OTISFIELD — Close to 200 Seeds of Peace campers from some of the most troubled areas of the world raised their nation’s flags and joined hands and voices Wednesday morning to share a unity that is unknown in some of their homelands.
“Learn from them, share with them, engage them and have fun with them,” camp Executive Director Leslie Lewin said at the opening ceremony for the first of two summer sessions.
Campers from Egypt, India, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Pakistan and the United States were represented at the ceremony. Each delegation sang its national anthem as their flag was raised and together sang the Seeds of Peace song as that flag was raised.
Twelve campers from Afghanistan have yet to arrive; the United States has detained them and is processing their visas, Lewin said.
It was unclear whether the campers will be able to get into the United States, she said. “We’re doing everything we possibly can.”
Lewin called the detainment “a little surprising and a little disappointing,” but said their red, blue and green flag would be raised with the approval of the lone camp staff member from Afghanistan.
It is the 19th summer the internationally recognized camp, which was founded by journalist John Wallach, has operated on the shores of Pleasant Lake.
The campers sang and marched with linked arms up the long dirt driveway, under the Seeds of Peace entrance gate where they formed a circle to hear the executive director and several second-year campers, who act as peer support, talk to them about the experience.
Jehan of the Indian delegation told her fellow campers, “We’ve all been dreaming too much. Now we have to think coolly, calmly and collectively. …Why must we have barriers? Be a seed of change. Be that seed of peace that makes the difference.”
Siwar of the Israeli delegation said, “We can tell you that conflict is making us sick and the Seeds of Peace is the cure. You are the change.”
Jordan’s Azzam said, “Step toward a better future. We seek peace based on justice.”
Director Emeritus and Senior International Adviser Tim Wilson told the campers, “Your legacy starts now. It is difficult. You have to get on with it to make the world better. … No matter what happens, fight the good fight.”
Through this and other programs, the Seeds of Peace leadership network includes more than 4,000 young people who are working to bring peace to the Middle East and South Asia.
ldixon@sunjournal.com
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- Second-year peer support campers pose for pictures before the opening day ceremony begins at the Seeds of Peace camp in Otisfield on Wednesday.
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- Seeds of Peace campers showed a variety of emotions during the opening-day ceremony at the Otisfield camp Wednesday.
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- Young people from the Middle East and beyond wrapped their arms around each other as they prepared for a three-week program of dialogue and debate at the Seeds of Peace camp in Otisfield on Wednesday.
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- Smiles were the order of the morning among campers as they shared opening-day exercises at the Seeds of Peace camp in Otisfield on Wednesday.
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- Tim Wilson told the young people, “Your legacy starts now,” during the opening-day ceremony at the Seeds of Peace camp in Otisfield on Wednesday.
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