The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

'Seeds of Peace' Begin Three Weeks of Activities and Dialogue

July 02, 2008 - OTISFIELD -- Young people from six countries and Palestinians sang national anthems Thursday as their native flags were raised one by one at a ceremony opening the 16th season of the Seeds of Peace.

Campers from Egypt, India, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, and the United States chimed in as their flags went up.

Everyone joined for the final song: "I am a seed, a seed of peace," they sang as they swayed and threw their arms over each other's shoulders. "People of peace, rejoice, rejoice! For we have united into one voice."

The 168 campers participating in the three-week conflict-resolution session arrived on Tuesday and quickly learned some of the camp's traditions, including the Seeds of Peace song and being quiet when people raise their hands.

Like other camps, swimming, sailing, crafts and skits will be part of the days. But as staffers and "returning seeds" reminded them, there will be plenty of work to do as well.

"Don't forget you are here because we have a very important mission to accomplish," said Lilach Merhav, a 16-year-old Israeli. "We're trying to make real peace."

She was one of the seven returning campers to speak at the ceremony. Like the others, she was now a "peer support," the camp's version of junior counselor.

Jason Dias, a 16-year-old Pakistani, told the group to pay no heed to naysayers.

"You should know in your hearts you are working for a good cause," he said.

Since 1993, Seeds of Peace has brought together 4,000 children from opposite sides of conflicts. The hope is to get them to know each other as individuals and get beyond the stereotype of the enemy.

The Seeds of Peace camp in Maine has an annual operating budget of $1.7 million, and the overall program has an annual budget of $6 million. The organization raises most of its funds from private, individual donors.

In addition to bunking, eating and playing together, campers participate in facilitated discussions about their region's conflict.

Tim Wilson, the former camp director and current alumni director, treated campers to one of his well-known sayings: "God gave you two ears and one mouth." The arrangement, he said, should tell them something about how they should behave with each other.

"Listen first, then speak," he told them.

After the ceremony, Laith Alghoul, a 16-year-old Palestinian, said he didn't have opportunities to meet Israelis before Seeds of Peace.

"It was a dream come true for me, sitting with the other side and having the dialogue sessions," he said. "You don't know everything about the other side."

Dias said he was sometimes surprised by his encounters with Indians he met through Seeds of Peace.

Their discussions included topics ranging from Kashmir to the status of women to human rights.

Dias said he expected a lot of arguments, but found the Indian campers quite agreeable and comfortable to talk with.

The idea of getting to know so many different kinds of people still gives Akruti Agarwal goosebumps.

"You will understand and think about things you never thought of," said Agarwal, a 17-year-old Indian.

Later this summer she will visit her best friend in Pakistan as part of a home-stay program. The two haven't seen each other since camp in 2006.

During the session, the Seeds of Peace flag will be the only one flying inside the gates.

"Beautiful flag," said Wil Smith, the camp's associate director. "It's ours for the next three weeks."

By ANN S. KIM, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald, June 27, 2008


Lakes: Pleasant Lake
Regions: Sebago


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News