Quarterly Newsletter January – March 2015

EI Monthly Campaigns: April - June 2015

Euphrates’ Monthly Campaigns offer ideas for creative, impactful actions that your Chapter can take to Inform, Inspire and Transform — in your

community and beyond! Don’t forget to send us photos and videos of your activities!

Content B

Euphrates’ Monthly Campaigns offer ideas for creative, impactful actions that your Chapter can take to Inform, Inspire and Transform — in your

community and beyond! Don’t forget to send us photos and videos of your activities!

July - September 2015

Monthly Campaigns

Euphrates’ Monthly Campaigns offer ideas for

creative, impactful actions that your Chapter can

take to Inform, Inspire and Transform — in your

community and beyond!

Don’t forget to share your Chapter updates and

photos on the Chapters Facebook Page!

We welcome your feedback and questions:

chapters@euphrates.org.

July: Digging into History "If you want to understand today, you have to search

yesterday.” ~Pearl Buck

This month we turn back time to explore the deep and rich history of the Middle East. Known in the West as the “cradle of civilization,” the Fertile Crescent saw the rise and fall of the world’s earliest civilizations from which sprung the first

systems of writing, agriculture, bookkeeping and urban development.

Much later, while

western

civilizations languished in the Dark Ages, a Golden Age of invention and creation in science and culture blossomed

across the Islamic world. Did you know that the Middle East gave us the wheel, algebra, coffee, and the world’s first

university? Thank you!

History is also the backdrop against which we come to understand the contemporary issues that make daily

headlines. Historian David Fromkin wrote: “The Middle East, as we know it from today’s headlines, emerged from decisions

made by the Allies during and after the First World War.” Fromkin was writing 25 years ago, yet his observation still

rings true today.

The drawing of the current national borders of Middle East states by Imperial powers, known as the Sykes-Picot

agreement, has recently garnered renewed attention as analysts ask: Will the unnatural borders etched on a map by a

French and a British diplomat hold up under new regional challenges?

Inform Order a copy of “A Peace to End All Peace” by David Fromkin, an excellent and detailed account of the shaping of the Middle East, post World War I.

Explore an interactive timeline of Islamic history. Or, discover the history of the Middle East visually through maps! This collection tracks the spread of civilizations, empires, and faiths over time. Also included are maps of the sects, ethnicities, dialects and resources of the region.

Inspire Fill in the gaps! Watch Professor Salim Al-Hassani’s inspiring talk on the amazing discoveries and innovations that were taking place in the Muslim world during the “Dark Ages” of the West.

Explore the work of 1001 Inventions, an organization that seeks to draw attention to Muslim contributions to science.

Watch PBS Documentary Islam: Empire of Faith to gain a deeper understanding of the role of faith in the history of the region.

Transform Bring history to life! Every place has a story - often a much more complex one than we realize. Explore your own history. Visit a local museum or historical site to unearth the roots of a local or national issue.

Share your discoveries at your next Chapter event!

August: Empowering Youth to Create Change

"Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders”

The above adage has never been more true or critical in the Middle East than it is today. This month we look at two trends to understand better why young people matter so much to the region: the oft-cited "youth bulge" and the growing group of

young people engaged in non-violent activism.

We often hear of the high youth-to-adult ratio in the Middle East. The youth population of the region is at an historical

high, with over 100 million young people between the ages of 15 and 29 making up nearly one-third of the total population. High levels of youth unemployment in the MENA region have been linked with potential social unrest and violence. Yet, another possibility exists: namely, that these young people

might be the drivers of social change and progress. During the Arab Spring, the region's youth demonstrated just how important their voices could be, and they continue to

contribute actively to a blossoming civil society.

Peacebuilding projects across the Middle East seek to equip a new generation of leaders and activists with the skills and

vision to overcome differences and address critical regional challenges. Learn more about some of these projects below!

Seeds of Peace brings together young people from opposite sides of conflicts to create life-

long friendships.

Ultimate Peace unites youth through leadership trainings - and ultimate frisbee!

The Peres Center for Peace conducts Peace Education programs for young people across the region through culture, art,

technology and sport.

MasterPeace organizes art and music festivals to inspire grassroots activism.

Inform Check out an array of resources published by the Middle East

Youth Initiative (MEYI) and the Brookings Institution to find out more about the challenges and opportunities facing young people across the region.

Learn more about the growing

generation gap in Egypt, a country of 90 million in which two-thirds are under the age of 35.

Inspire Take a bite! Consider the "food for thought" below. Explore examples of youth activism with your Chapter. How can you support youth empowerment?

"youth can be a force for change - not necessarily just a resource for violence...[yet] the medium of that activism is constantly changing. Social media, hip hop, the arts and comedy have all played a role in antiregime advocacy. This is an important lesson for traditional political and diplomatic institutions across the world which in the past might have disregarded these softer forms of engagement, but are now looking to adapt in order to leverage these tools for sustainable change."

Transform Empower the leaders-of-tomorrow in your community! Volunteer your time and skills to tutor, fundraise, teach job skills, or host a panel discussion for youth.

1

September: Promoting International Peace

This month we celebrate Peace Day! Established in

1981 by the United Nations, the International Day of

Peace recognizes the right of all people to peace.

In 2001, the UN called for September 21st to be a day

of global ceasefire, and it has since become a day when people around the world come together to declare their

commitment to realizing peace, in their local, national and global communities.

The theme of this year's International Peace Day is “'Partnerships for Peace -

Dignity for All,' which aims to highlight the

importance of all segments of society to work together to strive

for peace."

In the run-up to Peace Day, we join in the call by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to

embrace those affected by conflict in our thoughts and actions and share in the work of creating solutions: "Over the next 100 days, let us stand with the millions of people across the world who are suffering the devastating impact of violence and conflict. Let us share ideas and plans for helping and

supporting them in their time of dire need."

On September 21, activate your Chapter and become a part of the global movement for peace! Visit the United Nations to learn more, and discover more Peace Day ideas and resources

here and here.

Inform Why stand for peace? Violence is becoming increasingly costly making peace ever-more valuable. Find out more about the global cost of violence and how to measure global peace from Vision of Humanity

Inspire

Peace IS possible! Check out these inspiring Peace Day videos from Euphrates and Peace One Day. What does peace mean to you? Create a "peace collage" with quotes, images and ideas that get your peace juices flowing. Share at your next Chapter meeting!

Transform How will your Chapter observe Peace Day? Start planning early! Peace Day celebrations can begin with one person, a small group or a whole community. There are countless ways to get involved. Hold a prayer vigil, host an inspirational meeting, create a Chapter Peace Day video or join forces with other activists in your community to spread the Peace Day message. Check your local media listings to find events in your area. Don't forget to share your inspirations and activities on social media!