A cooperative Arab-Jewish children's project led to the creation of this peace sculpture, now permanently installed in the Peace Garden at Seattle Center, in the shadow of the Space Needle.  Under the direction of project founder Amineh Ayyad, Palestinian-American, and local Iraqi Artist Sabah Al-Dhaher, Arab and Jewish children came together for many weeks to create this sculpture.  The project was sponsored by The Arab Center of Washington, The Middle East Peace Camp (an Arab & Jewish children's summer camp), Kadima (a progressive Jewish community), and the Iraqi Community Center.  

Home   

Project Background

Participants & Credits 

Children's Peace Day   

The Poem

The Mural

Articles   

Through a 1000 Children   

Photo Gallery   

What Can You Do?   

Events   

Links

Contact Us

Welcome to the official web site of the Middle East Peace Sculpture.    

In early Spring of 2003, I was unable to bear the terrors of the world around me and the news of the conflicts in the Middle East.  I felt that the hope of the world resided in the pure hearts of  children.  And as the beginning of a very long healing process, I hoped to build a small community of  Arab and Jewish children who would come together to make a sculpture that symbolizes a yearning for peace and justice.  So the peace project came about.  

The vision of this project from the beginning has been one of signifying a culture of peace through dynamic community participation and involvement, so that the sculpture will become a lasting memento of the community's cooperative spirit.  

On October 23rd, 2003 the City Council President, Peter Steinbrueck (on behalf of the Mayor of the City of Seattle) declared Children's Peace Day because of the unveiling of the Middle East Peace Sculpture at the Seattle Center.  He encouraged all citizens to join our children in their inspirational efforts to promote peace.

 

Congressman Jim McDermott, City Council President Peter Steinbrueck, Seattle Center Deputy Director Robert Nellams, and families and friends surrounding the sculpture at the dedication ceremony.  

This process is not completed and the work needs to continue.  We need to come together again to nurture and strengthen our new community through dialogue, mutual understanding, solidarity, and respect.  We need to continue to guide our children in their inspirational efforts to promote peace and we need to be guided by them as well.  Promoting peace is a way of life, and thus, we--parents, teachers, media professionals, and community members at large--need to provide our children with opportunities to be engaged in the development of this way of life.  I strongly believe that children can play an important role in changing the world, and thus, time invested in working with children is well spent and our only salvation.  So, please join us in our endeavor to promote a culture of peace in our community with and through our children.

I dedicate this work to the children of the world, Rachel Corrie, and those who dedicate their lives to working on children's issues and rights.

 

With peace and much love.

Amineh Ayyad, Founder & Director

 

"Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed."

-from the Constitution of UNESCO ____________________________
 

 

 

Home    Project Background     Participants & Credits    Children's Peace Day    The Poem   The Mural

 Articles    Through a 1000 Children    Photo Gallery    What Can You Do?    Events    Links     Contact Us

Hit Counter

Please email amineh@peacesculpture.org with questions or comments.
Copyright © 2003 by Middle East Peace Sculpture.  All Rights Reserved.
Last modified: September 08, 2006