Creativity For Peace

To: 1311 Students

From: Victoria Valencia

Re:

Date: February 13, 2011

            The Creativity for Peace is an organization that interacts with teenage girls. The girls they work with are Jewish, Israeli, Palestinian Isralei, West Bank, and Gaza Palestinians. Obviously, there is a variety of teenage girls who they connect with in order to nurture “the next generation of female leaders and peacemakers in Israel and Palestine.”

            The organization’s vision is to be committed to a time of peace when people and nations coexist by understanding and respecting each other. This consists of the understanding of one another’s cultures, religions, and traditions. They want to develop the next generation of female leaders and peacemakers in Israel and Palestine, who will make a difference in the world.

            The organization’s mission is to use the leadership they learn on significant roles in their families, communities, and countries that advance peaceful coexistence. It seems this organization is a “pay it forward” type. They pass on their knowledge to others to make the world a better place.

            The strategies they use consists of summer camps in New Mexico, home country gatherings, Young leader training, and academic scholarships. These strategies help the teenage girls learn the deeper understanding of self, skills for resiliency and self-empowerment, reducing prejudice and healing the trauma of war, public speaking, and putting skills to use with peacemaking organizations and projects.

            The income this organization receives is contributions by individuals, family, community foundations, and businesses. The dedication to this organization shows the commitment in changing lives for teenage girls.

            One of the programs they have for their camps and gatherings is called Dialogue. It develops trust, compassion and increased self-esteem. It releases judgments and expand their points of view, and transforms their relationships with the “other.” It acknowledges and releases their fear, anger, and pain. It breaks down old beliefs through authentic speaking and compassionate listening and develops communication and leadership skill. It helps them understand the basics of conflict, transformation, and resolution. It strengthens Jewish and Arab coexistence in their own communities. Dialogue is specifically for the understanding of another’s point of view which can create conflict. All these practices help them become true leaders.

            The accomplishments these girls have achieved are the friendships that thrive as participants, the creation of new relationships that cross religious and cultural boundaries, and the development of leadership skills.

            This organization has changed the lives of young woman and even the people they cooperate with. One young woman in particular named Michal. She is a Jewish Israeli and she had nothing but great comments to say about the Creativity for Peace. She specifically said, “If someone tells you that peace between Israel and Palestine is not possible, don’t believe them. I accomplished it!” This proves the wonderful experiences these young women have in order to change their lives as well as others.

            Creativity for Peace has upcoming events. There is a volunteer event on February 22^nd called “Dialogue: What Happens?” On April 13, there is another event called “A Land Twice Promised.” From July 15 to August 5, there is a 2011 Summer Camp in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The last event shown is the Camp Open House on Sunday, July 31.

            This organization will keep its success running because of all the accomplishments and participation people have gained from it. “The Courage to Lead. The Promise of Change.”