INITIATIVES ON EDUCATION FOR PEACE FOR STUDENTS

We believe children and youth are more open to new ideas and perspectives as their beliefs, attitudes and worldviews are not unyielding. Face-to-face dialogue with perceived others, self exploration, prejudice reduction, skill building in non-violent communication and coexistence work can produce better results with this group. They can turn into the “bridge of peace”, connecting, and bringing into the peacebuilding fold, many more actors and institutions.

An important component of our engagement in the area of education for peace therefore is to offer training to children and youth in schools and colleges. Our training modules introduce non-violent communication skills to the participants, reiterate the importance of values like human dignity, respect for human rights and justice, and introduce children to ideas of sustained dialogue, conflict transformation and peace studies.

Current Offerings

WISCOMP currently offers the following modules for school and college students:

1. Humanizing the other – This day long workshop focuses on religious/linguistic /ethnic stereotyping and prejudices. It is especially useful for schools or colleges in volatile areas as it promotes among participants values of human dignity, interdependence and partnership (as opposed to domination).

2. Active listening and Sustained dialogue- These modules seek to provide safe public space to address conflicts and improve relationships though dialogue between conflicting parties at individual, group and community level. Short duration interactive exercises are used to introduce students to dialogue and active listening. The focus in these modules is on building capacity for commitment to peace praxis.

3. Nonviolent communication- The module on non violent communication aims at capacity building for lifelong commitment to peace. Participants are motivated to explore possibilities for resolving conflicts without resorting to force and violence. New and innovative ways of expressing dissent are introduced to the students.

4. Building peace through art- This one-two day workshop encourages the participants to view puppetry, theater, music, films, dance and other art forms as resources for conflict transformation - a process whereby, as Peace scholar John Paul Lederarch notes, “conflict can be a catalyst for deep-rooted, positive change in relationships and in the structures of human community”.

5. Gender, conflict and peace- This module seeks to address gendered impact of conflicts and women’s role as agents of non-violent social change. Informed by UN Security Counsel Resolution 1325 it sensitizes students to the need for women’s participation in conflict prevention and resolution and introduces some ideas from the theoretical discourse on peace and conflict studies to motivate students to receive higher education in this evolving discipline.

Most training modules of WISCOMP Educating for Peace program are organized upon institutional request. The program participants and partner institutions are not required to pay any fee. However, we appreciate if logistical support is provided by the participating institutions in the form of venue and other facilities.