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The YTT Peace-building Education Program
Our Peace-Building Education Program is designed for schools and communities, utilising art-based activities to foster peace and diversity, focusing on school teachers and students from diverse, and where appropriate, cultural backgrounds, as well as various community actors, with the goal of cultivating a more integrated and harmonious society by addressing the root causes of conflict and encouraging positive relationships among participants.
The program reduces implicit biases that both students, teachers and community members may hold by raising awareness of fundamental human rights and integrating peace education practices through self-expression and visual storytelling. It equips participants with theoretical knowledge, the YTT learning approach, and a variety of art-based educational activities. By tackling these issues at their origin, our program prevents the escalation of hate and violence.
​​Sample pages from the Peace-Building Education Program Manual
It deconstructs prejudice and reduces discriminatory practices whilst promoting awareness of cultural differences, inclusion, and citizenship among participants. It increases understanding of the living conditions of diverse populations, utilising intergroup and direct-indirect contact, and perspective-taking which are vital components of effective peace-building understanding. The program is an interdisciplinary approach, employing student-centered strategies and active art based learning techniques, designed to cultivate emotional and cognitive empathy along with effective strategies for reducing prejudice. By exploring concepts of identity and difference, the program creates a visual dialogue that contrasts participants’s experiences with those of others.
Additionally, our Peace-Building Education Program emphasises the importance of community engagement and collaboration by involving, where possible, local activists and cultural leaders in the educational process. This integration not only enriches the learning experience but also fosters a sense of ownership and investment among community members in the peace-building efforts. Workshops and collaborative projects encourage participants to share their stories and express their unique perspectives, thereby creating a tapestry of narratives that highlights both shared human experiences and cultural diversity. By bridging gaps between different societal groups, the program promotes collective action towards social cohesion and resilience, empowering participants to become advocates for peace within their own communities. Through this holistic approach, the program creates lasting change that transcends the classrooms and localities and inspires a broader movement towards understanding and acceptance in society at large.
​​Sample pages from the Peace-Building Education Program Manual