Peacebuilding
Making Peace Where I Live (MAPWIL)
A program for adolescents
Our common future depends on nurturing a new generation
of leaders who have the skills, outlook and confidence to be effective
advocates for peace.
Between the ages of 10 and 14, children come to life-shaping conclusions
about what is possible in the world, and the power (or lack of power)
they have to make a real difference.
The goal of Making Peace Where I Live (MAPWIL) is to give the
opportunity to young adolescents throughout the world to learn that
they CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. |
Violence is ever present in the lives of youth today.
For some youth, violence threatens their every day
lives. For others it is present through media and entertainment that appear
to condone violence.
It is critical that we challenge the view that violence is inevitable
and normal.
MAPWIL is one opportunity to let our youth get to
know people who are actively working to make the world a better place
through peaceful means. It is equally important that youth build a sense
of hope that they too can become peacemakers in their communities. It
takes courage, compassion, community and creativity.
MAPWIL
- Fosters young people’s sense of self-determination and connects
them with community leaders whose work and example nourish non-violence,
social responsibility and sustainable futures.
- Provides practical information and creative activities for young people
and their teachers or leaders.
- Consists of two parts: a guide for each youth, and a resource manual
for adult leaders to assist in their exploration.
The project has already been underway for two years, including the development
and distribution of 80 copies throughout North America and a smaller quantity
in eight other countries. It has been translated into Spanish. You can
become part of the group using the materials and/or ideas by downloading
a copy from this website.
The objectives:
- Explore the concepts of peace, peacemaking, peace building and a culture
of peace as a way to deal with conflict and difference in our communities;
- Observe how peacemaking and peace building is carried out in communities;
- Envision a peaceful world;
- Extend the present;
- Celebrate the peacemaking and peace building that goes on every day
in local communities;
- Develop the capacity to understand the attributes that engender peace;
and
- Dialogue among young people who are engaged in MAPWIL.
The methodology is highly experiential and is evolving with practice.
- Defining peace, peace building and imaging a peaceful world.
- Creating a sense of self in history through examining the meaning
of “now” and building a timeline of the 200 year-present.
- Developing the listening and inquiry skills that are essential to
peace building through interviewing.
- Learning about peacemakers and peace builders by collecting oral histories.
- Celebrating the peace builders by sharing the stories with the community.
Read comments from a MAPWIL instructor
about the definition of a Peaceful Community
Read comments from a MAPWIL instructor
about a MAPWIL activity
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