Cultural traditions vary greatly and often create misunderstandings when cultures interact. These slides examine traditions and habits of cultures and how these habits, gestures, words and actions may easily be misinterpreted as insulting, thereby causing disagreement or controversy. Understanding how the true meaning of cultural habits may lead to more peaceful interactions; Understanding how people feel when they come from a different culture may increase empathy, patience and tolerance for other cultures and their traditions.
Archive
Child Combatants, Gender Violence and the Evolution of A Youth-Led Movement
A presentation given by Jimmie Briggs at a screening of the film CHILDREN of WAR by Bryan Single. Filmed inside the war zone of northern Uganda over a period of three years, CHILDREN OF WAR is a unique and incandescent documentary which captures the story of a group of former child soldiers as they undergo a process of emotional and spiritual healing while in a rehabilitation center. Having been abducted from their homes and schools and forced to become fighters by the Lord’s Resistance Army – a quasi-religious militia led by self-proclaimed prophet and war criminal Joseph Kony – the children struggle to confront and break through years of brutal abuse, extreme religious ideology, and participation in war crimes with the help of a heroic team of trauma counselors.
Be the Change: Engaging Middle and High School Students in Human Rights and Transitional Justice
Getting middle and high school students to think deeply about global issues of change and social justice, while also considering the choices they make in their own lives, is a crucial but complicated task. This interactive workshop for educators featured two innovative online learning modules designed by Facing History and Ourselves to engage students in these issues– “Be The Change: Upstanding for Human Rights” and “Transitional Justice: Repairing Self and Society.” Participants explore challenges that individuals or societies face as they attempt to heal, repair and rebuild after injustice, mass violence or genocide; examples of what students can do, and are doing, to make change are included.
Conflict Resolution Education in Trinidad and Tobago
With support from the Organization of American States, and funding from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Local Government, and Global Issues Resource Center, Cuyahoga Community College, a Conflict Management Training Workshop was held in Trinidad. In an effort to promote greater democratic participation by youth (including college/university aged students) and reduce violence, the two Ministries have partnered to train teams in the schools and community in conflict management strategies, service learning and student government.
Muppet Diplomacy: Sesame Workshop’s approach to promoting peace around the world
Sesame Workshop is known throughout the world for its efforts to leverage the power of media and Muppets to engage children and promote the knowledge, attitudes and skills required to build mutual respect and understanding across cultural divides. In this session, Sesame Workshop’s “Muppet Diplomacy” work will be highlighted. Through the presentation of clips from several co-productions from different parts of the world, an overview of Sesame Workshop’s production model and its application to key projects in conflict and post-conflict countries was presented along with the research providing evidence of impact.
Restorative Measures for School Connectedness & Alternatives to Suspension
This day long training will provide participants with an experiential overview of the principles and practices of restorative measures in schools: as a disciplinary response to harm and rule violations, as a framework for community building and youth development and as a positive school climate approach. Illustrations of restorative practices will be presented, and participants will discuss the continuum of problem solving responses, from classroom community building circles to one-on-one conversations, to face to face processes to repair harm.
Citizen Diplomacy as CRE: Building Mutual Understanding and Peaceful Relations
This workshop will discuss Citizen Diplomacy through international exchange of young teaching professionals as the means to improving mutual understanding and international relations between France and the United States. In the last three years, Franco-American Teachers in Training Institute (FATITI) has developed an international model of teacher training and professional development. The FATITI grant was established to provide an opportunity for exchange of both French teachers and American pre-service teachers at the beginning of their career while teaching abroad. This workshop will highlight how this global experience has helped teachers, students, and host communities increase their tolerance and appreciation for diversity.
Intercultural Peace Education in Crimean Educational Institutions: Knowledge, Skills and Values
The integrated course: “Culture of Neighborhood” is a joint initiative of several non-governmental organizations and educational institutions with funding from the Ministry of Education and Science of Crimea, Ukraine. This course includes the acquisition of knowledge and skills in conflict resolution, intercultural competence, and values of diversity and tolerance. The course is taught at all levels – from kindergarten through university. An overview of the course with special emphasis on the methodology of education in poly-ethnic communities will be provided along with examples of lessons and evaluation tools.
The Role of Students and Student Organizations in Campus Violence
While administrative and regulatory functions are discussed in higher education literature regarding responses to violence, student engagement in this area is relatively understudied. As an aspect of dissertation research, this workshop will facilitate discussion on the role of students and student organizations in campus violence prevention efforts. The session will provide insights into the informal structures and support networks that prevent and reduce campus violence.
State-wide Initiatives in New York and Ohio: Creating Positive Learning Environments
The New York Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Education will share current and developing initiatives to create positive learning environments in their states. The Ohio Department of Education will highlight various risk and climate indicators and the relationships that provide powerful, empirical predictors of school and student success. The New York Department of Education will discuss the New York Social and Emotional Development and Learning (SEDL) Guidelines which encourage school districts to address children’s and adolescents’ affective development in support of their challenging academic preparations. SEDL is part of a united effort outlined in The Children’s Plan, 2008 written by New York’s nine child-service agencies. This Plan is in support of the NY Board of Regent’s Reform Agenda which views social-emotional supports and community services to students as key strategies in turning around low performing schools.
Systemic Approach to Peace Education in the Crimean Community
This workshop will examine the systemic approach to peace education coordinated by the Integration Development Center (IDC) together with other NGOs and educational institutions in the Crimea, an area threatened by interethnic tensions and economic, social and political instability. Research results demonstrate that this work helps overcome negative stereotypes. Special attention is paid to the “Culture of Neighborhood” course as a method of introducing intercultural education into the regional education policy We will discuss effective cooperation with NGOs, educators, scholars and governmental officials and how the timely and task-oriented education activities, directed at promoting tolerance in relations between representatives of different cultures, can remove the threat of instability.
GPPAC Peace Education Working Group (PEWG) Updates
This presentation includes a summary of the 2008-2009 Northeast Asia Regional Activities. It also includes information concerning the survey on the Local government of their policy on the culture of peace.
Conflict Resolution & Peace Education: Proven Impacts
The presentation defines Conflict Resolution Education (CRE) and discusses the relationship and benefits between CRE and Peace Education. The presentation slides also provide access to a list of general review articles of the topic.
Peace Education Research Project Summary
Peace Education Research Project Summary, Seoul, South Korea
Peace Education in the Western Balkans
This presentation provides a Regional context of Peace in the Western Balkans. The discussion describes and highlights Regional Peace activities of 2009 and provides a look at upcoming peace activities for the future.