About Ultimate Peace

Ultimate Peace is a young organization, yet we have high hopes of spreading the joy of throwing a disc and playing ultimate on a global level, especially in areas where more understanding and cooperation are needed. Our first project is timely - we began our work in the Middle East in April of 2009, with aspirations of planting seeds of peace in that region and eventually around the world.

Background

Ultimate peace was established by founders Dr. David Barkan (California), Dori Yaniv (Israel), and Linda Sidorsky (Massachusetts) in the spring of 2008. The idea emanated from a trip to Israel organized by David and Dori, in which an All-Star Ultimate team known as the Matza Balls taught Israeli children and promoted the sport of Ultimate. While excited by the significant momentum generated in the world of Israeli Ultimate by facilitating clinics and a tournament, the Americans were dismayed by the realization that Ultimate was not being played in the neighboring Palestinian sporting community. Members of the team wondered what it would be like to have Palestinian and Israeli children sharing the joys of throwing and catching a soaring Frisbee, playing on a team cooperatively, and settling on-field disagreements collaboratively. This vision, shared by Linda (organizer of international youth Ultimate) for years, was pursued vigorously since 2006 and ultimately led to the concept of Ultimate Peace, the partnership with the Peres Center for Peace, and the event - Ultimate Peace in the Middle East.

Approach

Our Mission: To build bridges of friendship, understanding and fun for youth from different social and cultural backgrounds around the world.

Our Tool: The unique sport of Ultimate Frisbee - a fast paced, physically exhilarating team sport that distinguishes itself from other sports in revolutionary ways: personal responsibility, mutual respect between opponents, and fair play are prioritized over winning.

Our Belief: The way we play and the way we live are deeply intertwined.

Our Dream: To see the youth touched by Ultimate Peace bring more harmony to a divided world.

Core Principles and Practices

Ultimate Peace projects will practice, model and convey our five core principles: mutual respect, friendship, non-violence, integrity, and fun.

Grounded by our principles, every Ultimate Peace project will strive to:

• Create opportunities for youth from disparate backgrounds to play and learn Ultimate together
• Organize teams of expert players and coaches to teach and serve as role models for youth
• Focus on skill-building, relationship building, team building, and community building
• Engage parents, coaches, teachers, and the business community in all we do
• Develop capacity in local communities to ensure sustainability.
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Our Team

Ultimate Peace is led by its 3 directors, Dori Yaniv, Linda Sidorsky, and David Barkan. They are currently organizing an Advisory Board made up of international volunteers committed to the mission of Ultimate Peace. The coaches traveling to Israel will be listed on the website with their biographies in the near future (read more).