15 July 2004
Seeds of Peace Camp Fosters Friendships across Enemy Lines
Teens from Pakistan, Afghanistan, India take message of peace home
Washington -- Teenagers from Pakistan, India and Afghanistan have lived together, shared meals, shared feelings and become friends at the Seeds of Peace International Camp in rural Maine during the past three weeks.
For some of the teens, it took traveling to the other side of the world to sit at the same table with their neighbors.
Seeds of Peace is an organization working to dissolve animosity between nations in conflict by bringing together young people from both sides. The organization builds peace through people-to-people contact at a camp where they absorb the message of "coexistence."
"Back at home I was told that Seeds of Peace was just an imaginary world where two enemies unite and it's just a dream. But I came to camp and realized that this is not a dream. It is a reality working to exist," said Divya Moorjaney, a member of the India delegation.
"We are the young Seeds, and we are growing into the trees of peace," said Moorjaney, while addressing fellow "Seeds" and State Department officials on July 13 in Washington.
Dialogue sessions and the Color Games -- the camp Olympics -- facilitate understanding and respect for one another.
The camp breaks Seeds up into groups of 10 for 90-minute dialogue meetings, called coexistence sessions.
"Before I came to peace camp, I knew I would have to talk to my so-called enemy so I came into the camp with an open mind. Seeds of Peace taught me how to listen and how to be listened to. I realized that when you start to listen, your so-called enemy has a tendency to become one of your best friends," said Ayyaz Ahmad, a member of the Pakistan delegation.
During coexistence sessions, facilitators help mediate conversation between the teens from the different countries. The coexistence sessions are a chance for the Seeds to voice their concerns and express their feelings about issues and ideas.
Ahmad said that coexistence showed him that even though there were differences between him and the other Seeds, he knew that everyone, Pakistani, Indian or Afghan wanted peace.
"To get rid of the pain you have to face it and we did. All of us talked about the issues and came to a solution that we could live in peace regardless of our different religions or ideologies. It's about being human, not whether you are a Muslim or an Indian," said Ahmad.
Talking about issues like Kashmir proved to be the most difficult coexistence sessions for Ahmad.
"I was always scared to talk about issues because I was thinking, I'm such good friends with these guys. I thought the issues would disrupt our friendship, but it worked out so well. We were able to sit down together and talk about Kashmir, the partitions and our religions and we talked peacefully. In the end, it's about working together not going separate ways," he said.
He also said that one coexistence session gave the Seeds an assignment to role-play as leaders of their countries. They had to negotiate and try to find a common ground on the issues.
"Believe me, it was very difficult and now I know what the leaders go through. It's not a one-man game; you need a team. You'll always need a team and that's what I realized here," said Ahmad.
At the end of the three weeks, the Color Games are played. The Seeds are divided into two multi-national teams, the blue team and the green team, and the Seeds are encouraged to put aside their differences and work together as a team.
"Everyone was united irrespective of their countries or what borders they had to cross to get here and irrespective of their religion or nationality," said Moorjaney.
Ahmad said that during the Color Games he forgot who was from Pakistan and who was from India or Afghanistan.
"I just knew that we had to work together and we did. I realized that at the end it's not about winning or losing. It's about teamwork," he said.
At the end of the Color Games, the two teams celebrated by singing the Seeds of Peace song. Moorjaney said that the moment moved her and fellow Seeds to tears.
Camp gives plenty of time for the Seeds to go swimming, play sports such as basketball and soccer or participate in creative writing or drama activities.
Games and activities helped to break down barriers and allowed the campers to form bonds.
"We are just a bunch of teenagers so these were the things that got us going. We just needed a start and that was it," said Ahmad.
The Seeds also have a chance to share their different traditions through a special event called cultural night. And all Seeds are invited to attend each other's religious services conducted at camp.
The program does not end when the Seeds leave camp. Programs and initiatives are put in place for students to continue dialogue and make spreading peace the Seeds' responsibility.
"Now I will go back home and I will either get criticism or I will get support," said Ahmad. "But I will still convey my message. I will because it's what I believe in. At a certain point, Seeds of Peace put me on a path toward peace. There is a ray of hope now. So I am going to pass on the message."
Another Seed from Afghanistan said that his family and friends back at home were very excited about his participation in the Seeds of Peace program. Once he returns home, he hopes to share what he has learned and bring the hope of peace back to his country.
Seeds of Peace participants are able to keep in contact with their new friends through the Internet or coordinated regional events once they return home.
Last fall, Indian Seeds from Mumbai visited their Pakistani friends in Lahore for a one-week visit coordinated by Seeds of Peace.
A special Internet forum has been set up for all Seeds of Peace alumni to continue dialogue with their new friends and gives them a chance to meet other Seeds.
The South Asia Seeds of Peace program was started in 2001 through grants from the Department of State's Bureau of South Asian Affairs. The Afghan program was added later and is now in its second year.
The session concluded with a trip to Washington, where delegates met with State Department officials, visited national monuments and museums, and met members of the U.S. government as well as ambassadors from their countries.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
