Seeds of Peace Summer Camp Brings Youth from Conflict Zones to Devon

The three-week residential program takes place at a boarding school in Tavistock, Devon. Teenagers aged 14-17 from historically opposed regions—including Israel, Palestine, India and Pakistan—spend two hours each day in facilitated dialogue, amounting to roughly 32 hours of intensive conversation. Participants describe the setting as “challenging but life-changing,” noting that confronting a perceived “enemy” who is “just a girl like me” forces them to reconsider ingrained judgments. Many report that hearing peers speak directly, rather than through media filters, reshapes their perspectives on the conflict.

The Guardian

Seeds of Peace, founded in 1993 by journalist John Wallach, traditionally runs camps in the United States but chose the United Kingdom this year because “political uncertainty” made the UK a safer venue for families from eight different countries. The organization seeks to identify young people who could become future influencers in their communities, hoping the skills learned will translate into political, diplomatic or business leadership. Organisers acknowledge the difficulty of securing a host nation where all parents feel comfortable sending their children and where visas can be obtained for every participant.

The Guardian

The program costs $9,000 (£6,700) per camper, though most receive scholarships that cover the majority of the fee. English proficiency is required so that dialogue sessions can be most effective. Selection is competitive in several countries, with the aim of bringing a diverse cohort that can later disseminate the experience locally. Alumni have gone on to serve as politicians, ambassadors and business leaders, and the organization continues year-round work and regional camps in areas such as the Balkans, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and Afghanistan.

The Guardian

• “You won’t find them sitting with maps and facts and books,” — Eva Armour, Seeds of Peace’s executive director

The Guardian

• “Picking a country to host this is one of the enormous challenges,” — Qasim Aslam

The Guardian

• “I have never had the chance to speak to people from different countries like Israel and Palestine before – you never know how the media censors stuff so it’s really powerful to hear from people themselves,” — Esther

The Guardian

• “We’re trying to identify young people that could be influencers in their respective communities in the future,” — Aslam. Many

The Guardian

• “It feels like it’s getting harder for people to be able to talk to each other across differences,” — Eva Armour, Seeds of Peace’s executive director

The Guardian