why peace building | CNIS and peace building in Africa | peace building development | twinning project
Why Peace Building
Counselling hut in Gulu, Uganda 2006. Photo © R. Lett
Armed conflict has vast impact on health and social development. CNIS and our Injury Control Centre in Uganda studied the impact that armed conflict has had on the injury pandemic. Our research showed that injury was much higher (700%) in the wartorn district of Gulu in Northern Uganda than in the centre of the country. In Gulu, the schools were battlegrounds for the rebels and the national army. Children were often forced to become soldiers, sex slaves or porters. The average Gulu child was very traumatized and all children were affected by war, not only the child soldiers. However, the international aid typically concentrated on the child soldiers and very little was done for the average child, yet all the children were severely traumatized. Due to this, CNIS decided to educate at least two teachers from the 50 schools where the Peace Building course was piloted, to provide counselling. Through this course, CNIS aims to provide aid to all children.
CNIS and Peace Building in Africa
Role play lesson, Axum, Ethiopia 2009. Photo © R. Lett
The goal of the Peace Building course is to instill values of living and working cooperatively with tolerance and respect, while caring for others in the community. The course aims to inform children of the dangers of violence and teach them how to prevent and resolve disputes and how to become responsible citizens and agents for peace.
Student makes final presentation in Axum, Ethiopia 2009 . Photo © R. Lett
Peace Building includes 11 learning areas:
Peace
Conflict
Conscience
Empathy
Anger and Anger Management
Self-Control
Fairness
Kindness
Problem-Solving
Non-Violence
Reconciliation
Peace Building Development
Peace Building wall art Axum 2008. Photo © R. Lett
With the financial support of the Canadian International Development Agency’s Peace Building Unit, CNIS and ICC-U implemented a non-violent conflict resolution curriculum for primary school students in grade five. The project included an evaluation of injury, violence and attitudes. We also provided first-aid kits for the schools, offered first-aid training for the teachers, and prepared a curriculum and offered teacher training in non-violent conflict resolution.
Peace Building in Uganda
Peace Building was introduced in six schools in Gulu in 2003 and by 2005 it was part of the curriculum for 50 primary schools in the area. Today it is implemented in 60 school districts and is sanctioned by the Ugandan Ministry of Education.
Peace Building in Ethiopia
Peace Building class room in Axum, Ethiopia 2009. Photo © R. Lett
In 2008, the program was translated into Tigrinia and implemented in Axum in Northern Ethiopia, which also has been affected by recent wars. In the spring of 2010, CNIS graduated 1500 young Peace Builders and for the 2010-2011 school year, 8 primary schools and over 2000 pupils in Axum took the course.
Twinning Project
One of the Canadian Twinning schools. © Lord Tennyson Elementary
For the 2011-2012 school year, eight Canadian elementary schools and eight elementary schools in and around Axum, Ethiopia will correspond and share letters, art work and experiences through the Canada Ethiopia Elementary School Twinning Project.
Peacebuilding Course Manuals can be purchased directly from the CNIS.