Local Teens, Host Families Sought For Summer's 'Hands Of Peace'

CARLSBAD, CA – Hands of Peace, a three-week, peace-building program with 46 Israeli, Palestinian and American teens will take place in Carlsbad this summer, July 10-29, in an effort to break down the walls of conflict in the Middle East and help spread peace throughout the world.

Hands of Peace brings together high school students to build bridges and leadership skills among teens divided by conflict, culture, geography and history, according to the organization.

Recruitment for the summer program is underway, and organizers are looking for local teenagers interested in learning about the complexities of the conflict, and who are open to having a challenging, intercultural experience .

The organization also is seeking host families who would welcome the Middle East participants to stay in their homes for the 19-day stretch in July. People interested in becoming a participant or a host family can contact Sarah Heirendt at sheirendt@handsofpeace.org.

“Young people are the key to change and peace, so the transformations that we see taking place during the summer program give us hope for a better future,” says Gretchen Grad, founder of Hands of Peace.

Following the summer program, Hands of Peace alumni continue to grow as peace leaders, taking part in seminars, alumni club activities, and a year-long leadership program to implement community projects in their home communities, organizer said. Worldwide, Hands of Peace now has more than 500 alumni living and working for peace across the United States and throughout Israel and the Palestinian West Bank.

For more information, go to http://www.handsofpeace.org.

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--Images via Hands of Peace