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.

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Self Portrait.  Eyas Rashid. 1999. 

EYAS RASHID is a Palestinian-American who is passionate about working with younger children.  He worked tirelessly throughout the Peace Sculpture project, and was a Counselor In Training at the Middle East Peace Camp in 2003 and  a Counselor in 2004. 

 Eyas comments about the importance of getting involved in Arab-Jewish programs for children:  "Projects like these help broaden people's minds and perspectives and help them work out their differences.  The adults' generation is not going to be the one that would change things, it is my generation.  So it is good to open people's minds when they are young and let them experience things before they get all those false images of the world through media, and to just have a good time.  If kids do not have experience with things, they can not grow and change." 

He adds:  "What I have to say to other kids my age is to mix up themselves with other communities, different races, religions and ethnicities, and just learn about other people because we are different, yet have to live together.  Just because we speak different languages, it does not mean that we do not like the same kind of food.  It is all the familiar and we are all the same".

Eyas believes that peace is possible through building bridges between Arab and Jewish children and families.  He realizes that peace can only come about by all humans being equal and having the same freedoms and rights.  He believes in the change children can bring in this area.  Eyas plans on committing his summers for the next few years to volunteering at the Middle East Peace Camp and contributing to building a culture of peace between the local Arab and Jewish communities by being a good role model for young Arab and Jewish children.  Eyas enjoys spending time with younger kids and sharing his experiences.  He also believes that training in conflict resolution and compassionate listening is a great opportunity to give young counselors.

Besides being interested in peace and art projects, Eyas likes volunteering at local Arab functions.  He volunteered at the Chess Tournament at the Arab Festival in 2003 and worked with national chess champion Yasser Sirrawan and in setting up the Arab art exhibits at the festival in 2001.  Eyas also enjoys playing the Baritone in his school's band, painting, creating computer graphics and animations, snowboarding, hanging out with friends, traveling, exploring foods from different cultures, cooking, writing and reading philosophy.  

 

 

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Please email amineh@peacesculpture.org with questions or comments.
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Last modified: September 08, 2006