Kids4Peace Boston was founded in 2010 by Peggy Stevens, a gifted educator, former middle and high school teacher, and an active member of the local interfaith community. Peggy mobilized Boston-area volunteers, donors, and youth, as well as her colleagues at the American Youth Foundation (a leading U.S. youth development and camping organization), to undertake K4PB’s first initiative in 2011, hosting a two-week peacebuilding camp for 7th grade Palestinian and Israeli youth from Kids4Peace Jerusalem and their peers from the Boston-area.
After a successful first summer, Boston youth and their families requested ongoing opportunities to build community and continue their skill-building. This interest grew as Peggy, with other volunteers, recruited consecutive groups of Boston-area rising 7th graders to attend camp each summer, provided additional programs during the school year, and ultimately defined the K4PB Peace Leader Program.
As K4PB’s reputation for providing meaningful youth programs grew, so did the interest and trust of many local churches, temples, mosques, schools, and organizations. As a result, K4PB has grown to offer an integrated, year-round, six-year Peace Leader Program, as well as community outreach activities. While our program is primarily focused on serving Boston-area youth, participants have opportunities to develop global perspectives on peace by joining Israeli and Palestinian peers from Jerusalem for high school summer programs.
