[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 12, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S3758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   25TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEEDS OF PEACE

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, in 1993, American journalist and author 
John Wallach hosted a dinner with leaders from Israel, Egypt, and the 
Palestinian Authority. As he toasted his guests, he urged each country 
to send 15 youngsters to a new summer camp he had established in 
Otisfield, ME. That year, 46 teens, ages 13 to 18, and including three 
Americans, comprised the first class of the Seeds of Peace Camp.
  Twenty-five years later, Seeds of Peace now has 6,698 alumni 
throughout the Middle East, South Asia, Europe, and the United States. 
They came to Maine from 27 countries, many from places of conflict, for 
3 weeks of camping and social activities to promote understanding, 
reconciliation, acceptance, dialogue, coexistence, and peace. They 
returned home uniquely positioned to lead change and with the courage 
to dispel the fear, mistrust, and prejudice that fuel conflict.
  It is a pleasure to congratulate this remarkable organization on its 
landmark 25th anniversary. Seeds of Peace is able to bridge borders and 
foster peace in the midst of longstanding global conflicts. Many of 
those early campers are now holding decisionmaking positions in their 
home countries, and I believe that the ``seeds of peace'' that were 
planted during their time in Maine will blossom into lasting, visionary 
solutions to conflicts perpetuated by cycles of violence.
  Building on the success of the international program, Seeds of Peace 
launched the Maine Seeds leadership program in 2000 in response to the 
changing demographics in our State resulting from a growing refugee 
population. These Maine Seeds organize year-round community and school 
activities that bridge divisions and create positive change.
  Seeds of Peace reveals the human face of youth who are too often 
exposed to hatred by engaging campers in both guided coexistence 
sessions and ordinary summer camp activities, such as sharing meals, 
canoeing, swimming, playing sports, and exploring creativity through 
the arts and computers. These interactions and the lasting friendships 
formed are creating new generations of leaders who will choose dialogue 
and understanding over violence and hatred.
  In addition to the summer camp in Maine, Seeds of Peace provides 
year-round opportunities, through regional programming and the 
innovative use of technology, to enable former participants to build on 
the relationships forged at camp, so that the learning processes begun 
at camp may continue in the participants' home countries, where they 
are most needed.
  Seeds of Peace is strongly supported by participating governments and 
many world leaders. Federal funding for Seeds of Peace demonstrates and 
recognizes the importance of Seeds of Peace in promoting the foreign 
policy goals of the United States.
  The Seeds of Peace mission--to inspire and cultivate new generations 
of leaders to accelerate the social, economic, and political changes 
essential for peace--is more essential than ever before. From a small 
summer camp in Maine a quarter of a century ago to a global movement 
today, Seeds of Peace has carried out that vital mission and brought 
new hope to the world.

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