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Aishini Thiyagarajan
"Thank you so much for the incredible experience and opportunity! I truly had an amazing time during which I met so many wonderful people. I really enjoyed meeting my fellow essayists and all of us are already exchanging messages and emails as we have gotten closer. I am ecstatic to return next year and also very excited to work on my micro grant project! I hope to get my brother involved with the FFC as I have grown and learned so much throughout the process and would like him to have the same experience I had."
Laila Handoo
"This year's award ceremony was amazing! It was well-organized, beautifully arranged, and the location was gorgeous. I think that one of the most memorable parts was the key note speaker as she gave great words of wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration. Additionally, I loved the candle light ceremony since its symbolism gave me a great feeling. This program meant a lot to me in the sense that it has given me the opportunity to advocate my passions, speak my mind, and enjoy myself in peace endeavours. Another great part was seeing the fusion of different people of different religions coming together helping out on a common issue."
Muaz Rahman
"Thank you so much for your effort and enthusiasm. To me the meeting was an exceptional one. In north America, we have so many faiths but there is not many organization working out there to bring people together for mutual respect and understanding. From this viewpoint, your effort and work is outstanding. I enjoyed the whole meeting and I learned a lot from that meeting."
Anthony Rousak
"Being able to participate in the FFC essay contest was an incredible experience. This contest has helped increase my knowledge of the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. I now have a better understanding of the main values of these religions, and how each promotes stewardship of the environment. This contest has also introduced me to several people who have interesting views on religion, society, and the world. Participating in this essay has allowed me to broaden my horizons and see how I, as a person, can protect the ecological world and promote religion tolerance. As I said in my interview for the award ceremony, this contest was truly amazing."
Diana Jeang
"I write to thank you again. I appreciate everything that FFC does for students. It was very inspirational to hear all the presentations and project ideas at the ceremony today. It is so wonderful that you are making these projects possible for students. I'm really excited about my carbon-footprint proposal, and I plan to begin working on it diligently. I look forward to being in touch with you for your advice and your input."
Ezra Wexler
"I am glad that I participated in the Fund for the Future of Our Children Essay Contest, especially because it gave me the opportunity to learn more about Christianity and Islam, and to see these two faiths in a new way. I also enjoyed sharing the knowledge that I had gathered from all three religions with those that read the essay and the audience on the day of the awards’ ceremony. The essay contest also opened my eyes to some new similarities between the religions, which proved meaningful for me."
"I feel privileged to have served as a judge for the past four years. Reading the essays is truly an inspiring experience. You are wonderful models of peace and social justice"
Andrew R. Ammerman
Board of Regents, Georgetown University
"Once again, the Children of Abraham Essay Contest has encouraged our youth toward service and interfaith thinking. The essays were excellent. I wish there were a thousand Children of Abraham Contests—it is amazing to see the students think in such creative ways."
Alex Kronemer
Film producer and Co-founder of Unity Productions Foundation
"In these turbulent times, it is inspiring to spend time with young people who are firmly grounded in hope, service, and compassion. Their insightful essays reflect the values that are needed to lead the world to a better place. I'm so grateful to be included in this special award ceremony!"
Roberta Baskin
Investigative Journalist
"We were amazed at the calibre of the young people- first one, and then the next. Congratulations to you for what you are doing. You are saving the world.........through these groups of young people. They were too riveting. Again, congratulations."
Reverend Clete Kiley
President,
The Faith & Politics Institute
"In this time of stress and strife, with so much misunderstanding and violence, it is so encouraging to participate in the FFC project. The FFC brings together young people of various backgrounds representing differing religious traditions to think cooperatively about how to make the world a better place. Their intelligence, thoughtfulness, optimism and constructive suggestions are so encouraging and such an inspiration. These young people and their promise can serve as a sound foundation to a better future."
Rabbi A. Nathan Abramowitz,
faculty, Theology Department, Georgetown University
"What a great program--the students are pretty amazing. They do give you hope."
Laura M. Moore, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology and Women's Studies Co-Coordinator
Hood College
“I want to congratulate you and the students for a memorable afternoon. For two hours I was amazed and emotional listening to these young adults. What fantastic journey is ahead of each one of them! I would like to quote one of my favorite statements from Einstein: There are two ways to live: you can live as if NOTHING is a miracle; you can live as if EVERYTHING is a MIRACLE. Listening to the contestants was another confirmation for me that everything around us is a miracle. Given the diversity of the students represented in this contest, I thought this program show its effect in North and South Korea, India, Kashmir, US and the rest of the world. It reminded me of the movie Jurassic park and the "butterfly Effect" of the chaos theory. I hope we all live long enough to see the days when these students fulfill their dreams."
Jahangir Tehrani,
Satellite Communications Scientist, ARTEL Inc.
Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins University
"The 4th Annual Awards Ceremony exceeded all expectations. Once again, this inspiring event showcased your remarkable vision and steadfast leadership that is cultivating next generation of young people to be peacekeepers."
Wendy Lesko
Director, School Girls Unite
"The Peace Essay contest grounds participants, giving them solid foundations and a framework to think through some of the complex issues of our day. But the contest is just a launching pad. It was apparent at this year’s Awards Ceremony that many of the participants have developed active social commitments – creative, entrepreneurial ventures - that benefit from both the reflection they engage in to write their essays and participation in the community you are expanding.
You are shaping young socially-minded, reflective activists whose purpose and passion will, literally, change the world. Building on compassion, understanding and wisdom, FFC is playing a significant part in evoking the leadership potential of the young people who participate. They have energy and vitality to build on all you offer and to find the resources they need to give structure to their dreams.
We’re encouraged to be part of the movement you’re helping to nurture and we know the gifts we give to support micro-finance projects will have huge multiplier effects. You have created a structure that engages some at the deepest personal level and gives opportunities to many others to support them in their endeavors, affecting the lives of potentially hundreds of thousands of people."
Diana Chambers,
Family Wealth Mentor
David Cannon, Scientist, SAIC
"Thank you so much for the Teacher Peace Advocacy Award. As I have stated you deserve to be given much praise for your vision of creating a better world for us all by investing in the passions of the young people and helping them be successful in realizing their service oriented dreams. I will long remember the special tribute that was given to me as a mentor to young people. I plan on using the funds you have given to me in my travels to Burma and India this summer. I am making arrangements with schools in Delhi and in Leh, Ladakh of the Himalayan region to orient a select group of students from my school to Indian culture. I seek to have the Indian and American students collaborate on a service project. There is a need to make a solar powered pump transporting water from the Indus River to the crops of the SECMOL school in Leh more effective. This could be a valuable service learning project for my students and those of the Indian Schools in Delhi and Leh to undertake on the trip that I plan to organize for June 2010. This summer I will promote the 2010 service -learning oriented trip and will help Devika in making her Earth Girl presentations to the students and faculty of the Ryan International School in Delhi. I will spend a week in Burma (Miramar) to learn about Burmese Buddhism and to be introduced to Burmese culture. My trip will conclude with visits to schools in Delhi and Leh to help me establish the 2010 student trip.
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