WHATweDO “We refuse to accept what is, when we know what can be …” Founded in 1993 by journalist John Wallach, Seeds of Peace is dedicated to inspiring and equipping new generations of leaders from regions of conflict with the relationships, understanding, and skills needed to advance lasting peace. Seeds of Peace has set a standard in international peace-building by providing exceptional young people and educators from regions of conflict with an otherwise impossible opportunity to meet their historic enemies face-to-face at its International Camp in Maine. There are now over 5,000 Seeds and Educators from 27 countries who prove that solutions exist, peace is possible, and there is reason to have hope for a better future. Our Seeds and Educators are at the heart of everything we do, as it is their realities and futures that are most affected by the conflicts that define their lives. They hold a wide range of beliefs and opinions on how to end the conflicts within and between their societies. Their common ground, however, is the belief in and commitment to dialogue and informed leadership as the basis for meaningful change and the most effective tools in the pursuit of peace. Seeds of Peace has grown from a summer camp for 46 Arabs and Israelis to a year-round leadership-building organization that has active programs in South Asia, the Middle East, and the United States.
inside South Asia Regional Conference Mumbai
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Speaker Series: Mr. Dev Tayde
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Seeds Run for Peace
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Interfaith Harmony Camp Lahore
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India-Pakistan Digital Video Conference
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SOLA School Presentation
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Seeds of Peace at IIT Bombay
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Be the Change, Kabul
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Mock Parliament Lahore
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Harvard Mediation Training Dubai
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SEEDS OF PEACE INTERNATIONAL CAMP, MAINE
South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
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SAJJAD AHMAD WITH SEEDS SEEDS OF PEACE INTERFAITH HARMONY CAMP (LAHORE)
South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
REGIONAL DIRECTOR’S NOTE Dear Seeds and Supporters, I write this note with mixed emotions as we say farewell to Sajjad Ahmad, a staple of our Pakistani programs since the start of Seeds of Peace’s work in South Asia. Sajjad has brought stability and structure to the organization during great highs and some challenging times. His presence will be missed and his absence felt near and far. While we bid farewell to Sajjad and thank him for his 12 years of hard work, I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Imran Khan to the Seeds of Peace family. Imran will be joining us as the incoming Director of Pakistan Programs. The search process for Sajjad’s replacement has been lengthy, but also rewarding, providing key stakeholders an opportunity to interview multiple qualified candidates through several rounds of interviews. Although the final decision was not easy to make, we are confident in Imran and believe in his vision for the growth of Seeds of Peace in Pakistan and the region. Prior to joining Seeds of Peace, Imran worked for the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund as the Management Executive-Youth for the organization’s special initiatives unit. While at the Fund, he worked with four partner organizations to focus on local livelihoods, youth, and community institutions. Imran also led the national advocacy campaign for inclusion of sexual and reproductive health and rights in youth policy in Pakistan. Having written the first draft of a youth policy declaration in Balochistan, he briefed government officials and all stakeholders on the draft youth policy in April 2012. Please join me in welcoming Imran to the Seeds of Peace family! I hope you enjoy reading this issue of events and programs that have taken place in the region since our last issue. Enjoy! Awista Ayub Director, Seeds of Peace South Asia Programs
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South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
CROSS-BORDER WORSHOPs reunite SEEDS FOR A WEEK
MUMBAI | In early November, Afghan, Pakistani, and Indian Seeds met in Mumbai for a week of dialogue, workshops, and skill building. Due to restrictive visa policies, such cross border meetings are exceedingly rare in South Asia— this is the first such Seeds of Peace event to take place since 2011. Through a series of workshops and keynote addresses from journalists, diplomats, and professors, the 25 Seeds had the opportunity to explore critical issues related to the conflicts affecting the region today. They focused on three core themes: Afghanistan-Pakistan related issues, Pakistan-India related issues, and U.S./regional related issues. Discussion ranged from the impact of U.S. drone strikes on the citizens of the region, the Kashmir border
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dispute, and economic issues in light of a changing political climate into 2014. Guest speakers included Ashraf Haidari, Afghanistan’s Deputy Ambassador to India; Srishtee Sethi, a PhD candidate at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences; and Prakhar Sharma, a PhD student at Syracuse University. A highlight of the program was a conference call with Samir Ahmad, a professor from the University of Kashmir, who spoke about the current state of affairs in Kashmir. Seeds also met with Graduate Seeds Shanoor (India, 2003), Mujib (Afghanistan, 2002), and Fahad (Pakistan, 2002). By focusing on one theme each day, the discussions allowed the Seeds and the presenters to become deeply engaged with the
issues. “Even though we all live in the same region, through the conference we came across information that was new to us,” said Shahzaib, a 2007 Pakistani Seed who was visiting India for the first time. The conference then shifted into a small grants idea-generation session that was led by Seeds of Peace regional staff. Through a partnership with Ashoka’s Youth Venture, a two-day workshop module was developed that allowed Seeds to work as a regional delegation in order to identify local needs that they wanted to address. In the coming weeks, the Seeds will submit proposals to address these issues as part of a Seeds of Peace small grants initiative. After a week of issue-focused
South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014 discussions and a small grants workshop, Seeds went home feeling better equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to continue as change-makers in their societies; ones who are informed and invested in making a difference at the local, national, and regional level. Throughout the week, Indian Seeds and their families hosted the Afghans and Pakistanis, a meaningful opportunity for them to build relationships across lines of conflict. - Awista Ayub
SPEAKER SERIES DEV TAYDE MUMBAI | The Speaker Series meeting began with presentations made by students who had qualified with the Top 20 schools in a worldwide competition called “Design for Change.” The students were from Saifee High School and Udyachal High School. They showed us how they had succeeded in bringing about a change in their school environment and overcome issues faced daily at their schools. Topics included making lunch meals healthier and organizing lunchtime. This was followed by a talk by Mr. Dev Tayde. Tayde works with Indicorps, a non-partisan, nonreligious, non-profit organization. Indicorps’ objectives are multifold: providing Indians from all over the world with the means to connect with India and contribute to its development, while also empowering a new generation of socially-conscious global leaders. Tayde joined the Indicorps team in 2006 and has expertly juggled project development and fellowship support roles. He has a decade of experience in
SEEDS RUN FOR PEACE
has a decade of experience in low-cost housing and sanitation, community development, governance, education, youth development and capacity building. His volunteer stints with numerous organizations across India have enabled him to channel his passion for service. He assisted with the co-founding of Down To Earth and Jagruti, two non-profits engaged with children and youth from humble backgrounds and focusing in rural development. After a brief and interesting icebreaker discussion with Tayde, our group discussed different aspects of pollution and sustainability. Tayde also provided an overview of various dimensions of peace, including issues of “real” and “virtual” power, and the effects of power on individual actions that impact society. This meeting was interesting and interactive. Tayde helped the group to think in different ways and explore issues from alternative perspectives.
MUMBAI | This year two Indian Seeds represented Seeds of Peace at the Dream Run of the 11th annual Mumbai Marathon. “Although it was just the two of us proudly wearing our green Seeds t-shirts, we were overwhelmed by the amount of interest we attracted,” says Karan. Numerous participants seemed to be interested in the work Seeds of Peace does, including a Times of India photographer. The Seeds describe the event as a fantastic experience and a great way to spread awareness about Seeds of Peace. They hope to gather a much larger group to represent the organization next year in order to - Parmangana spread more awareness about the & Unnishankar cause. - Karan & Kanika
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South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
INTERFAITH CAMP brings together 50 MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS, HINDUS & SIKHS
LAHORE | Seeds of Peace held a two and a half day Interfaith Harmony Camp (IFHC) in Lahore. This was the fourth of its kind and it has now become an annual program. In this camp, 60 students of grades 8 to 11 from Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh religions participated to explore the similarities between the teachings of all four faiths. The students from Lahore, Nankana, Zafarwal, and Pasrooor, participated in various educational and creative activities. They not only held discussions but also completed many challenges in interfaith teams, where success depended on the cooperation of
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each team member. All the activities of the program provided space for students could learn about each other’s religion and explore the similarity in teachings. Similarities the students noticed in the teachings of each religion included beliefs in One Supreme Power, respect for fellow human beings, tolerance, and the freedom to practice their own religion. The program was led by a graduate Seed, Syed Muhammad. Other Seeds volunteered their time as counselors and facilitators, replicating their Camp experience. On the last day of the camp, the participants presented a talent show in which at least one student
from each religion teamed up together and presented a poem, skit or performance related to the theme of the camp. Dr. Hafiz Abdul Ghani (Chairperson, Department of Religious Studies, FC College) distributed the certificates of participation among the students. The camp was organized in special collaboration with The Trust School Aamir Town, Lahore. The Hindu and Sikh students participated through special cooperation of Hindu Sudhar Sabah and Gurunanak Ji Public Model School, Nanakana Sahib. - Shazaib
South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
INDIAN AND PAKISTANI STUDENTS DISCUSS CURRENT AFFAIRS ONLINE LAHORE/MUMBAI
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On March 1, more than 60 Indian and Pakistani students participated in a video conference to engage in discussion about ongoing political events in their respective countries. The event began with Indian Seeds giving a presentation on the 2014 General Elections in India and their impact on relations with Pakistan. Jehan and Neel on the Indian side provided detailed information about the dynamics of Indian politics and the anticipated results of these elections. They informed the audience about how the Indian political system works, especially before General Elections, and how this might affect India’s relationship with Pakistan. The speakers showed a ray of hope for an improved relationship between the countries, highlighting increased trade and people-to-people interactions. The Pakistani participants from ‘The Trust school Lahore’ and ‘Crescent School’ actively took part in the discussion by asking questions about the stance of major Indian political parties and what effect their positions could have on foreign policy with Pakistan. In the second half of the video conference, both sides switched
roles as the topic of discussion shifted to negotiations between the Pakistani government and the Taliban. A detailed presentation by Pakistani Seeds Talha and Abdur Rehman informed the audience in Mumbai about the reality of these negotiations on the ground, historical and future considerations, and the regional importance of the peace talks. The Indian audience was given insights on the ongoing conflict
negotiations after the presentation concluded. Ultimately participants from both sides agreed that the government of Pakistan needs to decide upon a means of tackling the problem immediately as a prompt solution to the current deadlock. Participants on both sides were delighted with the video conference experience. “Having a direct conversation with Indians was a first time experience for me,“ said Asad from the Crescent School. “I learned about their mindset and what misconceptions we have of each other, and I would be glad to talk with them again.“ - Talha & Aziz
between the 50 militant groups of the Tehreek-e-Taliban and the Government. The presentation overviewed the various means of negotiation and options for military action that are being considered by Pakistani leaders to establish greater stability in northwest Pakistan. The participants debated the advantages and disadvantages of
Video conferences organized by Seeds of Peace in South Asia are often open to all. Kindly contact the respective country directors if you would would like to take part in a future event.
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South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
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PROGRAMS ROUND THE YEAR
THAT EMPOWER YOUTH WITH ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF LEADERSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING
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YOUTH IN
TO MAKE A CHANGE IN T WITNESSING NUMERO INITIA
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South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
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INSPIRED
6,000 MINUTES OF INTENSE LEADERSHIP BUILDING
WORKSHOPS THAT ENGAGE THE PARTICIPANTS IN INTELLECTUAL DISCUSSIONS
THEIR COMMUNITIES AFTER OUS SEEDS OF PEACE ATIVES
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SEEDS OF PEACE MOCK PARLIAMENT, LAHORE
South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
seeds visit afghanistan’s school of leadership KABUL | Afghan Seeds Maryam, Mustafa and Mahmood visited the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA) on December 20 to present Seeds of Peace’s history, mission, and achievements in South Asia. The goal of the presentation was to elucidate Seeds of Peace’s long-term goals in Afghanistan to SOLA students, most of whom are teenage girls from provinces across the country. School of Leadership, Afghanistan is a small donor-funded boarding school that brings together students from different areas of Afghanistan through a highly competitive selection process. SOLA-selected students study various subjects from an approved curriculum recognized globally; they also receive training to improve their leadership skills and have the opportunity to study abroad through SOLA. These vital skills give students the capacity to make decisions independently in the future. During the presentation to more than 30 SOLA students, the Seeds had the opportunity to communicate and interact with students individually. Seeds shared stories of Camp experiences and explained the ways that Seeds of Peace empowers Afghan Seeds and
improves leadership skills through various post-Camp programs. Additionally, the Seeds representatives discussed the many resources Seeds of Peace provides graduates to implement projects or ideas that have the potential to make a positive impact in Afghan communities. SOLA students also shared their experiences of staying at boarding school and living with other students. “It is hard to live miles away from our parents,” said one student. “It is hard to adjust with this new environment, but we appreciate that this is a good opportunity to know our country better since students are from different parts of Afghanistan. We share challenges we have in our communities and we develop and discuss ideas which can tackle these challenges in the future.” At the end of the visit, SOLA students gave a tour of their boarding school premises, including the library, classes, and dormitory. SOLA students expressed interest in meeting other Afghan Seeds and attending local Seeds of Peace programs in the future. - Mahmood
seeds attend itt in mumbai
MUMBAI | The Abhyuday Festival organized by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) was a two-day event that brought together organizations from all over the world working on humanitarian causes such as education, children’s rights, and global peace. Seeds of Peace had the opportunity to set up a stall at the festival where numerous visitors came to inquire about the organization and its work. Our team explained to each guest about Seeds of Peace’s efforts to empower youth worldwide with leadership skills and the ability to understand and celebrate differences in cultures. Visitors took home many pamphlets, booklets and Seeds of Peace merchandise from the stall. Our team at the stall also conducted a small activity wherein each visitor was asked “What does peace mean to you?” The activity not only engaged the participants but also gave us an insight into the diverse views that people have about peace. - Aziz
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South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
BE THE CHANGE, KABUL
KABUL | Afghan Seeds came challenges?)
together at the Be The Change workshop to tackle the challenge of providing clear goals and objectives for Seeds of Peace programming in the region. The workshop was structured around four questions: 1) Who are we (as individuals, as a generation, and as the Afghan Seeds)? 2) Where are we? (What kind of society do we live in? What are the challenges that we face in our society?) 3) What has to change? (What are the root causes of these
4) What do we do now? (What kind of change is possible? What can we Afghan Seeds do in order to address these challenges?) Through various interactive exercises and small group activities, the Seeds had the opportunity to explore the above questions in the Afghan context. The workshop was very engaging and the Seeds reflected on the most serious problems facing Afghanistan, including illiteracy, corruption, unemployment, poverty, and human rights violations. At the end of the workshop, Seeds
agreed to draft their goals and strategy in the form of a statement, outlining the Afghan Seeds’ objectives and the areas in which they felt strongly that they might contribute positively. This action plan will enable the Afghan Seeds to plan efficient local programs and volunteerbased activities in the future. The workshop also provided Seeds the platform to collectively and freely discuss various lessonslearned related to Seeds of Peace activities in Afghanistan. - Mustafa
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The Mock Parliament was deep insight |into the 2014 SouthaAsia Newsletter Summer political framework and dynamic currently present within Pakistan. It was something that not only gave us awareness, but gave us the knowledge to go on to finding solutions.
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— Moiz Jehangir, Mock Parliament Delegate
SEEDS OF PEACE MOCK PARLIAMENT, LAHORE
South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
SEEDS ORGANIZE SIMULATION OF PAKISTAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LAHORE | Seeds of Peace Pakistan organized a three-day Mock Parliament in October. At the simulation, 50 students from 14 Pakistani schools explored the workings of their own parliament. Delegates acted as Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) in order to present their individual and party perspective on given issues. The objective was to understand and empathize with the conditions, compulsions, and constraints of the Pakistani government. Delegates attended an orientation on October 4 at Lahore Grammar School during which they learned about Seeds of Peace and were briefed on the basic rules and procedures of the Mock Parliament. The delegates then contested for the role of the Mock Prime Minister and were elected on the basis of votes from the Mock National Assembly. The elected Mock Prime Minister took the role of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, while the rest of the participants were sent to their party advisors who assigned them various personalities. The delegates took on the roles of Ch. Nisar, Imran Khan, Altaf Hussain, and other prominent political personalities from the PML-N, PTI, PPPP, MQM, BNP, PKMAP, ANP, JI, JUI-F and other parties. Following this, the participants were divided into different committees, ranging from the Committees for Internal Security and Inter-Provincial Relations, to the Economic Committee. The Mock Parliament opened
on October 12 at the Children’s Library Complex Lahore. Over three committee sessions, the participants, aided by their vigilant committee chairs, discussed issues pertaining to their committee and drafted a bill that presented various solutions. Following this, the parliamentarians headed to the National Assembly, where a heated discussion took place on the topic of Internet censorship by blocking websites like those of Ahmadi and Al Jazeera or limiting access to Skype. The parliamentarians faced the task of having to represent their party’s stance rather than their own, leading to a better understanding of the difference of opinion. On October 13, the Mock
Parliament started with the National Assembly, as the bills of the various committees were presented and debated upon by all the parliamentarians. After this, a vote was taken for the passing of each bill. The delegates passed five bills, including those of the Economic and Security (internal and external) Committees. Many proud parents attended the simulation’s closing ceremony, during which Mian Imran Masood distributed certificates of participation to the participants, who were thanked for their contributions. - Anam
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South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
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HARVARD MEDIATION PROGRAM, DUBAI PHOTO | AWISTA AYUB
South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
SEEDS HONE MEDIATION SKILLS THROUGH HARVARD LAW PROGRAM DUBAI | Seeds of Peace works on the tagline “Empowering Future Leaders.” We see this in the programs they implement, encouraging young people to take initiative through small grants projects, or by equipping them with skills necessary for the peacebuilding process. Seeds of Peace, in its true global spirit, decided to expand programs implemented in the Middle East to South Asia, and created the Mediation for Leaders program, in association with Harvard Law School’s Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program. The program was a high-level three-day certified course, at which delegates learned about the process of mediation and negotiation. The program taught us about the basics of the mediation process, including how to encourage parties to communicate effectively, and how to come to an agreement or solution that recognizes the interests of both parties, if possible. Participants returned with increased knowledge, skills, and insight into the process, including how to create a safe space for dialogue and how to handle unruly parties. The program was led by Professor Robert Bordone and his teaching assistants Sasha Pippenger and Caitlin Hewes, and formatted specifically for Seeds of Peace South Asia. It ran for three days, and Seeds left wishing it ran for an entire week, if not more. The program was immensely enjoyable, and we quickly realised the value of the skills we learned. We worked with exercises, simulations, and discussions so we could experience every aspect of the mediation process and better understand each perspective. My best memory of the program would definitely be our collective decision as a group to forsake our tea breaks in favour of continuing with our discussions and simulations. It was an educative experience, and I truly value the skills I have learned at Mediation for Leaders.
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- Ruth
South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
UPCOMING SEEDS OF PEACE PROGRAMS IN SOUTH ASIA
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Afghanistan
Afghanistan - Pakistan Video Conference Leadership Skills Workshop Camp 2014 selection
India
Media Literacy Workshop Habitat for Humanity Youth Build Camp 2014 selection
Pakistan
Afghanistan - Pakistan Video Conference Camp 2014 selection
Anam, Pakistan
Aziz, India
Karan, India
Shazaib, Pakistan
Ruth, India
Talha, Pakistan
Unnishankar, India
Parmangana, India
Mustafa, Afghanistan
Mahmood, Afghanistan
Awista, Director
Kanika, India
THE CONTRIBUTORS
South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
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South Asia Newsletter | Summer 2014
370 LEXINGTON AVENUE, SUITE 1201, NEW YORK, NY 10017 T. 212 573 8040 F. 212 573 8047 E. INFO@SEEDSOFPEACE.ORG
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DESIGNED BY AZIZ
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