Children of Peace is a British-based, non-partisan charity that focuses upon building friendship, trust and reconciliation between Israeli and Palestinian children, aged 4-17, through arts, education, health and sports projects in the region, so that a future generation and their communities might live in peace.
The charity was founded in 2005 by its Chairman Richard Martin, with the aim of protecting all of the children in the region – be they Bedouin, Druze, Christian, Jewish or Muslim - from the consequences of conflict. The charity works with a network of community-based organisations and non-governmental organisations in the Gaza, Israel, Jordan and the West Bank, who sign up to the notions of peaceful co-existence and cooperation. This is known as the Coalition of Peace. The charity acts as a catalyst for interaction and interchange, funding projects that adhere to notions of conflict resolution, child protection and a refusal to take sides.
Children of Peace is based in Uckfield, East Sussex, United Kingdom, and is structured around a Management Committee of Trustees, advisors including the law firm Kidwells, and an Events Committee that organises fund-raising and awareness-raising activities throughout the year. Other Committees include a Finance & Governance Committee, an Education Committee and a Marketing Committee. An Appeals Committee is planned for 2011.
Friends, drawn from public life, include the Archbishop of York, Dame Helen Mirren, Matt Lucas, Corinne Bailey Rae, Samantha Morton, Sir Patrick Stewart, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Manal Timraz, Sir Martin Gilbert, Sheikh Ghassam Manasrah, Yotam Ottolenghi, Zoe Heller, Sophie Milman, Julia Sawalha, Mark Ronson, Jeff Goldblum, maestro Zubin Mehta and Manuel Hassassian, the Palestinian Envoy to the UK.
The charity is supported by a team of Goodwill Ambassadors, who act as advocates for Children of Peace and include Palestinian peace leader Bassam Aramin, Palestinian writer Shireen Anabtawi, Israeli writer Daniela Norris, Israeli singers Liel and Yasmin Levy, Mansoor Ijaz and Valerie Ijaz, Sally Becker (the 'Angel of Mostar') and Members of Parliament from each of the main UK parliamentary parties – Louise Ellman (Labour), Tobias Ellwood (Conservative) and Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat). The charity is developing a programme for Israeli and Palestinian Youth Ambassadors. Mahmoud Jabari is the lead Ambassador for Palestinian youth.
The Patrons of Children of Peace are Madonna and Dame Judi Dench. The Royal Patron is HH the Begum Aga Khan.
Children of Peace has the personal support of many world leaders, including US Vice-President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister David Cameron, British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Quartet Representative Tony Blair and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.