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2011 annual report PARADE | MAINE PHOTO | Bobbie Gottschalk OLIVE HARVEST | JERUSALEM CAMP | MAINE COVER PHOTO | Abigail Maycock BACK COVER PHOTO | Madeleine Pryor Dear Friends, Camp welcomed a new delegation from Syracuse, New York, overall gathering 266 In 2011, a new generation of Seeds joined the campers from nine delegations in Maine. Sixty growing network of young leaders working to educators from the Middle East, South Asia, shift the landscape of conflict and peace, and and the United States engaged in our first-ever as I write they continue to inspire me with their course for adults aimed at teaching narratives passion and dedication. and cultivating the moral imagination. As political, economic, and social upheaval Seeds of Peace’s fundraising successes continue reshapes the world, we need the wisdom of to increase our financial security and allowed these emerging leaders, who are working to us to hire three Seeds to help run our expanded overcome differences in nationality and opinion programs in the Middle East. The first-ever to forge bonds of respect and trust. Bridges to Peace walk added a UK event programs financials This was a year of firsts, as your generosity alongside the Stand Up for Peace Comedy mission 4 summary 30 allowed us to initiate long-term projects Show, Peace Market, and Spring Dinner, which programmatic overview 6 supporters by level 32 providing opportunities for Seeds’ continued together raised unprecedented sums in support international camp 8 gifts of goods and services 44 personal and professional development. of our programs. seas of peace 12 board members 44 The Seed Ventures initiative enabled South Asia I express my deepest gratitude to all of you regional programs 14 young leadership board 45 Seeds to launch far-reaching projects aimed at who donated time, financial support, skills, and middle east programs 16 ylc members 45 creating conditions necessary for peace within enthusiasm to Seeds of Peace in 2011, and I their own communities, and the People Power arab spring 18 uk steering committee 46 invite you to help us make our 20th year the multinational in Jordan brought 55 Middle most powerful yet. south asia programs 20 uk supporters 47 East and US Seeds together to explore tools for Spread the word—like us on Facebook, follow us programs 22 seeds 54 positive change in the wake of the Arab Spring. us on Twitter, and share our videos with friends maine seed program 24 parents of seeds 55 The inaugural Seas of Peace intensive and family. Walk with us in London. Laugh with counselors and staff 57 speaker forums 25 leadership program took 15 second-year Seeds us in New York. Organize a donation-matching awards and recognition 26 powhatan alumni 58 on the Atlantic. Other Seeds met in New York program. Mentor a Seed. Reflect on your own partnerships 28 corporations 58 for advanced dialogue facilitation training. commitment to peace. Every action counts. boards 98 foundations and organizations 60 Meanwhile, our flagship program continues to staff 99 friends 61 grow in size and reputation. The International Leslie A. Lewin, Executive Director 2 | 2011 Annual Report 2011 Annual Report | 3 WHY WE DO IT ... AND HOW Many of the youth that Seeds of Peace serves Seeds of Peace provides exceptional young live in countries involved in conflicts that are so leaders from conflict regions with a transforma- historically contentious, politically volatile, and tional experience at its International Camp fol- emotionally fraught that any acknowledgment lowed by year-round practical training at home. of the perspectives and needs of the “other side” Programs move through a continuum stretching are often believed to undermine or threaten from youth into adulthood, where alumni focus OUR MISSION their own legitimacy or right to exist. on ways to direct their professional and person- al influence to shift the landscape of conflict. Opportunities for cross-border encounters are scarce, and opportunities for positive and pro- Our approach begins by identifying young ductive cross-border encounters are even scarc- people, ages 14-16, who demonstrate excep- er; with little in-person knowledge to rely upon, tional potential for reaching positions of leader- WHAT WE DO depictions of the “other” remain stereotypical ship and influence in their societies. and a general attitude of mistrust prevails. Our goal is to find authentic leaders, well- Seeds of Peace inspires and equips new gen- At the same time, political leaders who engage rooted in the mainstream of their societies, and erations of leaders from regions of conflict with in negotiations and draft treaties to create build delegations that are balanced with respect the relationships, understanding, and skills peace at a governmental level often fail to cre- to gender and representative of the different re- needed to advance lasting peace. ate the educational, economic, and social con- ligious, ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic Treaties are negotiated by governments; peace ditions that allow peace to take root within and backgrounds in each country. is made by people. Since 1993, Seeds of Peace between societies. Seeds of Peace focuses on developing four key has provided exceptional young people and Seeds of Peace is critically aware that young assets and abilities considered essential to being educators from regions of conflict with the op- people are consistently at the forefront of move- an effective, peace-minded leader within any portunity to meet their historic enemies face-to- ments for social change. We are also aware profession: face at our International Camp in Maine. that today’s youth will be the parents, educators, • Strong relationships across lines We build on their extra-ordinary and crucial politicians, lawyers, journalists, business people, of conflict; relationships and understanding through year- and other influence-wielding actors of tomor- • A sophisticated understanding of core round regional programs that focus on the core row. conflict issues; leadership capacities needed to advance peace. We therefore consider it essential to nurture em- • Practical skills in communication, criti- There are now over 5,000 Seeds and Educators pathy and a global outlook in promising young cal thinking, and change-making; and from 27 countries who prove that solutions exist, leaders as they develop and to provide them • The ability to take responsible and peace is possible, and there is reason to have with the relationships, skills, and tools they need effective action on behalf of peace and hope for a better future. to overcome legacies of conflict. influence others to do the same. GRADUATE SEED | LONDON PHOTO | MAGDA RAKIta 4 | 2011 Annual Report 2011 Annual Report | 5 VOICES OF THE PEOPLE | MUMBAI PHOTO | AWISTA AYUB The Seeds of Peace experience starts for promising young leaders ages 14-16 with a transformational three-and-a- half week session at the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Otisfield, Maine. Year-round regional programming for Junior Seeds follows this founda- tional Camp experience. These programs address themes including core conflict issues, change-making, effective communication, and community outreach and development, maintaining Seeds’ commitment to peace and to each other while furthering their ability to have a lasting impact on their societies. Together, the Camp and year-round programs create continuous oppor- tunities for youth to choose nonviolence over conflict and hope over fear, giving them practical instruction and resources on their path to becoming PRGORRAMMATIC PRGORRAMMATIC OVERVIEW effective leaders capable of building peace. Our Senior Seeds Program enables alumni to stay connected through- Seeds of Peace reaches beyond Seeds out their college or military years. Programs such as campus outreach, to work with educators from Seeds’ directed seminars, and Seed-led home communities who are commit- discussion groups provide further ted to combining peace-building with opportunities for leadership devel- youth development. opment, social action, and mutual support. The Seeds of Peace Educator Pro- grams include local capacity-building At age 22, Seeds become members workshops, cross-border encounters, of our Graduate Association, which community and youth engagement facilitates continued cross-border projects, and the development of cur- networking and the creation of local ricula and resources. and regional peace-building initiatives. Graduate Seed programs focus on support for Seeds in professional fields that are central to peace—law Our network now includes over 5,000 and policy, media, enterprise, education and conflict resolution. Seeds and Educators worldwide. 6 | 2011 Annual Report 2011 Annual Report | 7 P For the 19th summer of the Seeds of Peace International Camp, 266 Seeds 266 CAMPERS and 62 Educators from the Middle 9 DELEGATIONS East, South Asia, and the US gathered American, Egyptian, Indian, Israeli, Jordanian, CAM at Pleasant Lake to form an Maine, Pakistani, Palestinian and Syracuse L international community dedicated to pursuing 1,680 MINUTES peace. of professionally facilitated dialogue for every Seed During 105-minute daily dialogue sessions, Seeds explored the most divisive issues of their conflicts, sharing their personal AINE experiences and internationa M confronting each other directly over their competing historical narratives. DIALOGUE | CAMP PHOTO | BOBBIE GOTTSCHALK 8 | 2011 Annual Report 2011 Annual Report | 9 DIALOGUE | CAMP PHOTO | BOBBIE GOTTSCHALK Seeds and counselors initiated

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