World Citizen is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 that provides resources and tools to promote peace education, international peace sites, and a Nobel Peace Prize Festival. It aims to empower educators to teach peace concepts and works with community organizations on peace programs. Some of its initiatives include peace education workshops for teachers, connecting educators to resources, and sharing ideas through its newsletter and online channels. It relies on support from funders and contributors to sustain these programs.
This is who we are: WORLD CITIZENMission is to “Empower the education community - - - -Website address.Acknowledge Kathy Millington, Executive DirectorDetails later. Now, a question for you all,
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Here’s an overall view of World Citizen:World Citizen has THREE programs to promote peace.Our Peace Education program would not be what it is without the direct influence ofThe International Peace Site program and the Nobel Peace Prize Festival.To see how this all fits together, we need a little history of how this all started.Explain how these programs could benefit (school, business, places of worship, organizations, etc.
So this takes us backLynn Elling, the founder of World Citizen, is a World War II Navy Veteran.The destruction of war had a profound affect on this young officer.And when he returned home he was busy raising children and beinga successful business man.Eventually, Lynn and his wife, Donna, took a trip to Hiroshima, Japan, which changed his life.He vowed he would devote as much time and resources as he couldto promote a peaceful and healthy world for future generations.Lynn often uses the following quote “If we are to have real peace in the world,we must begin with the children.” Marie Montessori/GandhiThe question now became, how to involve children? That led to the concept of “International Peace Sites”(Click)
Before we get to that,Here’s greetings from our founder today.89 years young! He has been saying for years he needs to slow down, can’t do it all,Needs others to “step up to the plate.”That’s how we got involved
For about ten years, Lynn was on a mission to promote International Peace Sites.A dedication ceremony plays an important part in becoming a Peace Siteand Lynn was there for most all of them.It brings together the community.This photo is one of the early dedications. In the center you see the Peace Polewith the words “May Peace Prevail On Earth” written in several languages.At the time of dedication, a public commitment is made to what we used to refer to as the 5 principles:(next slide)
So what exactly does it mean to be a Peace Site?We now refer to the five principles as “Five Actions for Peace”Let me tell you a story about that.I think it’s a good example of what we’re up against when promoting peace:At my school, before we even began talking about becoming a Peace Site,I asked each student to think about Peace and what it means to them,what it looks like, feels like, etc.I can’t tell you how many drawings I received that showed someone lyingdown on the grass, under a shade tree, resting! Yikes! How can you get excited about that?We needed some action! It’s important to know that peace requires action:(One at a time)Give an example of what we had going already for each one: Seek peace - - “Stop, Think” Conflict Resolution skills Reach out - -- Service projects!? Service Learning Protect the - - - recycling, planting trees, (Protect is a great action word for young people Promote intercultural - - The more we understand others, the better we understand ourselves. Be a responsible - - Our world has expanded. We need to know how to think globally.
And here is the key photo to begin the conversation about peaceand begin to see that learning to solve conflicts on the playground isn’t just “kid stuff!”Students were finding examples from around the world in the daily newsabout solving conflicts, or not! And they were practicing solving conflicts at home.Even the young children could get a sense from this photo of our planet earththat we are ALL on this planet together. There are no borders, no bounderies,Nothing to separate us. We have no where else to go. WE MUST LEARN TOGET ALONG. There’s not even a place to throw your garbage away.There is no “away!”This photo expands their personal identity to include everyone!
So we are about building community. Large or small, it’s a crucial basis fora safe environment. This is what healthy, successful schools look like. You see: Engaged Learners, Accountability, Respect, Safety.Or as we say, “EARS for Peace”We believe we have a program that supports healthy, successful schools.We know it’s important to feel like we belong, to feel weare a part of a community.Now we have science to prove it.Brain Research shows that children who feel safe, are better learners.
So another piece of World Citizen, is the Nobel Peace Prize Festival.It’s in conjunction with the Nobel Peace Prize Forum for adults.Perhaps some of you have attended the annual forum that rotates annually between the five Scandinavian colleges in the area?This is a photo from one of the festivals, it’s also on the Home Page of our websitewhich we encourage you to check out.Each year students gather to celebrate peacemakers, particularly Nobel Laureates. And they meet other students who are also working on peacemaking.The students share what they learned about their peacemakerthrough a display, or perhaps they might share a song, or a dance. AND, each year the Nobel Laureate from the year before is honored at the Festival.It’s a wonderful yearly event at Augsburg College.Here’s the information for this year’s Peace Prize Festival:
There are copies of this flyer on the back table.Do Save the Date!So how does all this tie in to and reflect on our Peace Education program?(Click)
About ten years ago, we were concerned about some of the Peace Sites disappearing.Sometimes, a place may be a Peace Site in name only. And maybe the people most involvedhave moved on. What happens to it?We needed to ask, “what could we do to keep your peacesite alive and active?”We did a year-long pilot study and asked Peace Sites:What do you need? and what do you want?Here’s what they told us: TIME!The peace actions are important, It supports our need for a safe environmentAND we don’t have time!They said we need TIME for:Professional Development-TIME to learn about resources available-TIME to Network with other Peace Sites-TIME to Exchange Ideas and Resources-TIME to plan!The remainder of the slides describe what our Peace Education Programlooks like and how this history and background is reflected in it.
Funds/donations make it possible for World Citizen to provide community organizations with the time, resources, and tools to promote a peaceful and just world.(For later =Not an add-on Weave it in to the existing curriculum. Examples: Social Studies, Science (environment), Math (population) Lang Arts (Stories about nobel laureates and other peacemakers) Handwriting (peace quotes) Phy Ed (cooperative games) ArtLearning Gap = Cultually Relavent TeachingHow our Peace Ed program is unique:-It is not a curriculum We have no product to sell (there are many available. Need time to think and plan)-We have developed a PROCESS for Peace EducationBeing a Peace Site can be included in school’s Strategic Planand reevaluated and updated each year like everything else.Photo of planet earth: learn about ‘cause and effect”= what I choose to do has an effect on myself and others.It is getting more and more difficult for teachers and studentsto leave the classroom. Buses too expensive, testing! Testing! Testing!Focusing on Peace can feel isolating, particularly in a society focusedon warMinimum of two are invited from each school. Need a team with which to work.Teachers feel respected, that what they are doing is important.Guiding principles for Peace Education