JCWP 2006 – Seeds of peace sown at Lonavala
NGO helps youth of conflicting nations to come together
SWAPNIL RAWAL
S ASHA Mansukhani (20) and Zunaira Hijazi (21) were painting the windowpanes
of house number 47 at the Jimmy Carter Work Project 2006. Qasim Aslam (21)
came by and enquired if they needed any help.
These youngsters belong to Seeds of Peace, an NGO which brings together
youth of conflicting nations and encourage them to co-exist in peace and
harmony. It was founded in the United States by American journalist Don
Wallach.
Through international camps, conferences, workshops and home stays, Seeds of
Peace helps cultivate the leadership, communication and negotiation skills
for peaceful co-existence of people.
It started in India and Pakistan in 2001. The volunteers also visit other
conflicting nations like Israel, Palestine, Iran and Iraq.
Zunaira, Qasim, Andrew John (20), Sana Zulfikar (17) and her mother Raahila
Zulfikar had come from Lahore in Pakistan to Lonavala along with Sasha and
Parinaz Vakil who are from Mumbai.
All these volunteers are with Seeds of Peace for over five years now. “We
know each other for five years and have become very close now,” says
Zunaira. For Sana, the experience of helping the less fortunate build their
home was a thrilling and emotional.
“With every block we place and with each stroke of paint, we can see the
spark in their eyes and happiness on their faces,” said Sana. For her mother
Raahila, who is an Urdu teacher in Lahore, getting into such an organisation
was little difficult.
“When I told my colleagues that I am going to India, they were all surprised
at my decision,” recalls Raahila. Though she admits she too had many
pre-conceived notions about India, ‘but none of them turned out to be true’.
“Initially, my parents did not agree to my decision of joining this
organisation. But later, they did,” said Parinaz.
Recalling the first time Sasha told her parents about visiting Pakistan, she
said, “They were stunned.” The Pakistani delegation got visas with great
difficulty to visit Lonavala. “In August we had planned a workshop in India
but did not get visas due to the train blasts in Mumbai,” said Raahila.
These ‘Seeds’, as the members of the NGO are called, revealed that they have
been conducting conferences, workshops and home stays in Pakistan and India
at regular intervals.
“We had many debates on various issues that India and Pakistan have been
facing, including Kashmir. It was good to hear an Indian perspective,” said
Qasim.
Raahila is of the opinion that there is no political solution to the
IndiaPakistan conflict. “If they solve the problem, they will lose their
vote bank. People-to-people contact will serve a great deal in bringing the
two nations together,” she said.
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