Peace Justice Conference 2024
“Teaching for Peace”
The Peace Justice Conference 2024, “Teaching for Peace,” took place over three days, from Friday, 17 May to Sunday, 19 May 2024. The weekend was filled with workshops, speeches, discussions, music, and art.
Keynote speakers included Jan Øberg, a peacebuilder and researcher; Cristina Sorribas and Anuradha Pal, education specialists at Humana People to People India; and Dr. Lyla June Johnston, an Indigenous musician, scholar, and community organizer of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne), and European lineages.
The conference was attended by approximately 300 participants and featured 30 different workshops, covering topics such as politics, education, creativity, and more.
From the invitation to the “Teaching for Peace” conference:
“We believe that a teacher is that person who is willing to share what they know with others as well as to dedicate the time to learn together something that interests them both. In that way, if you are a nurse, a primary school teacher, a youth worker, a factory employee or a bartender.
In today’s climate of self interest, division, despair and war, bringing people together to talk about Peace Justice is an act of bravery. We aim to create a space to share our fears and concerns, hear about the solutions and build up on our hopes and dreams, learning from each other and generating action, starting from our own expertise as an educational institution, teaching.”
Workshops Friday afternoon · 17 May 2024 · 17:30 – 18:30
Challenging the West: BRICS
The BRICS collaboration is a rival to the current countries in power (G7)and their global dominance. In this workshop, we will learn more about the BRICS countries and their wish for a multi-polar world and peace.
Cultivating Peace
A workshop with active reflection about the place of Nature in our upbringing, using collaborative tools to envision how to facilitate connection with Nature, as educators, parents or simply citizens of the Earth.
Honourable Harvest
Embracing Indigenous Wisdom for Sustainability: Indigenous cultures’ ideas of ‘teaching for peace’ show us how to make peace with nature – how to work together with the environment instead of hurting it.
Spiral of Experiential Education
To achieve global peace, we must first build peace and balance within. Nurturing curiosity in children is integral to this endeavor, as they step strongly into their own unique paths.
Community Building in the Caribbean
Supporting climate justice in the small island nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Mattia and Claudia joined the team at Richmond Vale Academy to grow gardens farms.
Empowering Peaceful Coexistence
As conflicts and migration reshape European societies, schools play a pivotal role in providing new arrivals with an inclusive space promoting intercultural understanding & peace.
Water (In)Justice
This workshop discusses the issue of water justice on a global scale and the challenges that the issue of water scarcity presents in terms of conflict resolution in the future. A case from southern Morocco.
Exploring Slavery through Theatre
Decolonising history education, using Guinea-Bissau’s innovative teaching method of theatre as a case study, to reshape narratives and foster an awareness of the brutal past.
Biodanza SRT
Biodanza – a path to self-knowledge and personal growth through spontaneous movement. It helps us change our lives by combining movements to dissolve tensions and stress – while we’re having fun.
Workshops Saturday morning · 18 May 2024 · 09:30 – 10:30
Education amidst Conflict
The DNS Teacher Training College in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, continues to educate primary school teachers to promote democratic & participatory schooling despite an ongoing conflict.
Oppression Doesn’t Lead to Peace
After 75 years of brutal occupation, Palestine is farther from peace than ever. Why? Are we talking about the same peace? A conversation about the resistance and the peace process.
Meeting “The Poor”
In this workshop, you will be challenged and provoked by the facilitator in order for you to explore your humanity, implicit biases, privileges and peace-building capacity in a broader context.
Education Integration for Well-being
How the Finnish approach of integrated and strength-based education contributes to peace and wellbeing at the individual level as well as at the community level in general.
The Decolonial Mindset
Decolonizing Western knowledge as a crucial step toward constructing a more democratic educational system. Explore decolonial thinking as a tool to break free from oppressive educational structures.
Awaken your critical thinking
The goal of this workshop is to engage in critical thinking and we will do so through different games, individual reflection, group work, topic based discussions and more in search of truth and peace.
Cranes of Peace
Explore the story of Sadako Sasaki, the bombing of Hiroshima and the symbolic significance of the origami crane in promoting peace and hope. Learn how to fold your own origami cranes.
Sports for Peace
Peace through Physical Education in theory and practice. The concepts of positive/negative peace, the difference between punishments & consequences, rewards & recognitions etc.
Teachers, don’t leave those kids alone!
By reflecting on our own values, beliefs, and biases we will explore how we can contribute to positive social change in our communities and beyond – how to teach peace.
Conflict Transformation
In this workshop, we will explore how conflict is inevitable, but violence is not. We will identify why conflict transformation can be a healthy choice to make for our collective well-being.
Deurbanisation of Education
We explore the role of education in rural communities and the recent establishment of the first Scandinavian style Folk High School in Lithuania’s remote Zarasai region, the Innovative School.
Workshops Saturday afternoon · 18 May 2024 · 14:00 – 16:00
From “Who am I?” to “I AM Happiness!”
To achieve Peace for all, we must first reach for Peace within ourselves. Educators need to start with themselves to empower their own elements in order to teach children.
Building peaceful tomorrows
Even if the future doesn’t exist yet, people will live there too. The choices we make now will affect their lives. Just like the decisions of our ancestors in their time made an impact on our lives.
Marx in Soho
“Marx in Soho” is a most entertaining & thoughtful introduction to Karl Marx’s theories on history & change. Historical materialism is a powerful tool for positive change-makers and activists.
Learn to listen, listen to learn
How can we apply Collaborative Communication to foster a more inclusive, equitable society? The workshop focuses on creating strength-based, person-centred and outcome-focused conversations.
Sports for Peace
Peace through Physical Education in theory and practice. The concepts of positive/negative peace, the difference between punishments & consequences, rewards & recognitions etc.
Restorative Justice
Based on the “11 Days” documentary about the most overcrowded prison in Italy, the workshop will explore the restorative justice primary tools, horizons and possibilities through dialogue and reflection.
Storytelling & Clowning for Peace
Connecting the dots between deep listening, consciousness & compassion through storytelling & clowning. Let’s use laughter, imagination & understanding to promote peace.
Biodanza SRT
Biodanza – a path to self-knowledge and personal growth through spontaneous movement. It helps us change our lives by combining movements to dissolve tensions and stress – while we’re having fun.
Participatory Photography
Together we explore participatory photography and its application to give voice, testify, and represent on behalf of the underrepresented, silenced, or victimized – the deliberately unheard.
THE NECESSARY TEACHER TRANING COLLEGE