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Seeds of Peace is an international youth organization, founded in 1993 , that works to bring together youth from conflict regions to discuss coexistence and conflict resolution. Seeds of Peace began as an idea of the American journalist John Wallach . At a State Dinner with 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 48, including 3 Americans, ranging in age from 13 to 16, comprised the first session of the Seeds of Peace International Camp, founded on the site of the former Camp Powhatan in Otisfield, Maine . The camp was organized in a manner similar to traditional Maine summer camps, with the added element of dialogue sessions between campers. The campers from 1993 were later present in the signing ceremony of the Declaration of Principles (better know as the Oslo Accords ) in Washington, D.C. President Bill Clinton and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin were photographed holding Seeds of Peace T-shirts. 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 Jordan , Afghanistan , India , Pakistan , Cyprus ( Turkish Republic Of Northern Cyprus / Republic Of Cyprus ), and the Balkans . The Balkan programs ( Albania , the Republic Of Macedonia , Serbia , and Kosovo ) and the Cyprus program (Turkish Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Cyprus, Greece , and Turkey ) were discontinued after the summer of 2003. The organization's headquarters are located in New York City , and there is also an office in Washington, D.C . Seeds of Peace also has opened additional offices in Haifa , Tel Aviv , Ramallah , Cairo , and Amman . 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's graduates publish a magazine, '' The Olive Branch '', that sums up their activities over a period of several months. In February 2001, Asel Asleh, an Israeli Arab graduate of the program, was shot dead by Israeli security forces during a demonstration. He had on a "Seeds of Peace" t-shirt at the time of the shooting. John Wallach , the founder of the organization, also served as its president until his death in 2002. He was succeeded by former State Department official Aaron David Miller , who left the job early in 2006. Later, Janet Wallach, wife of John Wallach, was named president Emeritus . As of 2007, Nicolla Hewitt is the president of board. 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 U.S. Federal Government . SESSIONS Seeds of Peace usually holds 2-3 sessions per year. The first two are similar in nature to the first camp session in 1993. Delegations from Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Egypt, and United States always attend both sessions, and other countries may send delegations to one or the other. The third session varies. In previous years it was a program called Beyond Borders, which consisted of dialogue between Americans and Arabs. Other years have featured Maine Seeds, who confront regional issues in the Maine towns of Portland, Maine and Lewiston . Most recently, in 2005, there was a week-long reunion of former campers. PS PROGRAM Peer Support campers (PSs) are campers who return for a second session at camp. The PS program offers many experiences and privileges that were unavailable to the campers during their first year. They occasionally have the privilege of leaving camp while first year campers continue their normal schedule. Recently, the PSs traveled to Washington DC during camp, as opposed to the entire camp. Another experience which has been key to the PS program from the beginning is the Outdoor Leadership Program (OLP), where PS trek out on a three day expedition through rural Maine. This experience tests the group strength, and acts as the foundation for the PS dialogue. The role of PS's was originally to provide guidance and support for the first year campers, but this role has changed. The aim of the PS program now focuses more on personal growth. They try to move past the stage of constant arguing in dialogue which they faced as camper. They concentrate on a more advanced dialogue that may or may not use words. It is often philosophical and takes place in a space known commonly as the trophy room, and PS's generally agree that dialogue is enjoyable, and extremely rewarding. Facilitator Wesley Days , opens the space for the dialogue and uses a system where he interferes as little as possible, usually only to guide the dialogue in a more productive direction. Common rules such as no insults, confidentiality, or one person speaking at a time will only be introduced if the group agrees that they need to be used, and acceptable conduct is dictated by group morals. Wes calls this system "open space technology" after the business facilitation/organization model developed by Harrison Owen in the mid-1980s. LIFE AFTER CAMP Approximately 350 new seeds graduate from Seeds of Peace every year. The Israeli and Palestinian delegations continue dialogue sessions and activitites, many organized through the Center for Coexistence in Jerusalem. The Indian and Pakistani delegations also have travelled to each other's countries for talks and activities. Other delegations conduct reunions semi-annually or as they see fit. Bobbie Gottschalk, a Vice President in the Seeds of Peace organization, runs a daily digest called "Seedsnet". All former Seeds and counselors are able to continue their dialogue and keep each other posted of events and accomplishments. EXTERNAL LINKS
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