The Peace Education Centre is a 7-month initiative in which we are carrying out a variety of educational and promotional activities centered around peace-related values like social justice, anti-discrimination, and inclusiveness. This project builds on and expands the CERV-funded project we implemented in 2023.
As part of this initiative, we are launching the Peace Education Centre this autumn, which will serve as a central hub linking all our peace education efforts. Throughout the project, we are also organizing peace education training sessions for volunteers, activists, and educators, who will later conduct follow-up activities in their communities.
In addition, we are inviting schools from across Poland to take part in the Challenge for Peace once again, engaging students in peacebuilding efforts. All these activities are also part of the celebration of our Association’s 30th anniversary, marking three decades of commitment to fostering peace.
The specific project objectives include:
- strengthening SCI Poland’s branch as a peace organisation and the expert in peace education by inaugurating the Peace Education Centre and organising a series of Peace Talks in the Garden;
- building the capacity of at least 20 volunteers so that they gain essential competences and become peace educators who deliver impactful peace education activities in their surroundings;
- creating a chain of follow-up actions at different places (schools, cultural institutions, elderly people clubs) for promoting peace on 3 levels (inner peace, peace with others, peace with nature);
- raising awareness among the youth on how to act for peace in daily life by inviting them to participate in the Challenge for Peace.
The Peace Education Centre is currently unfolding through three major tracks:
Inauguration of the Peace Education Centre 🎉
This included an all-day conference in Poznań titled “How to Educate About Peace in Times of War,” with 30 participants, including local government representatives, NGOs from Greater Poland Voivodeship, and our association members.
The conference featured:
- Expert Presentations on peace education.
- Practical Workshops providing hands-on tools for peacebuilding.
On 21 September, the International Day of Peace, we opened the Centre to the public with workshops on peace, anti-discrimination, and human rights.
From June to August, we held three peace and social justice conversations in our Community Garden, featuring guest speakers and discussions.
Training Course for volunteers and Follow-up activities 'Spread peace' 🌱
This autumn, we are running a 14-hour training course for volunteers looking to expand their knowledge of peace and social justice. The training will welcome at least 20 participants and will focus on practical applications of peace, covering its three core pillars, and introducing basic elements of training for trainers.
Afterward, volunteers will create follow-up actions based on the training, including workshops, educational materials, and digital content. These initiatives will directly engage 200 people and reach another 800 indirectly through digital educational resources.
A Peace Challenge for schools 📚
In October 2024, we will invite schools from across Poland to join the second edition of the Peace Challenge, running from 5 November to 5 December 2024. This initiative encourages schools to promote peace through a variety of activities.
Teachers and students will receive specially designed Peace Challenge Kits with printable materials and ideas for diverse peace activities that can be adapted to different age groups, levels of difficulty, and engagement.
Target groups
The activities planned in the project are aimed at 5 groups of direct recipients:
- School youth – we will invite students from schools in the Wielkopolska region to take part in stationary workshops and youth from schools all over Poland to take part in the Peace Challenge;
- Educators and volunteers who want to educate young people about peace and social justice together with SCI Poland. They will be invited to take part in TC described earlier;
- Representatives of NGOs and public institutions in Greater Poland Voivodeship invited to take part in the Peace Education Conference;
- Residents of Poznan invited to participate in open meetings and activities in the Community Garden;
- Volunteers, activists and friends of the Association – invited to participate in the Opening of the Peace Education Centre and the celebration of the 30th anniversary of SCI Poland.
What is the intended impact?
- Strengthened image of SCI Poland as a peace organisation and an expert in peace education thanks to inauguration of Peace Education Centre;
- Increased knowledge of what peace in practice is, and the increased motivation to act for peace among at least 2500 people who will take part in different project activities (educators and youth workers, NGO and public institutions representatives, university and school students and their teachers, elderly people, migrants, Poznań inhabitants, etc.);
- At least 20 volunteers with basic competencies of peace educators with the potential to deliver impactful peace education activities;
- Creating a chain of follow-up actions for promoting and living peace on 3 levels;
- At least 50 schools from all Poland will take part in the Peace Challenge and spread a peace message among their students and teachers.
The impact will continue in 2025 and beyond, as the Peace Education Centre will operate as a very important part of our organisation.
Grantor
Projekt „Centrum Edukacji Pokojowej” jest współfinansowany przez Unię Europejską poprzez Program Obywatele, Równość, Prawa i Wartości (Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values Programme).