Five Arab and Israeli teenagers sat side-by-side Tuesday night in Barnum 008 and discussed their experiences living and learning together while at a program called "Seeds of Peace," which brings teenagers from war-torn areas of the world together to reach deeper understandings of each other.
The five young people were led by Seeds of Peace founder John Wallach, who also spoke Tuesday and showed a documentary of the group's time together. Wallach was also presented with the Dr. Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award, one of a number of annual awards given by the Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC) program, which hosted the event. The award is given in recognition of his immense achievement in a field related to the organization's theme this year, "Race and Ethnicity: A Global Inquiry."
Tuesday's program was the latest in a series of EPIIC programs focusing on Middle Eastern affairs.
Wallach, an award-winning journalist and a seasoned author, created Seeds of Peace in 1993 to "equip them (the next generation) to make peace." He said the mission of "Seeds" was partly to "break the cycle of dehumanization" that can be so evident in a situation like the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. He described the program as a "grassroots movement that is changing the world."
Seeds of Peace participants attend a three-week camp in Otisfield, ME, where they meet peers of different backgrounds and participate in "coexistence sessions." They also enjoy typical summer camp activities. Arab and Israeli teenagers who participated in the program were chosen by their government for exemplary characteristics as distinguished young people. The chosen youths have the opportunity to break down stereotypes about their supposed "enemies" and live, work, and play alongside each other.
Tuesday night's documentary and discussion were well received by the capacity crowd in the Barnum lecture hall. "[The program] was an extremely humanizing experience for both sides. It expressed the Palestinian point of view about this conflict, which is so rare to hear," said Dina Karam, co-president of the Arabs Students Association.
Alumni of the program talked to the Tufts community about the understandings gained and friendships formed while at camp. Many participants, upon arriving their first few days at camp, were either nervous about meeting peers from "the other side", or were anxious to convince others of the validity of their views. Many were surprised, however, that they ended up questioning the "truths" they had been told in their history books and by their leaders.
During the daily hour-and-a-half facilitated coexistence sessions, the teens had a chance to confront the preconceptions of their peers, and to discuss such controversial issues as Jewish settlements, the status of Jerusalem, and the rights of return for Palestinians.
"To listen to how these participants' lives have been changed is inspiring," said Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, director of the Tufts Hillel Foundation.
The documentary, entitled Peace of Mind and made by seven "Seeds" participants over the course of their camp experience, showed the effort that the teens were making to maintain the friendships they had formed. The Palestinian and Israeli friends visited each other at their homes in towns and cities to which they normally would not travel. Furthermore, Seeds alumni have the arduous task of not reverting to the often prepackaged opinions and stereotypes their communities hold. The teens try to maintain their friendships despite discouragement - and sometimes threats - from those around them.
Seeds of Peace tries to support its graduates in the difficult transition back home after their summer experience. A Center for Coexistence has been set up in Jerusalem, where graduates can go with their families to work on projects and to meet the families of their peers. Furthermore, Seeds graduates go to local schools to give presentations about their experiences in the program.
While the presentation focused on the experiences of Israeli and Palestinian teenagers in the program, Seeds of Peace also hosts young people from other conflict-ridden regions of the world, such as India, Pakistan, Greece, and Turkish Cyprus.
In fact, Wallach was uncertain as to whether the Arab/Israeli facet of the program would even take place this year, because of the recent intifadah - Arabic for "conflict" - and exceptionally high tensions. It would be the respective governments' decision as to whether or not to send its teenagers to the program.
EPIIC's ties to Seeds of Peace dates back to 1994, when it welcomed one of the first Seeds delegations to Tufts. Its return this year came partly because of EPIIC Director Sherman Teichman's desire to honor Wallach. The program was one of many that will address the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in an effort to maintain a viable connection between the groups.
