1. 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

2. 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.

3. 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!

4. 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.

5. 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!