim based on your involvement, your commitment Be safe. to each other, and your belief in respect, trust All my love, and communication as the watch words of the organization.
The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 3 a look back
200spring•summer 6 fall•winter dining hall pleasant lake
world cup
group challenge course flag raising
washington, d.c. tel aviv
ps prep otisfield gaza
tel aviv hajime
haifa jerusalem center mumbai
cnn, jerusalem color games egypt
PHOTO CREDITS: TOMER PERRY, BOBBIE GOTTSCHALK, MOHAMMED ISLEEM, ERIC KAPENGA, IDDO FELSENTHAL, MOHAMMED HAJ-YAHIA, SAM JONAS, WALID HAMED, EVA GORDON, ARIEL HULER 4 The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 cairo jerusalem camp
bethlehem camp
music program tel aviv jerusalem
camping color games sports day
cairo camp
gaza tel aviv office color games
new york cairo maine sky
AZZA EL SHERBINY, syed faheem ahmad, NOA EPSTEIN, DOR KAIDAR, ANDY ARSHAM The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 5 ANSWERING THE SKEPTICS Tom; and how can I forget the remark- able talent show—singing, dancing, Sometimes I’m asked by people who guitar playing, poetry reading, acting don’t know about Seeds of Peace, and and Qawwali performing. The Seeds even by some Seeds, “What’s the use of could do anything! Letters all of your activities? Can you change a All of us Pakistanis had the chance to [email protected] thing? You’re only teenagers!” see Indian lifestyles through our Indian My answer to them is very simple: hosts. We, along with our hosts, also Believe in the individual—the great- went to their school and together gave a est changes were made by people who presentation at it. believed in their destiny. They wanted to Most important of all, we accomplished do something, and they did it. the goal of Homestays: we understood Each one of us has so much power that the other side better. It was amazing we’re not even aware of. to see the love and respect we received We may be ‘only’ teenagers, but 15 from the people of India. years from now we’ll be adults with For me personally, the Homestays ex- power and influence. perience gave me the strength to reach We are the future. out and hope for a better future, to strive Omri Rogowski for peace, because it has made me believe (Hertzliya) that the world in peace would be the most beautiful place to live in. Seeds of Peace is magical … and never INDIA-PAKISTAN was its magic more apparent than dur- HOMESTAYS ing Homestays. Muhammad Uzair Aftab After a long wait and a lot of effort, (Lahore) Homestays 2006 finally took place! What makes Homestays so special is the fact that for one week, we Indians DARFUR have the privilege of hosting the Paki- stani Seeds in our homes and acquaint- ing them with our lifestyles, cultures and families. We spent the first three days in Kar- jat doing art and drama workshops, ex- ploring who we consider “the other side” and why some people are considered “the other” by their society. Is it because their ideologies are different? Or is it because they are unable to communicate and reach out to their communities? We didn’t manage to come up with a consolidated image of who “the other” is for us as everyone had a different per- spective, but it was definitely a thought- provoking exercise. The days spent in Mumbai were equally fun, whether it was bowling, or shopping, or school presentations, or chilling at Barista (a coffee shop for teens) or visiting a temple and a mosque. Darfur: What our generation I want to take this opportunity to will be remembered for thank Feruzan, Sajjad, Tom and all —Mujib Mashal (ink & charcoal) those who made Homestays 2006 pos- sible. I would also like to thank the If you thought the genocide in Rwanda Pakistani Seeds for coming and making would be the last one we would witness the Homestays so enjoyable and memo- because the world is more conscious and rable! will prevent such a thing, you were mis- Nazaqat Lal taken. We are still to learn lessons from (Mumbai) the 800,000 innocent lives we neglected to save because we were too busy with our own lives. A surge of warm air greeted us all The excuse our leaders used regarding as we stepped out of the airport. We Rwanda was that they lacked sufficient were finally there, in the country which information to see genocide was hap- shares a long history and culture with pening. But there’s no such excuse about our own—we were in India! The Indian Darfur, Sudan: no one denies the fact Seeds were right outside to greet us; it that more than 350,000 innocent civil- was a wonderful reunion. Homestays ians have lost their lives and millions had begun. have been displaced simply because of The best part of our stay in Karjat their identity. Those who have survived was watching the documentary War and the atrocities so far face the threat of Peace with its director, Anand Patward- starvation, torture, rape and death every han. The documentary, which focuses day they open their eyes to this world. on the problems emerging from the pos- Please write to your leaders asking session of nuclear weapons by India and them to take action against the ethnic Pakistan, was remarkable. The director cleansing that is going on in Darfur. was present with us when we watched This is our chance to show that we care it, and afterwards we had a question and about those who are abused and victim- answer session with him. ized. Those of us who have been victims Then there was our visit to the Sai better understand how crucial it is for Baba Temple; the variety of songs by the world to provide these innocents
PHOTO CREDITS: AARON SHNEYER, SAM JONAS, KHEIRALLAH BAZBAZ, ARIEL HULER, NOA EPSTEIN, Bobbie gottschalk, faheem ahmad, TOMER PERRY, IDDO FELSENTHAL 6 The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 with support and care. Neglecting this genocide, just like we have neglected many other crises in his- Fahad Ali Jefairi tory and then regretted doing so later on, would be the biggest mistake of our generation. By writing these letters and th st taking action in other ways we would be October 27 1985 — July 1 2006 showing the Darfurians that humanity and sympathy still exist in this seem- Doha, Qatar ingly heartless world. Mujib Mashal (Kabul) Seeds of Peace mourns the loss of Fahad (Bunk 12, II, 2000), who was killed in a car accident JOINING THE ISRAELI ARMY on July 1st, 2006. This month I’m officially going to be drafted into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Though I won’t be doing combat service or serving in the Palestinian Territories, I still feel there are things I want to say before I enlist. I’ve been involved in many discussions about the apparent paradox of Is- raeli Seeds going to the army. How can take this opportunity to thank every- impossible things are made possible by people who have devoted at least parts of one I’ve met in my three years in this determination. the last three years to promoting peace organization. “Life-changing” is a word Seeds of Peace changed my perspective suddenly go fight the very war we’re being thrown around a lot, but I really on life, not only in terms of Palestine trying to end? How does the green of didn’t understand its meaning before and politics, but also in terms of inter- Seeds coexist with the khaki of military joining Seeds. personal relationships. uniform? The experience I’ve gone through and If someone was meant to reject the The main argument that has been the amazing people I’ve had the fortune idea of coexistence between Palestinians advanced is that it’s better for us to be to spend time with have profoundly af- and Israelis, that would be me. However, there than for someone else. Meaning, fected me, and I want to believe that the when I had the opportunity to talk with if a Seed soldier is standing at a check- things I’ve learned will continue with Israeli teenagers, to discuss the conflict, point, he is much more likely to have me throughout my life. fight for my beliefs, and explain my some understanding of the troubles of There are no words for me to fully de- point of view, I realized that I was one of the people going through it than a ran- scribe how I feel about this organization the most fortunate people in the world. dom soldier who might decide to abuse and everyone involved in it, so I’ll settle Anan Suleiman his power. for “thank you.” (Ramallah) I think it’s a good point, but a very Sagi Ganot small part of this complex issue. (Holon) When asked why I am going to the This July I was chosen to go back to army, the immediate answer is “to de- Camp as a Peer Support (PS). Me, going fend my country.” Though some people CAMP REFLECTIONS back to Camp—after two years, I got to might disagree with me, I think that the return to the place where it all started! IDF was established with the sole pur- Ever since I was a child, ideas and The most amazing thing about the pose of defending the citizens of Israel. thoughts about Israel have built up in experience was the PS program. While The Territories are only a small part of my mind. Observing the suffering and the new camper program is all about its duties. Even if tomorrow morning pain that Palestinians go through every meeting the other side, teamwork, com- Israelis and Palestinians make peace day because of the Occupation made me munication and coexistence, the return- and there’s no longer need for a single view Israelis as the “bad guys” whose ing camper program is different. soldier to enter the West Bank or Gaza, aim is to kill me and destroy my future. If during my first time at Camp, I there would still be many, many people After the past six years of fighting, learned about independence, coexistence who would desire to destroy Israel and my last drops of hope of having peace and conflict resolution, this time I felt remove the Jewish presence from this in Palestine and having a normal life I was developing communication and region. evaporated, reinforcing this view. leadership skills, as well as responsibil- I’m not joining the IDF because I be- Two years ago, I was selected to go ity and friendship. lieve our policy in the Territories is just to Camp. I had my own prejudices Group interaction is very different, or useful. I’m joining the IDF because and stereotypes about the enemy, and since we pretty much do everything for me, refusing is not protesting a people’s attitudes towards organiza- together (17 girls and one bathroom specific policy—it’s protesting the very tions like Seeds of Peace discouraged … you have plenty of waiting time to existence of Israel. me (many believe that they brainwash bond!). By now I can imagine at least some of participants.) The idea of living with the Amazingly, our dialogue sessions were the things going through the heads of enemy, side by side, seemed like one of self-facilitated, and we had the chance to Palestinians reading this message: “Has the more impossible things in the world. talk not only about the conflict but also he learned nothing?” “Can’t he overcome I then stepped into the magical world about discrimination, Islam, women’s the brainwashing?” of Camp. At the beginning, the situation rights in all religions and nuclear weap- I don’t expect people who suffer every was awkward. But after spending many ons. day because of the actions of the institu- hours with Israelis I discovered that I feel so fortunate being a part of this tion I’m joining to have the least bit of they are human: they have feelings, they Seeds of Peace family, together with sympathy for me. But this is one time have their own share of difficulties in incredible campers, counselors and staff. when I’m not looking for it. life, and they have their own fears about Above all I would like to person- Joining the army is not going to bring meeting their enemy—me and other ally thank the people who helped me peace any closer. It might even push Palestinians. through my summer as a PS: Sarabeth it back a bit. But this is something I We are all human beings, equal in & Danielle (yeah Bunk 1!), Tomer, Wes, feel like I have to do. I was Israeli long rights and dignity. Labels, identities, and last, but definitely not least, Tim & before I was a Seed, and part of being and religions should not separate people. Bobbie. Israeli is joining the army and defend- As each day at Camp passed, a layer Thank you all for giving me such a ing my country, be it against Palestinian of fear was eliminated; at the end of the powerful experience! militants or anyone else. three weeks, I reached the conclusion Omer Duvdevani Ideological speeches aside, I’d like to that not all Israelis are evil and that (Rosh Ha’ayin)
The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 7 Like other Palestinians, I have wit- nessed all kinds of destruction, humili- ation and bloodshed. My mind created sad images and angry voices. I could hear the echo of people screaming out their frustration. I could see people drowning in their miseries. I could feel a hand trying to scratch out the word ‘peace’ carved in my heart. Through Seeds of Peace I became conscious of the possibility of bringing together two societies and letting them coexist and rid themselves of all the anger that fills their hearts. Now, I wonder: “If flowers of different colors and types can be planted in one type of soil, why can’t two nations live in one land?” I am sure that no two societies want to live in war and be miserable; on the con- trary, all people look forward to living in peace and having their full rights. Nouar Qutob (Jerusalem)
This summer was incredible. In three short weeks of Camp, my thoughts, opinions and life were drastically changed. From the very moment I stepped off the bus in Otisfield, I knew I was part of something important. Looking at pictures of my experience, I find myself almost nostalgic. One particular picture reminds me of what I learned and how much I changed. It is of a mural on top of the old wood climbing wall. In this picture, it is still unfinished, a reminder of how it progressed from a blank canvas to a vibrant and beautiful representation of the values instilled by Seeds of Peace. Even more remarkable are the people in the picture. The four of us in front— Hagar, Ayten, Katie and I—are smiling and holding up our hands, which are completely covered in green paint. In the background, campers and coun- selors are working hard to transform the plain surface into a work of art. This scene is the epitome of Seeds of Peace. For three weeks, Israelis, Palestinians, Egyptians, Jordanians and Americans worked together for a common goal. When we picked up our paintbrushes, disputes and differences were left behind. Looking at this picture reminds me of the day it was taken. It was a breezy summer day in the woods of Maine. I can smell the combination of fresh air and wet paint. I hear new friends discussing which color to paint the See something sunflower petals, then breaking into our painting song: “Grab your paint & grab you’d like to your rollers.” respond to? Your I can feel the green paint drying on my hands and the warm air against my skin. letters are most I can see a potential masterpiece being welcome! developed by people of different nation- alities and religions. They are too busy making the most of an unforgettable Letters are edited experience to remember for now the dif- ferences that brought them here in the for length, first place. content I didn’t know it at the time, but I changed that day. Small pieces of me and style. changed every day last summer. I learned about friendship, acceptance, leadership, and most importantly, peace. E-mail submissions Annie Butts to olivebranch@ (Augusta, Maine) seedsofpeace.org 8 The Olive Branch Winter/Spring 2006 coexistence acceptance • peace tolerance empathy • empathy tolerance peace Egypt Art Contest 2006 peace tolerance empathy acceptance • empathy • peace tolerance coexistence Laila Mohamed Saad Modern Education School
By Kanzy Khafagy (Cairo)
On December 9th, Egyptian Seeds of Peace Delegation Leaders helped organize the sec- ond annual Seeds of Peace/AMIDEAST Art Contest in Cairo. Seventy-five students, aged 12 to 16, from 18 different schools in Cairo and Port Said par- ticipated in the event. I was lucky enough to attend. The students drew posters reflecting the themes of peace, tolerance, empathy, coexis- tence and acceptance. I had a wonderful time as a Seed (2006) help- ing the Delegation Leaders and proctoring the students. I saw hands painting and minds creating while the main goal was challenging violence. The contest was judged by three prominent Cairo artists: Dr. Farid Fadel, Maged El Sigini, and H.E. Ambassador Youssry El Kouedy. The 12 best posters are the subject of the monthly pages of the 2007 Seeds of Peace calendar. All drawings have also been included in the calendar on a smaller scale. The award ceremony took place on January 9th. Seeds were present to answer questions from participants and 250 audiance members about the organization and their experiences as Seeds. The top three posters were drawn by Rola Nadine Mourad Saher (Port Said American School, back cover Dr. Nermine Ismail School of the magazine), Nadine Mourad & Laila Mo- hamed Saad.
The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 9 10 The Olive Branch Winter 2006• Spring 2007 PHOTO CREDITS: ZACHI (Ramallah) NOW, ZACH RUCHMAN, RUCHMAN, ZACH NOW, EFRAT OPPENHEIMER OPPENHEIMER EFRAT something EARLHAM COLLEGE, COLLEGE, EARLHAM DANIEL OFIR/PEACE OFIR/PEACE DANIEL has done DAVID/PEACE NOW, NOW, DAVID/PEACE “What he for meis OMRI ROGOWSKI, ROGOWSKI, OMRI my eyes —Omar FAHD ALI KAZMI, KAZMI, ALI FAHD LIOR LELCHIZKI, LELCHIZKI, LIOR opened unique. He has world.” OMAR DREIDI, DREIDI, OMAR seeds into the the lead to beJoey’s friendandIwishthat eyes totheworld.Iamvery proud thing unique.Hehasopened my Omar payfortuitionatEarlham. securing enoughdonations tohelp directed afund-raisingcampaign, playing soccerintheUSareality. He make hisdreamofstudyingand of Virginia, wantedtohelphisfriend financial obstacle:a$10,809gap. lege inIndiana,butstillfacedahuge scholarship toattendEarlhamCol- to colleges.Omarreceivedapartial never forgetit.” brave.” “Ithankhimforthat.Iwill my life,”saysJoey. three ofthemostincredibledays was likeintheWest Bank. They were warnings. lah, despiteUSStateDepartment parents, hevisitedOmarinRamal- a triptotheMiddleEastwithhis native cityofRamallah. As partof wanted toexperiencelifeinOmar’s summer of2005. Omar werebunkmatesduringthe Camp activitiestogether, Joeyand gether during our second,” says Joey. we spentnearlyeverysecondto- friends duringthatfirstsummer, but friendship reallybegan. returned asPeerSupports,thattheir but itwasn’tuntil2005,whenthey and OmarmetatCampin2004, cultures. transcends borders,religionsand making ameaningfulconnectionthat Omar Dreiditookthisadvicetoheart, can JoeyKatonaandPalestinian say, “Makeonenewfriend.” Ameri- founder JohnWallach alwaysusedto & Omar DreidiJoey (Ramallah) Katona (Los Angeles) “What hehasdoneforme is some- Joey, whoisnowattheUniversity This fall,OmarandJoeyapplied eyes,“whatJoeydidwas In Omar’s “I neededtoseeformyselfwhatlife After Campendedin2005,Joey In additiontoparticipatinginregular “We weremoreacquaintancesthan It didn’thappenimmediately. Joey A t Camp B , SeedsofPeace (N y E ew itan J ersy P aul )
scoring onhisEarlhamCollegeteam. afford college.Omarwas2ndingoal- helped Omarraiseenoughfundsto FRIEND INNEED:Joey(topright) final episode. pant, makingittothesuspense-filled testant, outlastedallbutonepartici- community. Efrat,theyoungestcon- Israel’s imageintheinternational in varioustasksdesignedtoimprove peted against13othercontestants Shagrir (The Ambassador the Israelirealitytelevisionshow (Jerusalem) Efrat Oppenheimer achieve. grow, revealing what friendshipcan being gracioushosts. les. HethanksJoeyandhisfamilyfor with JoeyandhisfamilyinLos Ange- Someday Iwill,”saysOmar. I coulddosomethingtohelphim. Efrat Their relationshipcontinuesto Omar spentthispast Thanksgiving nominateaSeedinthe Lead
(1999)participated in ). Shecom- Ha Omri Rogowski Abed Ereqat & Noa Epstein (Jerusalem) (Hertzliya) Abed (1993) and Noa (1997) OMRI (2006) participated in coordinated a Palestinian-Israeli an event celebrating the 60th anni- seminar for university students at a versary of UNICEF (United Nations two-day Peace Now event at Wahat Children’s Fund) at the President of al-Salam/Neve Shalom in December. Israel’s house in the presence of the Twenty-six Palestinian university stu- President’s wife. He gave a speech dents (including 10 from Gaza and 11 to her and the committee for Israel’s from the West Bank) and 21 Israelis local branch of UNICEF. The next participated in the dialogue. day he participated in the Knesset Initially, the West Bank and Gaza Education Committee’s meeting. students were denied entry permits by the Israeli army. Peace Now (for whom Noa is the Jerusalem-area activities coordinator) successfully petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court for their entry, arguing that dialogue as an alternative to violence is in Israel’s strategic interest. Earlier this year, Abed and Noa im- proved their dialogue facilitation skills by participating in a Seeds of Peace course. Noa also facilitated Camp dialogue sessions this summer (see DIALOGUE: (Top) Abed and Noa story page 14). at the Peace Now seminar. (Below) The two plan to continue their part- Israeli and Palestinian participants nership. get to know each other. UNICEF: Omri (right) with Gila Katsav, the President of Israel’s wife. Zach Ruchman (Connecticut) Zach (2003) was one of 2,500 Fahad Ali Kazmi distinguished US high school seniors (Lahore) awarded a scholarship in the 2006 National Merit Scholarship Program. FAHAD (2002) received the Of the 1.3 million participants in the President of Pakistan’s Gold Medal nationwide program, 15,000 were from General Pervez Musharraf in named as finalists, from whom the July. It is the highest merit award, winners were selected. given to the best scout in a province. Zach is currently in his first year Scouting is an international move- at Princeton University where he is ment that aims to cultivate humani- pursuing his interests in international tarian values of peace, tolerance, relations and Middle East studies. service and universal brotherhood. Fahad’s scouting career began in 1998 and culminated in this highly prestigious award. Fahad has also served as an intern Lior Lelchizki (Ashdod) with Children of Abraham, a US group that aims to build bridges be- Lior (2002) established A tween Jewish and Muslim students. volunteer organization in Israel called He is also the winner of the Allama Ah Boger, meaning ‘Big Brother’ in Iqbal Shield for debate and worked English. with UNICEF to raise HIV/AIDS Lior and his colleagues locate stu- awareness in schools. dents who face difficulties in various areas of life, including school, finan- cial problems and violence within families. They involve everyone in their activities to help the community: children, teenagers, grown-ups and senior citizens. Today there are more than 400 peo- ple involved across the country. Lior and his colleagues raise donations and hold meetings once a week. As founder and chairman of the organization, Lior was recently hon- ored with the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence by Ehud Olmert and BIG BROTHER: (Top) Lior and kids SCOUT AWARD: Fahad (right) is Education Minister Yuli Tamir, and the from his program with the mayor awarded the Gold Medal by Pakistani Young Leader Award by the Presi- of Ashdod. (Below) Children, their President Pervez Musharraf in July. dent of Israel, Moshe Katsav. parents & grandparents at an event.
The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 11 Since 1993, Tim Wilson & Bobbie Gottschalk have been there. They were there at Camp, in the lake, on stage singing “It’s not that easy being green,” and of course they were always there for us Seeds when we needed them, with words of good advice, or with a laugh, a picture, or a moral to learn from. Bobbie & Tim have made the decision to move from center stage to the sidelines. Tim is coaching high school football in Maine, while Bobbie has joined the SOP Board of Directors. Tim & Bobbie, we present these letters of appreciation to both of you, with great love from all of us. Manar & Eli Assistant Editors
There are things in life which you never Bobbie was always a safe haven for us. I forget. I know that Bobbie’s smile is one of knew that just her being there, knowing them, along with her hug, her support, the that whenever I felt homesick, frustrated, night when I was declared a PS; these are stressed out, hopeless—one look at her gave all the happiest moments of my life. Now, me relief and hope and put a smile back on I have the opportunity to thank her for all my face. She represented for me a kind of she’s done for me and somehow to hope that Seeds of Peace Mom: receiving a hug from I can make her happy for a tiny second while her was like I’d flown back thousands of ki- she reads my note. Thank you, Bobbie. I may lometers and had my family next to me. be far away from Camp, but you are always Her insights on SeedsNet, her NFB’s close to my heart. (Notes From Bobbie), everything she said “All-up!” This is how the happiest day of makes me feel that she’s been the person who my life started. We had the chance to wake kept us together as Seeds, always remember- up the whole Camp, and I admit we were ing the good values we’d learned. Her words scared to ask Tim to let us do it. His re- always touched our hearts and minds. sponse was this huge smile on his face. It’s I wish you the best of luck in your new role one of those moments you never forget. It’s a in the organization as the voice of us Seeds lesson I learned: how much difference a sin- on the Board of Directors. gle smile can make in another person’s life. Khaled Rasmy I have this picture in my album that I used Egyptian to consider my personal trophy: a picture with Tim, in his golf cart. I really needed Tim, you helped me at times no one else moments like that at that point in life. Back bothered. Thank you. home people were not able to understand Tareq Arow how much these things meant to me, but I Israeli know the difference you made in me. Thank you for all those happy moments; I Tim has a way of making you feel impor- know that people who have you and Bobbie tant by listening—not just hearing—to what in their lives are blessed. you have to say. Igballe Ferati Becky Garland Macedonian American
Bobbie made it so much easier for SOP to How could Bobbie not be an inspiration to become like “family.” During my five years Seeds? With her calming looks and patient as a student in the US, Bobbie was a mother smile, she has influenced many of us, perhaps away from home, a person always ready to more than she thinks! offer support and advice. And to do so hap- Her contributions to the Seeds Family will pily and out of love. Bobbie, I don’t think I never be forgotten. Today if we miss our can ever truly express to you how much I days at Camp and hope to feel that peaceful appreciate all that you have offered. atmosphere once again, Bobbie is at the top Adham Rishmawi of the list of people we should be thankful Palestinian for. Ersev Ersoy Tim. First, I admired you as an eloquent Cypriot orator shaping how we viewed our experi- ence as campers, and then second, as a direc- Bobbie never stops giving and never antici- tor and boss guiding your staff into creating pates taking. the best possible experience for our camp- Ahmed Helal ers. From my very first time at Camp as a Egyptian camper through my time as a counselor you seemed to have high expectations of me that Tim is one of the single most incredible, you never let down. I admired and respected inspiring people I’ve met. During Camp, I you so much that I pushed myself to try to would begin my day next to the bell with live up to your standards and I can only hope Tim, where we would talk before lineup. His that I began to. ability to impart wisdom through one anec- I can’t even begin to put into words how dote or story is incredible. I only wish that many of my Camp images include you and future Seeds could learn from him the values I think you can only begin to imagine how he taught us. those experiences changed me and the direc- Living in the same city as Bobbie, I have tion of my life. And all I can say to that is: been lucky to develop a relationship with thank you. her after Camp. I quickly came to learn that Hannah Lantos Bobbie’s apartment is not just hers, for she American has graciously adopted all international Seeds studying in the States. Through Something I’ll never forget from Tim: spending time at Bobbie’s home during “Respect is not given, it is earned. The only breaks and holidays, I have made many way you will be disrespected is if you allow wonderful new Seeds friends who I was not people to.” necessarily at Camp with. Sami Ammous Allison Vise Jordanian American
12 The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 I learned a lot from both Bobbie and Tim. Tim was like my father. My father passed From Tim I learned to be “classy,” to do the away when I was 7 years old, but when I talk JOB, that “service is the rent you pay to live to Tim I feel again that my dad is with me. I on this Earth,” to be the best person I can respect him so much; he always encouraged be, and to be very proud. me to be the best. From Bobbie I have learned that kind- Dalal Taya ness and patience are all that you need to be Israeli equipped with to help the world in a positive way. She is an amazing person. In 1998, five of us spent an entire week I wish you both the absolute best in your with Tim, driving around the East Coast days to come. to prepare for an SOP Gala Dinner. Dur- Aidan McIlhenny ing this time we all formed a very special American bond with him. Before the trip, I was scared of Tim: he was intimidating, he yelled, and Tim was just like a father to me. Once I when he put his hand up, everyone was asked him for a big favor and he really did silent! During the trip, we’d spend hours his best to help me. His assistance changed in the van talking, joking and laughing. I my whole life. I don’t know which words learned a lot from him and about him, es- would give you your due, but I tell you, pecially his great love for young people and “Thank you, my dearest father.” how much he believes in them. Sara Jabari Passant Adly Palestinian Egyptian
Through the tranquil nights of Camp Camp was an unforgettable experience to actual tragedies, I have known Bobbie. for me, and most of it thanks to you, Tim. I Through times happy and sad I have always won’t be exaggerating to say that you were felt Bobbie there. What Bobbie means to my second father during those amazing many of us cannot be penned at all. But in three weeks. my attempt, I can only recall the care and Hadar Ben-Sasson support Bobbie has shown me. Israeli I remember my first time at Camp: I was 5 ft., 5 inches. Standing next to her, taking Tim leads by incredible example. His mere a picture, Bobbie told me, “You are going to presence inspires the best in people because return all tall and handsome one day, and I we all know that he is sincere in his words will wait for that day.” and in his extraordinary commitment to Her words always stayed with me through justice and equality. Tim taught us how to times when my own friends deceived me respect those we thought had nothing in after returning back home from Camp. They common with us and to work with our entire called me a “Hindu/Jew-lover” and it was selves to realize what may seem impossible. Bobbie who helped me continuously. And he led us every step of the way. Bobbie gave me my purpose of moving on We all wish you the best, Tim. You will and making the difference happen. “Be the make one hell of a football coach. change you want to see,” she would always Micah Hendler say to me. American After an achievement in life, I wrote an e- mail to Bobbie thanking her for all that she I didn’t understand the concept of Seeds of does. Part of her reply was, “My dear Has- Peace until I met Bobbie. She is not only a san, your maturity is the best present for me. friend to me, but I take her as a role model. I love to watch you grow. Nothing else is You can talk for hours and she’s still there, needed. Anything else is icing on top of the listening to what you have to say. icing on the cake.” That’s Bobbie for you: she Dana Audalla just loves to watch Seeds grow! Jordanian It is the winter of 2006 and I am 5 ft., 11 inches, knocking on the door to 6 ft. And Tim is a man of deeds rather than words; Bobbie, I and many others thank you for his mere presence conveys his strong charac- Seeds of Peace, for all your love, support and ter. His determination and devotion are sec- most importantly yourself; for this has made ond to none. His streetwise and plainspoken all the difference. honesty are his trademark. He’s imbued with Hassan Raza a vision and his hard work to implement it Pakistani inspires others to do the same. Even his severe appearance can’t hide the Once, Tim took me for a ride on his golf sparks of humor in his eyes or the wide cart when I was upset. He shared with me smiles that spread across his face in light of the struggles of his life and expressed to me our silly misdoings as youth ... how grateful I should be for the opportunity And above all this is his huge, kind heart to be at Camp and also how lucky I was to and his humility. Tim, indeed you are a man act as a representative of my country. He told of many blessings. me that it was my duty to try to make the There are only so many of us who were future better. lucky to introduce you to our lives. Fewer At times, Tim aided campers more than than those were lucky enough to introduce the facilitators, Delegation Leaders, and Peer you to their hearts. Supports, thanks to the words that he pro- Frank Sinatra captured aspects of your per- vided in his daily speeches. He helped direct sonality better than my own words: campers on the “right” path. I am proud to For what is a man, what has he got? say that I was one of his campers. If not himself, then he has naught. read more Omar Dreidi To say the things he truly feels; messages online @ Palestinian And not the words of one who kneels. www.seedsofpeace.org/ The record shows I took the blows - I still remember Tim saying, “If you’re And did it my way! olivebranch going to do something, then do it right.” I always liked that phrase. And a heck of a way it was. PHOTO CREDITS: Hassan Raza, Ola Medanat, DANA AUDALLA, Haytham Borhan Meital Cohen Zach Ruchman, MIKE GARBER, SAWSAN SAMARA, Egyptian Israeli IDDO FELSENTHAL, faheem ahmad
The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 13 BEEN THERE, done that, got the t-shirt: Seeds brought new understanding to the challenges and opportunities of dialogue. Seeds facilitate Camp dialogue
hat is facilitation? “other side” for the the beginning it is boring. At first, all we According to the dic- first time. saw was a bunch of people our age talk- tionary, it’s helping a This dialogue group ing over and over again about subjects discussion—helping was facilitated by that we’d discussed a thousand times dialogue and helping Walid Hamed and already. What could be interesting about the participants. I hope that we managed Ariel Huler, who also that?! W organized and directed Well, after a few meetings and after to do that this summer. During the last month of 2005 and the Iddo our group of facilita- talking about it with the other par- Felsenthal first couple of months of 2006, a group (Jerusalem) tors-in-training. ticipants, we found those little things of Israeli and Palestinian Seeds met Each week we that make the facilitator a much better every Friday to train as facilitators. observed this student dialogue group observer than most: the undercurrents of We Seeds learned to facilitate by through closed-circuit TV at the Seeds things, the motives for different sentenc- observing a second group of non-Seed of Peace Center for Coexistence in es and expressions. students from the Al-Quds and Hebrew Jerusalem. Universities who were meeting the The thing about observation is that in CONTINUED: SEE IDDO, PAGE 30
PHOTO CREDITS (CLOCKWISE, TOP LEFT): BOBBIE GOTTSCHALK, BOBBIE GOTTSCHALK, ARIEL HULER, IDDO FELSENTHAL 14 The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 CO-FACILITATORS: Sawsan (Ramallah) and Dor (Kfar Saba) find out who will be in their dialogue groups at the start of Camp this summer. Seeds reflect on journey to new role as facilitators t the beginning of 2006, I had y favorite part of Camp was the chance to train to become a dialogue; I never missed Afacilitator. After years of being Ma chance to participate. In disconnected from Seeds of Peace, I May 2005, I took part in a uni-national wanted to know more dialogue group held about the meaning and among Palestinians role of facilitation— living in Israel. I was the core of the Camp fascinated to see the experience. different points of It had been eight view that reflected the years since I was a previous stages I expe- Mira camper. During these Maisa Totry rienced as a Seed—the Mukarkar eight years, I took part (Haifa) phases I went through (Bethlehem) in many SOP ac- during my own per- tivities, but still I had sonal process. doubts: living in a region of conflict isn’t Later that month, I joined a group of easy and a person can drift away, carried older Palestinian and Israeli Seeds who by the emotions of anger, rage, hatred were learning how to facilitate. This was and hopelessness. done by observing a group of university The construction of the Wall on my students being facilitated in a dialogue grandfather’s land had resulted in the group at the Center in Jerusalem. cutting of 300 olive trees he had planted After that my Jewish-Israeli co-facilita- and the loss of the land, and I had to quit tor and I started practicing our facilita- my job in East Jerusalem because of the tion skills with a group at Haifa Uni- IDF closure forced on Bethlehem, my versity. We also had a few sessions with city of residence. older Seeds. But our first real experience In the beginning of July the war with as facilitators was at Camp this summer. Lebanon started and seeing the scenes of For the first time in the history of A Jerusalem dialogue group destruction on TV, together with other Seeds of Peace, Middle East dialogue (top) facilitated by professionals is scenes in my daily life, made me think sessions were facilitated by older Seeds observed via closed-circuit TV by older Seeds training to lead at Camp. twice about going to Camp again. from the region. Below, co-facilitators Noa and Suha prepare for dialogue at Camp. CONTINUED: SEE MIRA, PAGE 30 CONTINUED: SEE MAISA, PAGE 30
The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 15 witness to war 34 days of war
T WAS A BLAZING ber that the enemy has a face, when it is NLIKE MANY SEEDS summer. But it wasn’t the sun that endangering hundreds of thousands of of Peace campers, I had burned us. It was the flame of war. my people? never witnessed war. Like everyone in northern Israel, I And yet I find myself realizing—just I lived in Bunk 2, had to face the reality of living in as I did back in August—that we must. sandwiched between a boy- aI bomb shelter, being excluded from the Though I am confident in my country’s Uobsessed Palestinian-Israeli and a boy- outside world for a whole month, and righteousness, and my political opinions obsessed Jewish-Israeli. I sat, sometimes hearing about soldiers, tell me that Israel must fight fiercely squirmed, in white plastic chairs during other citizens, and without hesitation, I am dialogue sessions, listening to clashing and even bound to remember histories and heart-breaking stories. relatives be- that somewhere over I didn’t know tragedy then but having ing injured or orhaifa the border there is seen it now with my own eyes here in worse. bainhoren (2005) another side, which Lebanon, I am even more committed to In this way suffers as well. I seeking justice in the region. my story is no different realize that beyond the lines there are As I type, thousands of anti-govern- than that of thousands. people who are victims of my country’s ment demonstrators are camping out here The real challenge, on a more personal clash with Hizbullah. in Beirut, in hopes of forcing the resigna- level, was going through this experience I want to believe that just as I agonized tion of the Lebanese prime minister. as a Seed. When you are filled with an- over the sight of dead Lebanese children This week a 20-year-old Shiite man was ger, anguish and the desire for revenge, and countless refugee families, someone shot in the neck. Last night my friend it is remarkably difficult to remember the in Beirut or Tyre grieved over Karmiel’s was driving on the road to the airport values and morals that make you a Seed ruined streets or over an Israeli mother when a group of masked thugs hurled of Peace. How can I be tolerant when my who buried her daughter, killed by a cement chunks at her car. They didn’t life is in real danger? How can I remem- Katyusha rocket. bother to ask which side she supported;
PHOTO CREDITS: IMAN AZZI, ELI SHTEINBERG 16 The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 1.3 million Israeli & Lebanese civilians displaced 6 Seeds share their experiences 1,350 Lebanese & Israeli deaths
HAIFA & BEIRUT IN WAR Far left: Iman Azzi (New Hampshire, 2001) in a Beirut neighborhood. Top: Haifa Central Post Office hit by a Hizbullah rocket. Bottom left: Rocket damage in Haifa. Bottom right: View of Haifa’s harbor, its the terror has trickled down to where it ships sent out of rocket range, with the city of Acre visible across the bay. can affect anyone. I’m sure other Seeds know the feeling. On July 12, Hizbullah captured two Israeli soldiers, killing three others and next morning Israeli ships approached lution 1701, northern Israel returned provoking a 34-day war. Seven months the coastline. to life while Lebanon was focused on later the soldiers’ whereabouts remain Every night in bed, I heard Israeli rebuilding a nation—dozens of bridges, unknown and security, both in Lebanon shelling, knowing that somewhere thousands of homes and miles of high- and in Israel, has been close a family might be losing way were decimated. Hizbullah emerged significantly under- a loved one. When the war arguably stronger, perhaps proof that mined; I may be on the ended, crushed and burnt such movements cannot be destroyed by verge of living through imanbeirut photo negatives lay on force. my second war in a year. azzi (2001) the streets, physical I had no idea how my world—the I moved to Beirut after gradu- evidence of families and whole world—would change a month ating from Georgetown University’s memories torn apart. after I left Camp in 2001. The need for School of Foreign Service. My grandpar- During the war, nearly a quarter of dialogue hit home with the tragic events ents were from south Lebanon and I was Lebanon’s population was displaced. I of September 11th as America entered eager to find a life in this country, too. saw many thousands seek refuge near my the world of terror and changed the rules After two weeks of unpacking and lay- apartment, and we began to fear internal of the game. Everything became black ing on beaches, I found my new home clashes. and white, us and them, cowboys and under attack, a part of the tumultuous I understand that there was pain and evil-doers, but—and now I can say this Middle East I had studied in books. fear on both sides of the border, but I can from experience—when you’re caught in I watched the sky glow red as Israeli only describe how it felt to be in Beirut. the middle, these extremes threaten the planes destroyed Lebanon’s airport. The With the implementation of UN Reso- truth and any peaceful solution. The Olive Branch Winter> 2006 • Spring 2007 17 ’d like to thank my house Quran and God’s name Hizbullah for making my summer from shak- daliet el - and the beautiful Arab a magical one. ing or my carmel culture made me furi- This summer I had to try to sleep neighbors’ shuki ous. thinking about my uncle and three windows hasson (2004) The fact that many cousins who were fighting in Lebanon. from explod- Arab Israelis were IThis summer I had the joy of moving my ing. killed during the war paralyzed father from the living room to As a person who shows that terrorism has no religion. the bomb shelter every half hour as the speaks Arabic and as a Druze, watching The war did not change a thing in how I sirens went off and hearing my nephew Arab media made things worse. view peace or coexistence. screaming in fear. Seeing it praising Hizbullah and see- Until we value human life more than Fortunately, the closest rocket to my ing the Arab and Islamic nations doing land, we will never achieve peaceful house hit a mile away, but it didn’t stop nothing to stop them from polluting the coexistence.
was in Haifa during but I was We called on the Israeli this war, but my heart was in afraid for government to stop it— Lebanon, where the army de- people on haithamhaifa we saw the people being stroyed schools, streets, bridges, both sides. amal (2001) killed in Beirut and and killed more than a thousand I was afraid Haifa. But the majority innocent Lebanese. for my mother who had of Israelis wanted to IAlong with other Arabs living in Israel, to go to work every day. continue the madness. I saw discrimination: we didn’t have And I was afraid for I am afraid for the future, but we must public shelters to hide in and we didn’t Lebanese who faced the constant threat not give up. We can’t stay passive; we receive the support other people did. The of buildings collapsing on them. have to say in a loud clear voice that whole world saw how houses in Wadi I joined Jewish-Arab political parties we want peace and an end to the Israeli al-Nisnas, an old Arab neighborhood and organizations in protesting against occupation. We have to go out into the of Haifa, were destroyed by Katyusha this horrible war, against the meaningless streets with courage and say we want rockets. killing, and against the massive destruc- silence in the Middle East, that we want Personally, I was not afraid of death, tion. to live this one life in peace.
S I SAT IN ONE ROOM falling For me, this was a war with my family during the closer that did not serve the acre needs of any side. It war I was taunted by the to my nady hope that soon it would all house—I assayyed (2005) damaged the lives of . come to an end. Yet the can’t people on both sides, warA kept going on and on for weeks and recall a moment in my people who now have a different life the lives of innocents were taken. life when I felt this kind from what they had before. I viewed the war in many different of fear. I tried to stay This war is over, but another one may ways. I was stricken with horror when calm for the sake of everybody else, and break out in the future if the wrong steps I saw the pictures from the demolished for myself as well. are taken. areas of Beirut, the dead bodies and the I found myself sitting all day long with Agatha Christie once said: “One is left homeless people. the people I love the most—my fam- with the horrible feeling now that war I was horrified by the amount of people ily—trying to find happy things to talk settles nothing; that to win a war is as dying every day in Israel and in Lebanon. about between each news report and disastrous as to lose one.” And I myself I remember the last few days of war, as each alarm. We used these days to bond have come to understand that I am not with each siren came the sound of falling and enjoy the time we had together; we fond of the game called war, because rockets. During these days the sound watched movies, we talked and even even if I win the war, if there is war, I was getting louder and the rockets were laughed. will always be a loser.
live in the north of never When I was home, Israel, so naturally the war had a thought the air raid sirens misgav kept going on and big effect on me. But when it I would shavit started I wasn’t home—I was in miss reshef (2005) off. It was scary and the center of the country with my home like stressful at first, but sister.I We heard about the rockets in the I did. then it became mostly irritating. Every once in a while the rockets hit really north on the radio. I panicked and My friends from Seeds immediately called my parents to check of Peace supported me a close to where I live and the explosions how everybody was. I was really scared lot during this time, letting me stay and made the windows shake. Soon we could because I didn’t know what to do or what eat at their houses, listening to me and tell the distance of the hits from the my family was going through. making me feel better. I was worried intensity of the explosions. Fortunately, During the war, I spent most of the time about my family that stayed in the north; no one I knew was hurt. away from home, away from danger. every time I called my parents I asked Now the war is just a bunch of bad I stayed at my family and friends’ them two things: “Is everybody alright?” memories, a month of constant worrying. houses and had to carry a big bag on me and “Do I still have a house to come Hopefully we won’t have to experience wherever I went. I felt like a refugee. I back to?” … anything like that again next summer. 18 The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 poems
What Separates Us Nothing in life I will ever lack As the nation’s future cries. My heart will sing mirthful songs every Bitter tears of regret and sorrow, What separates us is the ocean day Wash away hopes of a better between your home and mine. Stars and moon will never cry for my tomorrow. What separates us is the time on sadness A blind witness man has the clock in each of our rooms. For all my sorrows will change to become, What separates us is the land happiness To this sight so gory and that we live on, When peace comes back to my world gruesome. The schools that we go to, Nothing in life I will ever lack As nations yet run the armament The things that we learn. race, What separates us are the — Mahbuba Ehsani (Kabul) Putting scruples to disgrace. things we believe, Orphaned by conflict, religions, abandoned by humanity, Or lifestyles, War: The future generations will Or inherited hate. The Truth Unfolded portray a stark reality, What separates us is the Of war and its relentless futility. language we speak, Down the ages conflict was Do we not regret? The friends we have, sown, Must we just fume and fret? The sports we play, Seeds of hatred that have Does no heart feel remorse? The music we listen to. grown, Or has each heart become a What separates us is the color Into trees of violence and dumb corpse? of our skin, derision The present and the future And our hair, That have shaded the world in generation, The shape of our eyes, illusion. Will make the amends and bring The way our bodies are built. As time passes by, salvation. The things that separate us are Clouded becomes the once Removing the scourge of only obstacles, clear sky, hostility, Tricks and blockades. With the smoke of artillery, Eradicating warfare and its Their only purpose is to test our And the mist of treachery. futility. minds, Tears do stream from tender To keep us from realizing eyes, — Divya Moorjaney (Mumbai) That I am just like you.
— Andrea Lavoie (Maine)
When peace comes back to my life
When peace comes back to my world Nothing in life I will ever lack My soul will attain mirth and joy My heart will never sigh sad My feelings will dance a spiritual dance My emotions for bliss will get a chance Life’s fragrant breeze in my heart will blow My joys no limits, no bounds, will know When peace comes back to my world Nothing in life I will ever lack Birds of peace will sing their best No hatred can destroy their nest With eternal beauty with fragrant aroma Every withering flower will blossom Their smile will ensure my hope’s revival My dreams will come true with peace’s ‘The Palimpsest’ arrival —Hassan Raza (Lahore) When peace comes back to my world
The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 19 THUMBS UP: Ten Indian and Pakistani Seeds, including Sana (left) and Andrew (right), volunteered with Habitat for Humanity building homes with and for low-income Indians in November. The house that IndoPak built abitat for Humanity We worked in pairs on different builds homes for teams—an Indian and a Pakistani Seed the poor around the on each team—and on different tasks, another chance for Seeds to strengthen world by funding the IndoPak bond. their construction A few skilled people led the rest of the and sending volunteers to carry inexperienced team in construction. To- H gether we successfully accomplished our it out. I felt proud and privileged to join both Indian and daily goals under their guidance. Pakistani Seeds in Finally the day arrived: we completed building houses in the houses and handed them over. The Lonavala, India. residents received their own houses and As we lay bricks, set thanked us with blessings in their own up scaffolding, painted individual ways—an emotional moment doors, shifted materi- for everyone. As always, parting with Seeds from Andrew John als, and lay the batons (Lahore) and tiles, we not only India was tough: we had all developed had fun but also had mutual trust and friendship. the chance to interact with the residents I will always cherish this as one of the proudest moments of my life. It gave me on a closer and more personal level. HELPING HANDS: (From left) I had been to India three times, but Shyam, Akanksha, and Zuneira paint a sense of pride to have done something never before had I experienced anything a house at the Habitat site. that made a difference in the lives of oth- like this. The work that week was indeed On the first day, local residents with ers. tough and demanded a lot of effort, but garlands in their hands gave the 2,000 discover more online there was a pleasant feeling of doing volunteers from around the world a warm www.habitat.org/jcwp something really good. traditional welcome to beating drums.
PHOTO CREDITS: VISTASP MEHTA, RAHEELA ZULFIQAR 20 The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 hough I’d been briefed about the pro- gram and the work we’d be doing, I was still fairly unsure of what to expect, save that I was Tgoing to meet my “enemy friends” from Pakistan after two long years, and for that I was excited. But the experience in that small village, near the tiny town of Lonavala, was ex- citing in itself. Welcomed in traditional Indian style that could not have been warmer, we were given our first glimpse of the work site: 100 houses in various stages of con- struction, people from all over the globe hard at work, cement, con- JIMMY CARTER: The former US president (right), a Habitat for Humanity crete, translators, me- regular, talks to Indian and Pakistani Seeds at the Lonavala site in India. Parinaz Vakil dia, power drills, paint (Mumbai) … all coming together with infectious energy. Yet despite witnessing this awesome sight, not one of us really knew what we were in for until we actually got to work ourselves. Over the next three days, we scraped hardened cement off door and window frames, then painted them, carted over 300 blocks of concrete each weighing about 7 kg., slathered cement, and drilled. Then came roof-building, an activity that added a whole new dimension to the term “hard work.” It involved carting lots and lots and lots of tiles, building scaf- folding, then balancing precariously on it while doing more drilling, and finally laying the tiles. At the end of each day we were exhausted. I, for one, discovered muscles in my body I never knew exist- ed. And yet it wasn’t the effort that stuck in my mind, but the immense amount of fun that went into doing it. I worked on House No. 47 with an interesting set of people from the Neth- erlands, Canada, and the US, and also TEAM SOP: (Back row, from left) Vistasp, Shyam, Qasim, Sana, Raheela with friends from just across the bor- and Andrew. (Front row, from left) Akanksha, Sasha, Parinaz and Zuneira. der—friends who are usually so difficult It certainly isn’t a sight one sees every the globe who had helped build them. to meet. day; it’s probably unprecedented. And Some volunteers and homeowners said The one thing that struck me through- yet here we were, working side by side, a few words, a sentence at a time to fa- out, and that I mentioned each time I speaking the same language, discussing cilitate translation. But the emotion that was asked what Seeds of Peace had to do Bollywood and spicy food. If this doesn’t filled those two-room homes, the satis- with Habitat for Humanity, was the fact epitomize what Seeds of Peace stands faction on the faces of the volunteers, that this event truly was the practical ap- for, it is difficult to imagine what does. the sheer glee radiated by the faces of plication of the Seeds of Peace philoso- On the last day, the homeowners fi- the new homeowners and the gratitude phy: Pakistanis literally building homes nally inaugurated their homes before the in their eyes required no translation: the for the Indian poor. strangers, now friends, from all across same soul stirred in us all.
The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 21 Last issue part I: on the outside . . . ( < Michal > “I criticize the path of the Fence and the constraints it brings, but not its purpose. The Fence and Wall are both necessary and detrimental to human life.”
Dan >
“I want you to know that the Wall doesn’t just harm Palestinians and violate their rights. It protects me and my family.” Barrier < Sharihan
“We all know that there are solutions to stopping the bombings that are carried for out in Israel other than a cage.” Peace? or Sivan >
“I think the “Anti-Terrorism Fence” Barrier should be built on the Green Line and not through Palestinian farmland.” to Peace? ( > This issue . . . part II: o n t h e i n s i d e
read part I online www.seedsofpeace.org /olivebranch
22 The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 live in the city of Tulkarem, t is really hard to imagine which is located right on the Green Line. that in the 21st century a whole nation Standing on our roof a few years back, I might be confined within walls. You can’t could see the beginnings of the “security help thinking of a prison when you look Ifence” that Israel decided to put up. It Iat the Wall—my city of Tulkarem is just looked like a snake winding its way across another prison cell in the West Bank. the farmland, going around the settlement My whole community is affected by that has grown many times its size since I this barrier on many levels: physically, was a little girl. financially, and above all, mentally. Standing next to the Wall, as I have had to do many times dur- I know several families that suffer on a daily basis because of ing recent months, I see a giant hand, with its palm facing me, it. Family friends had to relocate and abandon their lands and saying, “Stop, you’re not allowed to live beyond this point and agricultural jobs because of the Wall. One family’s home is you’re definitely not wanted in Israel.” located outside the Wall. Its members now have to wait on an I used to be so hopeful that I could make and keep friendships IDF officer for hours until the gate is opened so that they can with my Israeli counterparts from Seeds of Peace. Unfortunate- leave. I’m sure others’ lives have been significantly affected by ly, because of the restrictions that the Wall puts on Palestinians the Wall, but their stories are not heard. traveling to Israel and Israelis coming here, it’s been almost It frustrates me to see how far one would go in the name impossible to keep connections alive after leaving Camp. De- of security. Rather than trying to promote dialogue and spite this, I refuse to let my dream of being an active part of the coexistence, Israel continues to construct the Wall, disregarding peace process die. our homes, lands and olive trees. This Wall is not going to be There are many times I’ve asked myself, “Is it worth all the the answer; rather it is going to harvest hatred. It seems to me trouble, time and sometimes danger to cross this barrier to get we should all work for a resolution that promotes peace and together with people who are considered our enemies?” I tell coexistence based on justice for all. myself yes, every time. What we young people do together may only encourage peace and understanding within our own group, but at least it’s something. It’s a start, it’s a tree that we plant in — Ahmed Halta (Tulkarem) hopes of harvesting fruit in the future. If young people work and sacrifice for peace and co-existence speak in the voice of everyone with determination and strength to overcome the obstacles put who has to wait at checkpoints every day. in their way, maybe the adults that run our countries will finally I used to go to school without passing recognize this work, learn from it and do it themselves. At least through any checkpoints, but now the Is- that’s what I hope for, and that’s why I refuse to let this big, raeli Wall and an Israeli army checkpoint ugly, forbidding barrier prevent me from going that difficult I separate my house from my school. and sometimes frightening extra mile and being an example of I never expected that the daily wait at what can be accomplished. checkpoints to get to the other side of the Wall would be as hard as it is. Even though my school is close, — Khadrah I leave my house early in the morning, an hour or more before Jean AbuZant (Tulkarem) the school bell rings. Every day I do the same thing: wait with crowds of people at the checkpoint to get to school, in both cold winter weather and in the heat of the sun. he Wall was made so that I’ll never forget the tough times I spend getting to my school the Israeli people can live in peace. on the other side of the Wall. I’ll never forget the way Palestin- And it is true that they now do live in ians are treated by the Israeli soldiers. We are like toys in their peace. But they don’t remember us: hands. the Wall has not brought us peace. I want to feel freedom in my country. I want to be able to T move from one place to another just like any human who has It is like a storm, destroying everything in its path—land, olive trees and houses. It the right to move with freedom in her country. What we need is creates two countries from one and requires a solution to end this situation, to end standing at checkpoints, us to get Israeli permission when we want to visit our capital to end these restrictions. We need a solution that can ease our city. lives and allow us to develop and that reduces these obstacles Is this peace in their minds? Because if Israelis who want to our future. the Wall really wanted to live in peace, they would help create We, the new generation, will be the decision makers. If we peace for us, too. The Wall will not improve the situation. It are determined to achieve peace, then we will, and these ob- will only make it worse. stacles will vanish.
— Assil — Hiba Abdeen ( Jerusalem) Al-Shareef (Bethlehem)
The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 23 Morphou: Güzelyurt Nicosia: Lefkosa The Lefkosia Cyprus Divide Limassol: Lemesos RAVELING IN North e all need to Cyprus as a Greek Cypriot was decide on something: in the north and Georgios Grivas in the an experience which really do we, Cypriots, want south. In other words, we are worship- shocked me. Being able to see placesT that I had only heard about, like to find a solution to our ping those people who made us this Wpolitical situation or not? Because none Pentadaktilos Mountain and the Castle of heaven of a prison! of the aliens—the outsiders—are going One thing is certain: we do not learn Kantara gave me real to resolve it for us. I our history as it actually occured. We pleasure. want to find a solu- all study our island’s history, but I do At the same time I tion for my country, not believe that governments teach their felt sadness for not be- but that solution is not citizens true history. In politics, govern- ing able to travel there going to come through ments need people who accept their for all this time. And I the European Union or actions. In this sense, they are propa- thought to myself, why the United Nations. gandist. This may sound pessimistic, but Philippos did we have to come Yiapanis to this point? Why is it Resat Saban In the case of the there is one important thing that we all (Lemesos) (Morphou) EU, Greek Cypriots forget: we create governments and can that I had to wait until can now use their veto change them when they do not care about I was 21 years old to see the other side rights on everything related to Turk- our hopes. of my country? Why can’t we all live ish Cypriots. I have lost my faith in the Nationalism separates us, for nothing. It together? power of international law after the entry is interesting how France, the birthplace While traveling around North Cyprus, of the Republic of Cyprus into the Euro- of nationalism, has gently removed this I was really amazed by the fact that pean Union in 2004. The EU constitution ideology and right now is one of the many Turkish Cypriots I encountered says that countries cannot become mem- main members of the European Union could speak my language. This gave me bers of the EU while they have political and shares its sovereignty with other courage that peace is possible because problems. nations. Greek and Turkish Cypriots used to live In the case of the UN, it is not a fair The majority of Cypriots keep silent, together. arbiter of conflicts because its members waiting for someone to solve the conflict, On the way back, I noticed something: do not act equally. The US, for example, while at the same time stigmatizing the a small bird was flying over the Green can do whatever it wants in the name of other side—attributing negative adjec- Line dividing north from south, passing fighting terrorism. tives to each other. from our side to the occupied territories. I have spent the last few months read- My friends, it is time for us to look It was free to go anywhere it desired. ing books on Cypriot history. We are so forward, to secure peace in our country. No restrictions existed. Peace knows not naive to so easily believe in the history I know you all know these words, but I north or south in Cyprus! that was taught to us! We Cypriots, north want to reiterate them: “Treaties are ne- and south, have made heroes out of the gotiated by governments. Peace is made for more on Cyprus go to people of war, people like Rauf Denktash by people!” www.seedsofpeace.org/olivebranch
24 The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 Cypriot majority problematic, seeing it as symptomatic of The seemed to sweep away the hope that the best is yet to come. Mediterranean the “Yes-Yes” minori- Turkish Cypriots are politically pro- island of Cyprus has been ties of both sides and foundly bored—this boredom being a divided since 1974. A referendum on the (Kofi) ossify the “No-No” sign of the deadlocked history of the past Annan Plan, which would sayers as living evi- and still empty pages of a new history have united the island, failed dence of the unwilling- of the present. In this sense, it is under- in 2004. The south then Mehmet ness to end the Cyprus standable how some Turkish Cypriots of joined the European Union. Ratip deadlock. the internationally non-recognized and (Lefkosa) —The Editors Those voting “Yes” closed space of north Cyprus expressed for the Annan Plan did not embrace the with their open “Yes”—in the controver- ODAY, BOTH TURKISH new state of affairs expressed in the draft sial Italian philosopher Giorgio Agam- Cypriot and Greek Cypriot text of the plan as it is. The plan was ben’s terms—their state of being open to mainstream politics are hope- simply a compilation of long pages full a closedness. less with respect to solving of legal and technical minutiae. Most The majority of Turkish Cypriots pri- theT confounding “Cyprus problem,” voters read it selectively through the marily voted “Yes” for the openness and especially after the last push of the An- lenses provided by their own individual emptiness characterized by those blank nan Plan that completely failed to open social contexts. pages that signify the pure potentiality of the door to a new era for Cyprus. A stark Interestingly, some pages were left what is still unthought—not for a more contrast of “Yes” from the Turkish Cy- empty to be decided later via further ne- modern legal constitution defined to the priot majority and “No” from the Greek gotiations. Most voters did not find this letter.
PRIL 23, 2003, is a through memories. Everyone recalled thusiastically old friends welcomed us turning point in the history of the old days and rushed to tell their own when we finally reached the village. Why the Cyprus conflict. This is stories of childhood. They discussed old couldn’t these people, who felt so close the date on which the borders friends who lived where we were about to each other and missed one another, Aseparating Turkish and Greek Cypriots to go and whether they were still alive live together peacefully instead of being were opened, though still under restric- or not. prisoners of war? Why did they have tions, allowing people This was such a strange sea of emotions to leave their homes and cover their to go visit their homes … memories belonging to long years of memories? And why did they only watch and places where they shared lives with former Greek Cypriot their friends migrate, or flee under force, grew up—places they neighbors that were brought to an abrupt abandoning everything they had? had not been able to end by the conflict as people were forced On the return north, everyone was see for 29 years. by war to migrate, leaving their friends, unhappy. Their curiosity had been Greek and Turkish houses and land. It was like as if they satisfied—they had visited places which Ersev Ersoy Cypriots, the two were watching the rest of an unfinished until now were only memories, but had (Nicosia) sides of the tragedy film. new questions. Why were their houses in Cyprus, took advantage of this They felt both enthusiasm and curiosity. burned? Why were their gardens ruined? opportunity with great excitement, The closer they were to their village and And of course, how was the conflict in showing their enthusiasm by forming their land, the more they felt, the more Cyprus going to be solved? How would massive crowds at the borders. they were influenced. we create a future in which what has My family, one of the families who had Perhaps among life’s most precious happened in the past is not repeated and to immigrate from south to north Cyprus, treasures are the house you were born in, people are not again forced to leave their also felt both the happiness and the bit- the house where you took your first steps, houses? terness of being able to see their village, the tree from which you built a swing, A journey through memories had the home which they had been missing your school. Treasures that have lived in changed into a journey of questions in and longing to see for so long. memories for 29 years and whose every the mind—questions that are still being The trip we took by car to their old detail is remembered and longed for. asked. home and town was like a journey I was quite shocked to see how en-
The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 25 Afghan isTAn Through the Lens of a 16-year-old Seed
Text and Photos by Zubaida Akbar (2004)
I enjoy photography because every time I take a photo, I feel I have recorded a moment of life that has significance to me.
Actress Marina Golbahari (Osama) in Jowzjan.
ABOVE (from left): Woman in Kabul’s Bird Market, Girl at Ashora commemoration in Kabul, Woman studying in Karte Sakhi.
26 The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 My interest in photography began three years ago when I took a training course in Kabul. Men watch Bushkazi, the Afghan national sport (similar to polo).
ABOVE (from left): Young boy playing in his house, Girl peeking through door, Cleaning man in Kabul orphanage.
I then took pictures for a children’s magazine in Kabul and was an intern for the Parwana book project about Afghan women social activists.
Carpenter in Herat. The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 27 Maine Seeds use key Camp event to bridge divides between 90 students Portland- styleCGoalmoers in Portland Schools E all know Color Games at Camp are a crucial experience. They strengthen connec- tionsW between people from different eth- nic, religious and political backgrounds by bringing them together creatively through sports and games. We Maine Seeds decided that we wanted to offer our Camp experience to high school students in the Portland, Maine, school district. The Portland schools are all pretty divided MAINE SEEDS: Leila (left) talks Message to Hajime logistics with Blue Team Coaches Ilham and Will during the Portland Color Games in October. (of course, nothing can Leila Hunter compare to the divi- were finally down to the last night before It was an incredible experience seeing (Portland) sions we see at Camp). the kickoff to the Games. We stayed up people from different schools, people The separations within through witching hours thinking of crazy with different beliefs and pasts, working the schools have something to do with scenarios and ways to fix them. With together as a team during the Games. pride. The stereotypes against each around 90 boys and girls from each of Sadly, we didn’t have a lake to jump school rear their ugly heads and refuse to the six high schools in Portland, every- into, so the White Team came running be held back. The Maine Seeds wanted to thing had to be in order. out with silly string and sprayed the win- see if we could bring together a group of On October 7th we rose bright and ning Blue Team, then the Green Team. these students with the first-ever Portland early and prepared ourselves for the day When I was at Camp, my Blue Team Color Games. ahead, not quite sure what to expect. coaches passed around green strings We first interviewed with the grant The schedule for the Portland Color that we wore around our wrists to show organization YouThink! and received Games was based on the Games at sportsmanship—respect for the Green $1,500 to get the show on the road. Camp—we tried to make it as similar as Team. We put this same idea into effect After a series of setbacks, we met the possible to hopefully achieve the same at the Portland Color Games. marvelous Wil Smith who guided us effect. One friend of mine who participated in through each task; he was, in essence, We started off with an opening cer- the Games still had this green string tied our knight in shining armor. emony, sorted teams, had a rope-tug, around his wrist a few weeks later. When There were also Maine Seeds who and went into the first session of All-Star I asked him why he still had it on, he told bled green for Seeds of Peace: the event events. After lunch, we did some scoring me that he thought that the idea of sports- would have failed if it weren’t for this and team cheering and completed the manship was a great one and that the group of amazing enthusiasts. second session of All-Star events, which Games were one of the best experiences After meetings with the principal and was followed by Message to Hajime and he’d had during his high school career. guidance counselor of each school, we the closing ceremony. This filled me with absolute joy.
PHOTO CREDITS: BOBBIE GOTTSCHALK
28 The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 MEET YOUR SOP LESLIE Director, Camp (and new mom) I began at Seeds in 1998 as a counselor and P R OG R AM haven’t missed a summer in Maine since. I began working full time in 1999, assisting Tim with Camp preparations and serving as head counselor for several summers. I have worked in various aspects of programming, including regional programs and year-round events with American and Maine Seeds. STAFF Now I’m back to working primarily on Camp. This summer will be my son Sam’s first on Pleasant Lake and he’s looking forward to it!
MAI
DANIEL Director, Palestinian Programs & Ramallah Office OMAR My first contact with Seeds of Peace was in 1999 as a First Director, Session Delegation Leader. In Delegation Leaders Program 2004 I joined the DL staff. Director, Jordanian Programs From 2004 to 2006, I worked I now run Palestinian with the Delegation Leaders activities in coordination I have been with Seeds at Camp--as something like with Seeds, Delegation Leaders of Peace since 1997. My the counselor for the grown- and educators. My job is to first mission was to select ups. During the year, I also make sure the Ramallah Jordanian campers and was a Lecturer at Harvard Office is open and running Delegation Leaders. University. soon. After that I became SOP staff This past winter, I moved to as manager of the Jordanian Jerusalem. I am happy to be Delegation Leaders Program. in the region with so many friends. I now run programming for all Seeds and Delegation Leaders TOM in Jordan. EYAL
Director, Managing Director, South Asia Programs Tel-Aviv Office HAYA I began in 1996 on the I started with Seeds of Peace programming staff for the this summer. Before this I Delegation Leaders and Director, Israeli Programs managed human resources for later became the Director companies. My experience of Education for the DL I’ve been involved with Seeds working with youth began in the Program. of Peace since 1998. I have Boy Scouts. I also founded an been a Delegation Leader at adoption agency. My new position is Director Camp five times: 1998, 2000, of South Asia Programming 2001, 2002 & 2003. I hope to create new (Afghanistan, India & opportunities and connections Pakistan). I now direct programs for for all of you! Israeli Seeds, parents and Delegation Leaders.
INESSA
MOHAMMED Coordinator, Delegation Leaders Program I’m from Yerevan, Armenia In 2005, I worked as the BARBARA Director, Palestinian Programs Delegation Leader Coordinator (Gaza) I interviewed DLs for my Masters thesis at Brandeis I’ve been involved with Seeds University Executive Vice President, of Peace since 1999. Two of my Programming kids are Seeds (they were at In 2006, I returned to Camp Camp in 1999, 2002 & 2003). to work with DLs This year I I have been with Seeds of moved to the region to work Peace since 1995, serving I was a Delegation Leader even more closely with the as a Vice President and as in 2004, and now I run Delegation Leaders! Director of the Delegation programming for all Seeds and Leaders Program. Delegation Leaders in Gaza. In my new position I will be directing all programs for youth and adults at Camp and in the Middle East & South Asia. JAWED FERUZAN
Director, Afghan Programs Director, Indian Programs I became involved with Seeds AZZA I went to Camp as a DL of Peace in 2005 when I with the first-ever Indian took responsibility for the Delegation in 2001. I Afghanistan program, based Director, Egyptian Programs volunteered for the Mumbai out of Kabul. follow-up program from 2001- I have been involved with 2003 and became country I attended Camp in 2005 Seeds of Peace since 1998 coordinator in 2003. (first session) as a when I first went to Camp as a Delegation Leader. Delegation Leader. I’ve been a teacher and curriculum development I went again in 1999, and educator since 1984, working ever since I have helped specifically in the field of select the Egyptian delega peace education since 1993. tion that goes to Camp each- summer. Now, I run all programs in Egypt. SAJJAD
EVA Director, Pakistani Programs
I have been involved with Seeds of Peace since 2002 when I went to Camp as a NASSIM Director, Multinational Programs Delegation Leader. I started working for SOP as I organized follow-up a counselor in 2000 and was programs in Pakistan in 2003. hired full time in 2001. In Coordinator, American Seeds 2004-2005 I ran the Beyond I attended Camp again as a & Education Programs Borders program and then Delegation Leader in 2006. coordinated the Education In September 2005, I started Program. what was supposed to be a six- month internship at the SOP NY This year I’m organizing bi- office. Six months turned into national and multi-national nine, at which point I was programs, so if you have ideas lucky enough to stay on as a or want to get involved, let counselor at Camp. me know! I now run the American Seeds and Education Programs in the US and enjoy every bit of it!
And yes, Nassim) is a girl’s The Olive Branch name in Iran Spring 2006 29 seeds as facilitators: continued
IDDO, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 After observing the dialogue group, we sat down to analyze Then suddenly everything I learned in the course became ir- the sessions, to talk about the hidden and the overt. relevant. I was there, with no real time to think things through: The most important thing I learned from watching the where I needed to react, to calm down and heat up, to reflect to student dialogue group was noticing what others would call the group what they’re doing, what they’re actually saying, what trivial or irrelevant. These things always connect somehow to they’re hearing. This was no longer pure analysis—this was the general discussion: they affect it show time and every remark I made and shape it. or didn’t make affected the group. Coming back to Camp was a Suddenly, we each had a co-facil- shocking experience. Last time I itator. Someone who was probably was there it was still the 20th cen- our opposite, someone whose every tury. Coming back as a facilitator thought was different, and now we was even more shocking. We were had to work together, make contact seeing a well-known process, but without speaking, agree without we weren’t ourselves going through discussing things first, help and it; we weren’t able to participate in support each other. the discussion like usual. If there’s something the course We knew how hard it was for the didn’t prepare us for it was this: kids—we had been there and the working with a co who’s your anti. experiences from our years and our The most amazing thing was that sessions, from our discussions and Maisa & Iddo teamed up as co-facilitators the Chinese philosophy of yin & arguments, were still vivid in our to lead Camp dialogue groups this summer. yang really worked here. I found minds. myself thanking the good lord for In a way, this is what made us good facilitators. We were having an opposite as a co. Someone from the other side who there. We still are. We understand the “process” because we saw things I’d never see, who noticed things I couldn’t have were the kids who went through it. We know what dialogue noticed. is all about, because we went through dialogue and are going Most importantly, someone from the other side who under- through dialogue all the time. We know what Seeds of Peace is stood me better than most people, including my closest friends. about because we are the Seeds. I don’t know if I’m a facilitator. I think we did a good job this Suddenly everything we learned in the training course be- summer, though. We did it well because we went through it as came relevant. This time we weren’t only watching, we were kids, because we’re still going through it. We did well because facilitating. It was hard not to think that the future of the group we all had amazing co’s. was in our hands. We looked for those hints, those hidden mes- However, I’m convinced that next year—with more training, sages, those undercurrents, and we actually found them. more learning and more practice—it’ll be even better.
MIRA, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 MAISA, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 After struggling within my inner self I decided to go. And We were paired in teams of one Palestinian and one Israeli. I now I am so thankful I went. was the Palestinian facilitator: I lived for three weeks as noth- I had the chance to look at the Camp experience from a dif- ing but a Palestinian. This identity, which is one of the compo- ferent angle; the experience helped me realize what the point nents of my personality, became my whole identity at Camp. of Camp is really about. My co-facilitator (an Israeli) and I had This new situation played a big role in molding and reflecting deep discussions while preparing for our sessions. I witnessed the process of self-realization. miracles in facilitation: kids from different backgrounds and The most powerful and influential part of the experience was nationalities, with different ideas and beliefs, listening to each the support I received from my fellow facilitators, especially other. As they told their personal stories, I watched transfor- my co-facilitator. The fact that all of our facilitation groups mation within their inner selves. were going through the same journey gave me a sense of relief After eight years of involvement with Seeds of Peace, I now and security. Our interaction, the dialogue and the intense ex- truly believe in its mission and the experience of Camp. change of ideas and thoughts charged with repressed emotions (from the sessions with the Seeds) contributed significantly to the amazing time we had at Camp this summer. see more Camp pictures online By having leadership positions within the organization, we www.sop-me.com are being prepared as Seeds to play influential roles in our societies in the future.
PHOTO CREDIT: IDDO FELSENTHAL 30 The Olive Branch Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 ‘ interview edie maddy-weitzman Dr. Edie Maddy-Weitzman received a doctorate from Boston University in 2005. Her dissertation is titled Waging Peace in the Holy Land: A Qualitative Study of Seeds of Peace 1993-2004. Oron Michaeli (2005, Ma’ale Gamla) discovers more about her research.
ORON: Why did you choose to study Seeds of Peace? alumni by involving them in the planning and implementation of EDIE: In January 2000, when our staff at activities, thus giving participants a sense of ownership of the the American International School in Israel, programs. Also very impressive is the fact that the organization where I work as a high school counselor, has made a commitment to hiring alumni as counselors and fa- was planning our annual program to com- cilitators at Camp and at regional centers. memorate Martin Luther King Day, I sug- Opportunities for Seeds to participate in follow-up programs gested we invite a group from Seeds of when they return home are critical. It has been a major challenge Peace to speak with our students. Six to continue with such programming during the past few years of Palestinian and Israeli Seeds came to our increased conflict and violence. At such times, it is important to school. I was privy to rare scenes in the respond to the needs of the communities and deal with the real- Middle East: Israeli and Palestinian youth ity of the conflict. It’s important to solicit input from participants to warmly greeting each other upon their arrival and working to- see what type of programming would be most appropriate. gether to make a joint presentation. I think the fact that Seeds of Peace is providing both uni-na- At the time I was engaged in preliminary research for a doctoral tional and bi-national programs is very important so that the par- dissertation, focusing on the phenomenon of acculturation. I had ticipants can choose to be involved in activities that best meet already spent several months reading and writing my proposal, their needs. Also, it’s helpful that there are various channels of but once I heard these Palestinian and Israeli youth speak, I interacting with others, such as SeedsNet, The Olive Branch knew immediately that they should be at the heart of my inquiry. and the In Your Shoes program. I found myself spending the next five years as a researcher of this program. It has been quite an amazing experience. What are your conclusions from the study? Is SOP helpful? How did you gather information for the study? Some of the themes that emerged from my interviews and observations were that the participants increased their under- My research focused on understanding the experiences of standing of the conflict and its various narratives. Many of the Palestinian and Israeli Seeds. I was especially interested in Seeds reported that as a result of their participation in the pro- learning what happens to them after the Camp program. The gram their own self-esteem and self-confidence increased and research model I used consisted of a qualitative paradigm in they learned important communication and leadership skills. which information was obtained mainly through observations and interviews, as well as reading documents written by the Today some of the graduates are pursuing professions related participants. I visited the Seeds of Peace Camp in Maine for in some way to the ongoing conflict, hoping to make a differ- a few days in 2000 and 2002 to observe Camp activities and ence. One Palestinian Seed said she wants to become a his- dialogue sessions. During the course of five years I interviewed tory teacher and teach in a way that children “are not given a close to 30 Israeli and Palestinian Seeds—a few of them were message to hate or be prejudiced or feel superior.” “I would also interviewed more than once—as well as several staff members. like to let them know that yes, you have been taught history I also spent several hundred hours observing the activities and that way but someone else in a different part of the world has conferences of the Seeds of Peace regional follow-up program. studied the same incident in a different way.” An Israeli said he intends to focus on peace education for young children and en- What did you find most important about the program? courage them to learn Arabic. “I think in the books, don’t leave out anything, tell everything and give all the facts,” he says. “Get I think what is especially important is that the Seeds of Peace the kids educated towards peace and hope that Palestinians program uses what is referred to in the literature on peace edu- will do the same. And learn Arabic so you can talk to the Arab cation as a “mixed model” approach, in which both individual people in Arabic.” Others are studying media and communica- and group identities can be expressed. Opportunities are cre- tions, hoping to influence how the conflict is reported in their ated for Seeds to interact and get to know each other both as communities. Still others are studying law, political science, and individuals and as members of groups in conflict. For example, international relations, with plans to impact their society’s legal at Camp participants can interact with each other on a personal and political systems. I do believe that some of the Seeds will level during mealtimes, sports, and other activities, discovering end up being leaders in their chosen fields. Hopefully, they will common interests and forming cross-group friendships; they have a chance to impact the nature of the ongoing conflict. can also interact as members of groups in conflict during the daily dialogue sessions in which issues pertaining to the con- It is quite a challenge to conduct programs such as Seeds of flict and the external reality are addressed. The daily facilitated Peace during a time of increased conflict and a lack of top-down dialogue meetings at Camp are critical so that the participants peacemaking initiatives. Some people argue that during such can share personal experiences about their own lives, speaking periods, peace education programs cannot succeed and should about what it is like to live under conflict, and also learn about not be held. Yet, I believe it is important that people-to-people the other side’s narrative and experiences. programs such as Seeds of Peace continue. Perhaps a Pales- tinian Seed from 1993 best expresses why it is critical for pro- Another very important component of the Seeds of Peace grams like SOP to continue to function: program, in my opinion, is the ongoing follow-up program. A major shortcoming of many peace education programs is the “Today we have people on both sides who are opposed to the short-term nature of their interventions. Few peace education peace process and the idea of peace ... the voices of extremism programs operate with the same participants for more than one became stronger. That’s why I believe Seeds of Peace should year. In contrast, Seeds of Peace conducts long-term follow-up survive because I think that Seeds of Peace is the enemy of the programming for participants, geared to their developmental extremists. Peace is established between enemies, not friends. needs. For example, some programs include academic compo- I think Seeds of Peace plays the most important role when the nents, focusing on timely themes, such as the role of the media gaps between the people are very great, when there’s hatred during conflict, and the teaching of professional skills, such as and misunderstandings. It’s important that the Seeds of Peace conflict mediation. Furthermore, Seeds of Peace empowers program goes on.” ‘The Olive Branch’ Winter 2006 • Spring 2007 31 www.seedsofpeace.org/ olivebranch •
olivebranch • The Youth Magazine of Seeds of Peace Peace of Seeds of Magazine Youth The • H @seedsofpeace.org
anc “the world is in war, but I r see there is still hope for a
B better future, where instead e of a soldier there will be a v doctor ... ”
li — Rola Saher (13)
O First-place winner 2006 SOP/AMIDEAST Art Contest e Th