REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF PEACE EDUCATION ACADEMY OF NEPAL
MAHATO, Madan Kumar NEPAL/НЕΠАЛ On behalf of Peace Education Academy of Nepal we have the pleasure to bring this report of the activities of this Academy in public information. Despite our economic problems we have been trying to promote peace education in Nepal and seek the cooperation and advice of many of you in this regards.
Born on 10th April 1996 Peace Education Academy of Nepal is a non-profit, non-political, voluntary, social and academic peace Organization committed to promoting peace and nonviolence through education. It is the first and the only Organization so far established in Nepal in the name of peace education for the purpose of promoting the teaching and learning about peace and nonviolence.
This Academy is effortful in building society based on peace, non-violence, religious tolerance, democratic norms, ethnic and inter-cultural solidarity, gender equality and respect for human rights, cultural diversity and human dignity. It aims at including into schools, colleges and universities curriculum the study of peace education, culture of peace and enhancing public awareness about peace education and disseminating the ideals of culture of peace. This Academy adds its voice to the global voice raised by Peace Organizations throughout the world in support of peace education – a voice creating Global Peace Education Movement and reinforcing it.
It works through its following bodies:
I) General Assembly of Peace Associates.
II) Executive Council
III) Council of Peace Educators IV) Council of Executive Advisors V) Peace Education Centers.
This Academy is an active peace organization of Nepal. It has been organizing a number of activities designed to inculcate in the mind of students and young people the seed of peace and non-violence. It jointly organizes activities in cooperation and collaboration with like-minded peace organizations. National Federation of Unesco Associations of Nepal, People to People, Nepal and Human Rights Education Academy of Nepal etc. are the organizations with which this Academy sometimes in collaboration and sometimes jointly organizes activities. Its regards Unesco Associated School
Project as an effective instrument for promoting peace education. Therefore it attaches great importance to the goals of its projects.
Background
Despite the efforts made both at national and international level through organization like United Nations, UNESCO, other UN Agencies, Human Rights Organizations and Peace Organizations for building a world society based on peace, nonviolence, justice, equality and prosperity the world we live today amidst the wonderful achievements in science and technology is beset with challenges arising out of ethnic violence, armed conflict, poverty and terrorism.
Though the world is free from the fear of the occurrence of third world war at present because of the end of cold war the acts of violence, conflicts and terrorism have been common phenomena in many parts of the world causing several deaths and huge losses of priorities. It is essentially needed that some strategies designed to eliminate the roots of violence and conflict taking place in the schools, colleges and universities are to be adopted so that a society free of conflicts, violence, disrespect for human rights, human dignity and discrimination against women and child could be built on this earth.
Resorting to use of fun for the defence of peace and for the achievement of one’s selfish end is not a strategy from which peace, aspired by the people across the globe can be achieved. Peace, born out of the womb of pen is the one, which can serve as the basis of human co-existence and co-prosperity. Peace attained through education imparted at the schools, colleges and university constitutes a viable factor which can create a peaceful, nonviolent, prosperous and harmonious human society.
Its Birth and Organizational Frame
Born on 10th April 1996 Peace Education Academy of Nepal is a non profit, non political, volunteer, social and academic peace organization committed to promoting peace and nonviolence through education. It is the first and the only organization so far established in Nepal in the name of Peace Education for the purpose of promoting the teaching and learning about peace and nonviolence. This academy adds its voice to the global voice raised by Peace Organizations throughout the world in support of peace education – voice creating Global Peace Education Movement and reinforcing it.
It works through its following bodies 1. General Assembly of Peace Association 2. Executive Council
3. Council of Peace Educators 4. Council of Educative Advisors
5. Peace Education Centers and foundations.
Vision
Building a prosperous, peaceful, justice, democratic intercultural, non- violent, harmonious and creative human society through education.
Objectives of the Academy
1. To be effortful in building society based on peace, non-violence, religious, tolerance, democratic norms, ethnic and intercultural solidarity, gender equality and respect for human rights, cultural diversity and human dignity.
2. To promoting peace education and culture of peace.
3. To strengthen to realize and advance “Agenda for Peace and Jistice for the 21st Century” and “Global Campaign for Peace Education” adopted and launched at the Hague Appeal for Peace International Conference in 1999.
4. To make efforts to include into schools, college and universities curriculum the study of peace education.
5. To institute Peace Awards and Peace Medals to be given to those who contribute to promoting and protecting the goals of this Academy. Peace Shield and Peace Torch to be given to the schools or colleges which win in organizing peace activities.
6. To confer, on persons making contributions in the promotion of its goals the title of Peace Messenger or enjoy (Peace Ambassador), Peace Advocates and Peace Lovers.
7. To gorge institutional relations with national and international peace organization.
8. To try to enhance public awareness about peace education and disseminate the ideals of culture of peace.
9. To organize teachers training for peace and mobilize youth and students through UNESCO Associate Project for Peace and non – violence.
10. To promote the ideals of civic education and value education.
11. To promote moral, ethical and spiritual education.
12. To promote and practice yoga and meditation.
13. To launch programme to try to realize the ideal goals of Untied Nations and UNESCO.
14. To render social services and organize social activities.
15. It aims at establishing UNESCO Chair, peace education centres in schools and colleges and open Peace University.
16. It makes effort to promote the goals of IPRA (International Peace Research Association), International Associations of Educators for World Peace and Hague Appeal for Peace, Global Campaign for Peace Education, World Federalist Movement.
17. To promote study and research on peace and non violence.
18. To educate self management and Leadership development.
Achievements
This Academy has, since inception, been organizing activities from the time to time with a view to promoting peace through education. It has held talk programme and interactions on several themes in different times such as:
a) No Peace without peace education b) Promoting human rights education c) Education: Key to peace
d) Peace through non violence
e) The role of youths in promoting pace and nonviolence
f) It has co-founded UNESCO Study and Peace Education Centre in Padma Kanya Campus, Bagbazar, Kathmandu, Nepal
It has held programmes in some schools of Nepal in order to raise awareness about the importance of peace education and culture of peace in the schools.
Both teachers and students have made positive response to the peace education programmes and have taken it as a key factor to build a peaceful, dignified and friendly environment in the compounds of the schools and college.
Area of Works
Schools, Colleges, Universities and other educational training institutions and NGO Sectors.
Institutional Relations
It has forged relations with the following national and international organization.
a) National front:
I. National Federation of UNESCO Associations of Nepal.
II. International Association of Educators for World Peace.
III. World Federalist National Association of Nepal IV. People to People Nepal
V. Teachers organization of Nepal
VI. Human Rights Education Academy of Nepal b) International front:
i. International Peace Research Associations (IPRA)
ii. Hague Appeal for Peace: Global Campaign for Peace Education.
iii. International Association of Educators for World Peace iv. World Federalist Movement
International Participation
Asso. Prof. Dambar Bir Thapa, the president of this Academy attended the 5th August World Congress of International Educators for Peace held on 30th July to 5th August 1995 at Norwich University North Field- Vermont, USA and International Congress of World Federalist held in 1998 Chennai, India. Mr.
Lhundub Dorji Lama, Chairman of the Council of Peace Eductors participated at these peace conference – Hague Appeal for Peace International Conference in 1999 Hauge, Netherland, 23rd Congress of World Federalist held in 1998 Chennai, India and International conference of International Association of Educators for World Peace in 2000 in London. Prof. Thapa attended World Peace and Religion conference held in Canada in 2001. Asso. Prof. Dambar Bir Thapa President of Peace Education Academy of Nepal and Human Rights Education Academy of Nepal attended Human Rights Council Meeting in Switzerland in 2006. Mr. Bharat Rayamajhi, vice president of Peace Education Academy of Nepal has represented this Academy to Mexico to attend World Planning School Congress 2006 in 2006.
Similarly, Mr. Madan Kumar Mahato, Secretary of Peace Education Academy of Nepal has represented this Academy to Russian Federation to attend “9th World Congress of the Organization of World Heritage Cities”, June 19-25, 2007.
What is Peace Education?
Peace Education means enriching one’s character, attitude, behavior and nature with the ideals of peace and non-violence through teaching, learning, sharing and mediating. It means instilling into the heart and minds of the student and youths the values and spirit of peace and nonviolence through education and brings in their attitude and behavior a transformation from the culture of violence into the culture of nonviolence and peace. Educating for peace means educating ones to promote and strengthen the culture of respect for all human beings and their rights, freedom and dignity irrespective of caste, creed, nationality, sex and political belief on one hand and rejecting the cult of violence in all its forms on the other hand. Peace Education is defined as
teaching and learning about the values , attitudes and forms of behaviour that reflect respect for life for human beings and their dignity and all human rights, the rejections of violence in all its forms and commitment to the principals of freedom, justice, solidarity, tolerance and understanding among peoples and between groups and individuals “Hague Appeal for Peace”.
Peace Education is gaining momentum as Global Peace Movement designed to strengthen the forces of pace and on violence through the means of education, reconciliation and conflict prevention. It aims not only at finding out alternatives to violence but also combating the culture of violence, which pervades the society and the human behaviour of Nepal for inclusion of pace education in the curriculums of the schools and colleges and puts forward a proposal that each school and each campus be declared zones of peace. In view of the violence and conflict negatively affecting the course of society the need for the adaptation of peace to be huma in real sense of the term.
In order to be equipped to tackle these interwoven problems, the coming generation deserves a radically different education. People need the skills and knowledge to create and maintain peace. Peace requires a holistic approach.
Peace education includes study of a. Human rights
b. Development c. The environment d. Human security e. Disarmament f. Reconciliation
g. Conflict prevention resolution h. Gender studies
i. Non – violence and j. International Relations.
Aim of Peace Education
To understand the nature and origin of violence and its effects both
To create frameworks for achieving peaceful, creative societies.
To sharpen awareness about the existence of unpeaceful relationships between people and within and between nations.
To investigate the cause of conflicts and violence embedded within perceptions, values and attitudes of individuals as well as within social and political structures of society.
To encourage the search for alternative or possible nonviolent skills.
To equip children and adult with personal conflict resolution skills.
Following are the important events organized by this Academy in the course of its onward march.
1. A talk programme on “Literacy: the Basis of Peace” was organised on 8th September 2000 by this Peace Education Academy of Nepal on the occasion of the International Literacy Day. Minister for Education and Sports Mr. Amod Prasad Upadhayay, then Minister for Education and Sports was Chief Guest at function. A host of speakers spoke on the occasion. Inaugurating the talk programme Former Minister Mr. Amod Prasad Upadhyaya was appreciative of the effort made by Peace Education Academy of Nepal in organising talk programme on such important topics
2. On 10th November, 2000 during the UNESCO Peace Week Peace Education Academy of Nepal and National Federation of UNESCO Associations of Nepal organized a talk programme on “Promoting Peace through education and understanding” in collaboration with Nepal National UNESCO Academy, People to People, Nepal, Tulasi Mehar UNESCO Club.
Mr. Narayan Prasad Saud, Former State Minister for Education and Sports was the chief guest.
3. It organized a Poetry Symposium on “Peace as our ideal” on 21st May 2001 to celebrate World Poetry Day. Poet Madhav Prasad Ghimire was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Many poets of Nepal took part at the Symposium and read out their poems on the theme.
4. The Talk program on “Making Educational Institutions the Temples of Peace and Non-violence through Peace Education” organized by Peace Education Academy of Nepal and National Federation of UNESCO Associations of Nepal to celebrate 6th Anniversary of Peace Education Acadmey of Nepal . The chief guest of the programme was Rt. Hon’ble Chairman of Standing Committee Dr. Kesharjung Rayamajhi. On the very occasion, UNESCO Study and Peace Education Centre established with the co-operation of National Federation of UNESCO Associations of Nepal and Peace Education Academy of Nepal was inaugurated by the Rt. Hon’ble Dr. Kesharjung Rayamajhi. On the occasion, the President of Peace Education Academy of Nepal and National Federation of UNESCO Associations of Nepal presented about 3000 books and traits regarding UNO and other international activities to the UNESCO Study and Peace Education Centre.
5. This Academy organized a talk programme on “Women Empowerment for Peace” on 6th September, 2001. Then State Minister for Children, Women and Welfare Miss. Sushila Swar was the chief guest on the occasion.
6. It organized a workshop on “Education for Peace, Co-operation and International Understanding at Educational Institutions” on 1st May, 2002.
7. National Federation of UNESCO Associations of Nepal organized a talk programme on “Tolerance: the Basis of Peace and Understanding” to celebrate the International Day for Tolerance on 16th November 2002. Many teachers’, social workers, intellectuals, professors and students participated at the talk programmes which was held with Mr. Chuman Sing Basnyat, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Sports as its chief guest.
8. Peace Education Academy of Nepal organized a seminar on “Educating Against Drug Abuse” on 27th June 2003 in collaboration with National Federation of Unesco Associations of Nepal.
9. Peace Education Academy of Nepal organized a talk programme on:
“Unesco Associated School Project: An Effective Tool for Promoting Peace and Intercultural Understanding” on 24th July, 2003. Hon’ble Hari Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Education and Sports was chief guest on the occasion. A large number of teachers, professors, intellectuals and students participated at the function.
10. It has organized a talk programme on “Role of Civic Society in Protecting Human Rights” on the occasion of Human Rights Day on December 9th, 2003. Former Minister for Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation was the Chief guest on the occasion.
11. It has organized a Peace Rally on 22 March 2004.
12. It has established “Unesco Study and Peace Education Centre” in Padma Kanya Multiple Campus affiliated with Tribhuvan University of Nepal on 10th April, 2004.
13. It organized a talk programme on “Peace: the Need of Hour” on the occasion of International Day for Peace. Students were the main participants at the programme. Mr. Ramesh Nath Joshi, Secretary General of Peace Education Academy of Nepal was the chief guest on the occasion.
14. It observed 10th April 2004 The Peace Education Day because it is on this date that Peace Education Academy of Nepal was established.
15. This Peace Education Academy of Nepal has constituted Peace Education Curriculum Development Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Ramesh Nath Joshi, Secretary General of this Academy in order to promote teaching about peace in the school.
16. This Academy has organized workshops and seminars on peace education with the involvements of students in schools.
17. National Federation of UNESCO Associations of Nepal and International Association of Educators for World peace jointly organized Teacher Training Orientation on Peace Education on October 23rd 2004
18. Peace Education Academy of Nepal and Nation Federation of UNESCO Associations of Nepal jointly organized “Peace through Promoting Education for All” on the occasion of the 35th International Literacy Day on 8th September 2005
19. It observed the Teacher’s Day on “Teachers Opening doors to a better World through peace Education. on 5th October, 2005
20. It organized a talk programme on “Right to Peace” to celebrate Human Rights Day on 10th December 2005.
21. Nepal Institute for United Nations and UNESCO and Peace Education Promotion National Committee jointly organized on 20th November 2005 a talk programme on “Educating Children for their rights and Peace” on the occasion of Universal Children Day, Philosophy Day
22. Peace Education Academy of Nepal and Nepal Institute for United Nations and UNESCO jointly celebrated the Peace Education Day on 10th April 2006 by organizing Tea Reception cum Interaction on Child Rights.
23. It organized one day seminar on “The Role of Youth in Protecting and Promoting Human Right and Human Dignity” on the occasion of International Youth Day on 12th August 2006.
24. This Academy organized an Interaction Programme on “Promoting Peace through Youth Mobilization” on 21st September 2006 on the occasion of International day for Peace.
25. It has decided to organize a talk programme on United Nations Day on 24th October 2006, International Day for Tolerance on 16th November 2006 and Human Rights Day on 10th December 2006.
This Academy has decided to hold international conference on peace education in near future in Nepal for which we need active cooperation and support from the peace organizations across the globe. It has constituted Peace Education Prize which will be given to those who make great contribution in the promotion of peace education, culture of peace, nonviolence, human rights etc.
It has laid stressed on the involvement of young people in the advancement of peace and nonviolence through education. There will be a national convention of the peace educators of Nepal under the auspices of this Academy. There are schools and campuses which are affiliated with this Academy. Many teachers of schools and campuses are its members. This Academy is going to publish a
journal name “Peace Courier” in order to disseminate the ideals of peace education and culture of peace. The members of this Academy have been participating at the seminars and conferences held at the national and international level.
