April 16, 2009

Mary Eisenhower Meets with King Abdullah II of Jordan

Mary Eisenhower shakes hands with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan

Kansas City MO, USA – April 1, 2009 – At the White House in March of 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower raised a toast to King Hussein I of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, extending a welcome on behalf of the American people and expressing the friendliness felt by the United States towards Jordan. King Hussein responded with gratitude, saying “I hope, as well, that the good relations between our two countries will always remain very strong. We believe in the same things and we have the same path.”

Fast forward fifty years and the scene was mirrored, this time in Jordan, when Mary Eisenhower, president and CEO of People to People International (PTPI) and granddaughter of PTPI Founder, President Eisenhower, sat down with His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein to discuss the peace process and PTPI’s future initiatives in the region. Eisenhower is in Jordan leading PTPI’s Global Peace Initiative and Peace Camp, two programs aimed at promoting PTPI’s mission of Peace through Understanding, both endorsed by King Abdullah.

Eisenhower presented a framed photo of King Hussein shaking hands with her grandfather on the day of their meeting at the White House. King Abdullah spoke about the mutual admiration between his father and President Eisenhower, and about his pride in the way the mutual admiration and friendship between the U.S. and Jordan has continued through generations.

King Abdullah deputized his Personal Envoy and Special Advisor, Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, to take part in the opening ceremony of PTPI’s GPI and Peace Camp in Jordan. Prince Ghazi served as the keynote speaker, sharing his own thoughts on peace and the interfaith concept, a key topic in both PTPI programs.

Eisenhower spoke in further detail with Prince Ghazi in subsequent meetings, particularly on the topic of Peace Camp, a program she created. Peace Camp brings 50 outstanding students from around the world (27 countries are represented this year) together in a safe environment to discuss the differences between their nationalities and cultures and to freely express their views and experiences. At the same time, they learn valuable listening, communication and conflict resolution skills that allow them to develop empathy and understanding for one another and mobilize them to go forward as global-thinking future leaders.

Eisenhower’s first visit to Jordan in 2005 coincided with the hotel bombings in Amman, where she was located. She has since returned three times. “I have learned more about the peace process in Jordan than I have in a lifetime.” she commented. “The people here walk the talk. They really do want peace. We are honored and very grateful to His Majesty and believe that the royal family’s involvement will propel our efforts in Jordan and the area. We look very forward to future collaboration.”

People to People International (PTPI), with World Headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri USA, was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on September 11, 1956 to enhance international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities involving the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures. Today, as a NGO with a U.S., not-for-profit, [501 (c)(3)] tax rating, PTPI has a presence in 135 countries with more than 80,000 families and individuals actively participating in People to People International programs.
Please visit www.ptpi.org for more information.

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