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CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE UPCOMING 2008-2009 CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM PEACE ESSAY CONTEST \| FIRST PRIZE, $2,500 \| SECOND PRIZE $1,500 \| THIRD PRIZE, $1,000


		Welcome!!! Fund for the Future of our Children and Georgetown University's Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and the Office of Campus Ministry are pleased to bring you the Fourth Annual (2008-2009) Children of Abraham Peace Essay Contest. FFC wishes to acknowledge the generosity of its patrons, Mrs. Josephine F. Ammerman and Mr. Andrew R. Ammerman, and the invaluable contribution of its partners, collaborators, and volunteers. FFC’s current focus is the Children of Abraham Peace Essay Contest. This project extends a forum to youth for exploring pathways to peace and understanding between the three Abrahamic faith traditions — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This annual contest provides an opportunity for youth to learn about, express their views on, and discuss interfaith issues. Held in collaboration with Georgetown University’s Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Office of Campus Ministry, and supported by an esteemed multi-faith advisory board, the Children of Abraham Peace Essay Contest embodies innovative educational elements, including: • Kick-Off Celebration (November 16, 2008, 1 - 4:30pm), to be held in the Philodemic room, on the second floor of Healy Hall at Georgetown University, will introduce students to the project and each other. The half-day event will include a panel with faculty, scholars, and clergy discussing the Environmental role of peace within the three faiths as well as interactive workshops. (Click here for the map ) • Online Mentoring & Resources will support students in developing their essays. Participants will have online access to mentors (interfaith scholars and clergy) and writing coaches. They will also be able to access a wide range of research and writing materials on FFC's interactive website. • Award Ceremony Sunday, May 10th 3 - 5 p.m. Georgetown University, Davis Performing Arts Center, Gonda Theatre. This culminating celebration will include performances, visual arts, readings, and an award ceremony. • Incentives for participation include: First Prize ($2,500), Second Prize ($1,500), and Third Prize ($1,000), as well as four $500 prizes. The contest is open to all 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students attending public, private, and charter schools in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including those in the surrounding Maryland and Northern Virginia counties. ABOUT THE 2008-2009 CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM PEACE ESSAY CONTEST: Who? All 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. What? Write an essay that answers a specific two-part question about the environment and what the Abrahamic Faith tells us about our responsibility to it - and submit the essay! Make sure to review our Essay Guidelines before you start writing the essay. When? September 1st - Essay Question is announced and registration begins. October 16th - Workshop for teachers at the Army Navy Club in Washington, DC November 12th - Deadline for contest and kick-off registration. November 16th: Kick-off event at the Philodemic room on the second floor of Healy Hall at Georgetown University, 1 - 4:30pm. January 19th - Essay Submission Deadline May 10th - 2009 Award Ceremony Where? The Kick-Off Event and Award Ceremony take place at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, but students anywhere can participate. (Students outside the metropolitan Washington area are not required to attent the kick-off). Why? TO WIN PRIZES! $2,500 First Prize - $1,500 Second Prize - $1,000 Third Prize - and Four $500 Fourth Prizes. AND ... to learn from scholars and clergy about the connections between the Abrahamic Faiths, the collective wisdom they embody, and how this wisdom can be utilized by leaders today. AND ... to become eligible for other leadership opportunities. More Information: In order to participate in this year's Peace Essay Contest, each student will need to do the following: 1. Register online to participate in the Essay Contest, beginning September 1, 2008. 2. Attend the Kick-off event at Georgetown University (required, except for students not residing in the metropolitan Washington area). 3. Submit your written essay by January 19, 2009. Additional information about the Essay Contest: The Kick-Off Event Attendance at this introductory workshop is required for everyone who wants to participate in the essay contest, except those students outside the Washington DC metropolitan area. Date: November 16, 2008 Time: 1 - 4:30 p.m. Location: Georgetown University Philodemic room on the second floor of Healy Hall at Georgetown University Click here for Agenda. Click here for the map The program includes presentations by scholars and clergy who introduce content material related to the essay question, the Abrahamic faiths, and the details of the opportunities open to participants. Click here for Agenda. Essay question Part I: What can we learn from the values taught by the Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—to be responsible stewards of the environment? PART II: Propose a practical teen-based environmental stewardship project. Show how the teachings you described in part I inspired the project. (A project could be advocacy, conservation, engineering, education, religious and "other." State whether the focus is on homes, a house of worship, a school, or a community.) Writing the Essay Participants write their essays, utilizing on-line resources, including textual source materials as well as mentoring in content and writing skills. (Click here to view essay evaluation criteria.) Click here for a listing of all of the major religions and what they say about the environment. Click here to view a list of statements on why faiths should act on global warming. If you are in need of source material, click here for a list of links to on-line resources in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, all three, and generally related topics. If you are in need of tips for writing, click here for a list of links to on-line writing resources. Click here for a General Reading List of accessible materials concerning the Abrahamic faiths. Bibliography http://www.nccecojustice.org/printedresources.htm http://www.nccecojustice.org/onlineresources.htm http://www.nccecojustice.org/campaigns.html Religion and Ecology - Judaism Bibliography Other http://www.orionsociety.org/pages/oe/naturelit.cfm http://www.orionsociety.org/pages/oe/stories.cfm http://www.orionsociety.org/pages/oe/links.cfm Major religions and what they say about the environment http://www.arcworld.org/faiths.htm A list of statements on why faiths should act on global warming http://www.nyipl.org/why/faith.html Websites and information on Islam (Word doc) Sample Projects: http://www.gwipl.org/documents/Getting_Started_Projects.pdf back to top Submitting the Essay Essayists will submit their work (including references) along with an application form through the contest website. back to top Essay Judging A panel of judges will evaluate the essays on a number of specified dimensions in terms of content, creativity, and quality of writing. Our distinguished panel of judges: Andrew R. Ammerman, CEO, Ammerman Investment Partnership Susan Bilek, Philosophy Teacher, Washington DC Mohamad A. Chakaki, DC Green Muslims Brian Hendrix, Houston, TX Reverend Raymond B. Kemp, Resident Senior Fellow, Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University Josetta ("Jo") Owen, Teacher, Volunteer, and Philanthropist Jorge Romero, Attorney, K&L Gates, LLP Click here to view the criteria they will use to judge the essays. back to top Award Ceremony The culminating event of the 2008-2009 Children of Abraham Peace Essay Contest will be held Sunday, May 10th 3-5 p.m. at Georgetown University, Davis Performing Arts Center, Gonda Theatre. All participants, their families, and their teachers and school administrators are welcome at this event, which features a short address by each of the winning essayists, readings, and performances in addition to the presentation of cash and other awards. In addition, the Teacher of the Year Peace Advocacy Award is presented to an educator who embodies the qualities that engender in students a passion for peace. A reception follows the ceremony. back to top Leadership Opportunities Essay participants are invited to submit applications for Youth Leadership Micro-Grants, which are cash awards of $1,000 with the pledge of a matching grant of $1,000, for projects that promote peace, interfaith understanding, and social justice. This public interest leadership program is modeled after the highly successful micro-loan program for private businesses in developing countries started by Muhammad Yunus, the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize winner. The micro-grant awards have far reaching effects for awardees, who have found themselves engaging with both family and community in new ways as they bring their chosen cause to the attention of concerned individuals. back to top On-Line Mentors Rabbi A. Nathan Abramowitz, Faculty, Theology Department, Georgetown University Laith Al-Qasem, Chief Executive Officer of Arabian Business Consultants for Development Mark Braverman, Ph.D., Clinical psychologist and Organizational consultant Susan Bilek, Philosophy Teacher, Washington DC Mohamad A. Chakaki, DC Green Muslims John Deken, pursuing a Ph.D. in history at the University of Missouri Allison Fisher, Program Director of Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light Michael Goldman, Jewish Chaplain, Georgetown University Law and Medical Centers Adila Laidi-Hanieh,Professor, Bir Zeit University, currently studying for her Ph.D. at George Mason University Fr. William McFadden, S.J., Faculty, Theology Department, Georgetown University Kenneth E. McNeil, Senior Partner, Susman Godfrey LLP Sabree Muhammad, Former High School Teacher, Bronx, New York June Murray-Crawford, High School Teacher, Hudson, Massachusetts Professor Sulayman S. Nyang, Professor of African Studies, Howard University Muhammad Shafi, Ph.D., CEO, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dar al Islam back to top