Seeds
of Peace, a nonprofit aimed at promoting peace in the Middle East and
South Asia through youth leadership programs, held its annual benefit
dinner on May 27, 2009 in the Grand Ballroom of the Plaza Hotel. Former
U.S. President and philanthropist William J. Clinton served as Honorary
Chair. New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine and 2009 Corporate Peacemaker
ExxonMobil were honored for their role in youth empowerment and peace-building,
particularly in the area of women's empowerment.
Continued hostility in India, Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as the
recent crisis in Gaza and southern Israel creates an urgent need
for dialogue among young people and between supposed "enemies." Seeds
of Peace operates in the Middle East (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ramallah,
Gaza, Cairo, Amman) and South Asia (Kabul, Mumbai, Lahore) to bring
young people together from opposite sides of conflict for face-to-face
coexistence programs.
