I am working with a team to create a new organization that would implement the PeaceJam curriculum within New England. It will endeavor to teach young people about peace activism, and active citizenship through the values of service learning and community building, along with the actions and inspirational stories of 13 Nobel Peace Laureates. It will accomplish this using the fundamental elements of Education, Inspiration, and Action. PeaceJam New England will establish groups of young people through schools, churches and community organizations and give these youths the opportunity to make a difference locally, nationally, and internationally.

Education: Curricular programs for youth ages 5-25. The purpose of the PeaceJam curriculum is to stimulate youths' critical thinking skills, strengthen their research abilities, increase their knowledge of the role of nonviolence in conflict, and promote self growth and reflection.

Inspiration: comes from peers (other youth), mentors (college age youth), and the The Nobel Laureates that the young people will directly interact with at our conferences.

Action takes shape in the way of youth driven service projects throughout the world. PJ helps young people to identify problems both within and outside of their local areas, and equips them with the motivation and tools to develop ways to take action, and help to remedy the situation.

Password to first video password: peacejam

Problema

Many people have said that the youth are the future. We know that the youth are, in fact, the present. The world does not need to wait for new leaders to arise from the next generation, because the next generation is already here. PeaceJam addresses the needs that young people have for self exploration, freedom of expression, and a feeling of independence and value, by giving them an avenue to make a tangible difference in their world. PaceJam addresses ten problems that are the root of much suffering in the world, that were identified by a group of ten Nobel Laureates at a PJ summit in 2006, where they issued a Global Call to Action. These are: Equal Access to Water and Other Natural Resources, Ending Racism and Hate, Halting the Spread of Global Disease, Eliminating Extreme Poverty, Social Justice and Human Rights for All, Rights for Women and Children and Their Role as Leaders, Restoring the Earth's Environment, Controlling the Proliferation of Weapons, Investing in Human Security, and Breaking the Cycle of Violence. Young people can be more than capable leaders in the fight for change in this world. PeaceJam New England engages young people of all backgrounds, socio-economic status, religious belief, racial/ethnic/national background, family structure, gender/sexual identity, or any other aspect their lives, and gives them the opportunity to expand as leaders, active citizens, and innovators in response to the needs of communities both local and global.

Solução

There are many service learning organizations in the world, but none like PeaceJam. We provide motivated youth with inspiration from both a vibrant international community of engaged peers, and direct interaction with, and inspiration from 13 different Nobel Peace Laureates. PeaceJam offers curricular programs for youth ages 5-25. The purpose of the PeaceJam curriculum is to stimulate young people's critical thinking skills, strengthen their research abilities, increase their knowledge of the role of nonviolence in conflict, and promote self growth and reflection. It includes specific content on the lives and work of the Nobel Peace Laureates, as well as engaging activities for analyzing root causes of issues that affect communities both locally and globally. Extensive resources in each chapter allow youth to participate in an in-depth exploration of topics such as violence, poverty, reconciliation, and an individual's power to make a difference. With those tools young people can create projects that will be successful, and will produce visible results both benefiting their target community, and building their confidence and self esteem. Through this, PeaceJam cultivates young leaders in today's world.

Exemplo

Below is one example of what a group of young people influenced by the PeaceJam curriculum might set out to do. These students attend Mount View High School in Thorndike, Maine. Their project was such a success that they won a visit from Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi! To see a video of the project paste this link in a web browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCVaSn5w9yQ Mount View High School PeaceJam Timeline: Fall 2006 -2008 First club established in Maine 15-20 members Global Call for Action – Extreme Poverty Project focus- Maine Organic Farmer Association donated land to PJ club to grow organic vegetables. Students prepared land, started seedlings, planted, maintained gardens. Produce shared with local food pantries. Fall 2008-2009 15-20 members Global Call to Action – Environmental Degradation and Extreme Poverty Project Focus – Continued growing organic vegetables at MOFGA but students began to plan for gardens at new high school. Students also wanted to look at waste stream and initiate a recycling/composting program at new school. Conducted a dumpster dive to collect data. Also met with Nutrition Director to plan healthy menus that would include organic vegetables from MVHS gardens, as well as encouraged local produce.to be used in planning meals. The Director also supported reducing waste and was conscious about using less packaging, buying in bulk, etc. and reducing overall waste in the cafeteria.. Fall 2009-2011 15-20 members Global Call to Action – same Project Focus - expanded from previous years. Initiated a compost/recycling program in new school. PJ students monitored. Gardens flourished. Supplied produce for lunch menu. Saved school lunch program nearly $2000.00 which then paid to purchase local beef for school! Spring2011 Global Call to Action Award – visit from Shirin Ebadi Fall 2011-2012 Projects continue Expanded to include classrooms to be responsible for sections of garden. Some education done with younger grades re recycling and composting.

Ofertas e demandas

The largest difficulty that we face is the number of other youth service organizations that exist, there are several groups that have similar purposes as PeaceJam New England - Kids Consortium, and YSA being two of the larger ones. These organizations, while also providing avenues for young people to pursue service learning, do not give them the same opportunities as PeaceJam does to connect them with such inspirational leaders as the Nobel Peace Laureates. As with any non-profit organization, external funding opportunities are limited and we are doing our best to identify individuals and donors who would be interested in being a part of this great project; and that is made more difficult by the other organizations that are also pursuing them.