1999

Founding of OlymPeace (later AllinPeace)

The festival for children became the collaborative idea and achievement of a group of experienced educators who participated in an international peace education seminar held in Israel. In 1999 Amos Davidowitz gathered peace activists from conflict areas in the Middle East and Europe under the auspices of NISPED and IWA and asked them to design peace projects to move their work forward. Eyal Bloch, Amin Sawaed, Fuad Giacomen, Rachid Lounici , Petroula Petrou, Zuheir, Nikki Roubanis, and Ilia Roubanis applied themselves to the task. During this time the idea of the "Olympia" International Festival was first put forward by Eyal Bloch before this international group of socially motivated activists. Among the participants, Ilia Roubanis, a young Athenian student, went on to spend a full two years, investing all his time, talent and energy to promote this idea. Greek Governmental offices, as well as key Greek personalities, were drawn in, so that the ancient Olympic spirit of Ekecheiria would be revived in their land. In the summer of 2000 Jaimen McMillan and Thom Schaefer joined the project and began the athletic training. Participants came from Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Pristina, Belgrade, Nicosia, Famagusta, Athens, Alexandria, Mauberge and other Mediterranean communities. In addition many, many others volunteered worldwide. Without their support, the project could not have become a reality. What began as the final assignment for a group of peace activists was shaped, through the synergy of their multicultural methodologies and cooperation, into a transformative movement that has inspired innovative approaches in communities around the world!