King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan were honored by Seeds of Peace with the John Wallach Peacemaker Award for their efforts and commitment to world peace. Past recipients include the late King Hussein of Jordan and Egyptian First Lady Suzanne Mubarak. Some of the members on the advisory board for Seeds of Peace are Queen Noor of Jordan, George H.W. Bush and Shimon Peres. When Rania collected the award, she said, “It is especially meaningful for me, as a citizen of Jordan, to be continuing along the path set by His Majesty the late King Hussein. Poised at the crossroads of East and West, and in the cradle of humanity’s great religions, Jordanians know that intercultural respect is not an option, it is an obligation. But even more, for us, it is an opportunity to become our own best selves, by opening our minds and hearts to the rich diversity of humankind. We are proud of our role in promoting peace - in our region, and beyond.”
“Seeds of Peace is both inspiring and humbling - for it shows us all the simple power of friendship to change the world. By giving young people the chance to get to know one another in person, instead of through the distorting lens of bitter legacies and conflict, Seeds of Peace is creating a new generation of thoughtful leaders who approach the world with open minds and empathetic eyes.”
Seeds of Peace was established in 1993.
Photo: Petra