Seeds of Peace

Seeds of Peace is an international youth organization, founded in 1993 , that works to bring together youngsters from conflict regions and teach them the importance of peace and coexistence. Seeds of Peace began as an idea formulated by the late United States journalist John Wallach . At a state dinner involving politicians from Israel , Egypt , and the Palestinian Authority , Wallach toasted them, then made them pledge to bring 15 youngsters from each of their respective countries to a new camp he was founding in Maine . These 45, ranging in age from 14 to 16, comprised the first session of the Seeds of Peace International Camp, founded on the site of the former Powhatan Camp just outside Otisfield, Maine . They were later present in the signing ceremony of the Declaration of Principles (better know as the Oslo Accords ) in Washington, D.C. Since its inauguration in 1993, the International Camp has produced over 2,500 graduates. In addition to the original countries, there are now Seeds from the United States , Israel , Palestine , Jordan , Tunisia , Morocco , Qatar , Kuwait , Yemen , Egypt , Afghanistan , India , Pakistan , Cyprus (Greek and Turkish parts), Greece , Turkey , Montenegro , Saudi Arabia , Iraq , Albania , and the Republic of Macedonia . The organization's headquarters are located in New York City , and there is also an office in Washington, D.C. In 1999, the Center for Coexistence was established in Jerusalem in order to coordinate the organization's Middle Eastern activities, which began three years earlier. Seeds of Peace also has opened additional offices in Haifa , Tel Aviv , Ramallah , Cairo , and Amman in late 2004 or early 2005 . In these regional offices, graduates of the International Camp continue their activity in the organization by having additional meetings with their counterparts from across the border, as well as performing community service. The organization publishes a magazine, the Olive Branch , that sums up its activities over a period of several months. The magazine's latest edition was printed in over 15,000 copies. John Wallach, the founder of the organization, also served as its President until his death in July 2002 . Former State Department official Aaron Miller succeeded him. Seeds of Peace maintains a strict policy of remaining apolitical. Its activities are funded mainly by donations, with some activities receiving earmarked funds from the US government. They also have a new program, called Beyond Borders, which consisted of dialogue between Americans and Arabs.¹