Anniversary of Seeds of Peace UNESCO prize | Naming the Days

November 17 marks the anniversary of the UNESCO Peace Prize award to Seeds of Peace, a charitable group based in 1993 to encourage friendship amongst youth whose ethnic or nationwide teams are in battle. Seeds of Peace affirms that whereas governments negotiate treaties, “peace is made by individuals.”

Contributors in Seeds of Peace summer time camps be taught conflict-resolution abilities and discard entrenched beliefs that members of a selected group are to be thought-about enemies. Dwelling and dealing collectively as pals, they construct mutual respect and understanding.

On the presentation of the UNESCO Peace Prize to Seeds of Peace on November 17, 2000, then Secretary-Basic Kofi Annan provided these phrases of reward: “There will be no extra essential initiative than bringing collectively younger individuals who have seen the ravages of struggle to be taught the artwork of peace. Seeds of Peace is definitely an instance of the world the United Nations is actively working for.”

Go to the Seeds of Peace web site.

Quotes

Youngsters partaking with friends from “the opposite aspect” at Seeds of Peace improvement packages achieve important views to convey dwelling with them. Here’s a pattern:

“After the final struggle in Gaza, kids stopped asking one another questions and, as a substitute, began hitting one another. I concern that the youngsters are shedding their ethics and turning to a violent aspect, so I wish to assist them develop the goodness they’ve inside. I would like them to be taught concerning the ideas of human values like freedom, respect, and accepting the opposite — to have goals and construct their futures.”
— Lubna, Palestinian Delegation, 1994 and Seeds of Peace Fellow, 2015

“My hope is that assembly the ‘different aspect’ will have an effect on their lives as a lot because it has affected mine. I really feel very privileged to have had Seeds of Peace open my eyes at a younger age, and I can not consider a worthier objective than educating different younger individuals in the identical values of dialogue, openness, and collaborative work in the direction of peace.”
— Hamutal, Israeli Delegation, 2005

“I based Aamney Samney (‘Face to Face’) which connects Indian and Pakistani college students by discovering widespread floor to resolve the conflicts between them. We use social media to host a digital program of dialogue and sharing, although which stereotypes are challenged and friendships are constructed.”
— Jehan, Indian Delegation, 2008

“It is just by way of the forging of robust relationships and a real curiosity and appreciation for the tales of others that we are able to hope to convey peace to the world.”
— Joseph, American Delegation, 2004

Non secular Practices

To rejoice this present day, create two columns on paper or in your favourite digital platform. In a single, jot photographs and concepts associated to any conflicts in values you felt in the direction of others in your youth. Within the different, file the beliefs you held as an adolescent: any methods during which you needed to vary the world.

Once you’re carried out, look again on these conflicts and beliefs. How have every of them formed your life? Do they remind you of something to brighten the world that you have left undone and would nonetheless wish to pursue? Discover a particular method you can begin at this time.