“Education for Peace in a Multi-Religious World”: Celebrating World Human Rights Day

“There is no hope for peace without knowledge, which awakens us to our shared identity and connectedness as human beings”, said Mr. Anantanand Rambachan, Professor of Religion at St. Olaf College (US) and Columnist at Huffington Post. 

“Learning to Live Together” Implemented through Sports in Panama

The Ministry of Social Development (MIDES) of Panama through its Safe Social Development Office (ODSS), in partnership with various organizations, launched the official campaign of the ENFOCA Project which aims to train social workers and teachers in Sport Disciplines for Character Development and Personal Autonomy for Children and Adolescents.

1,500 Children to Be Reached by an Ethics Education Program in Schools in Tanzania

With the goal of reaching at least 1,500 children in Tanzanian schools, a Facilitators Training Workshop was organized by Arigatou International Geneva, in collaboration with the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC).

1st INSPIRE Implementation Jamboree – Leading Violence-Prevention Stakeholders Meet in Uganda

Under the theme “Advancing evidence-based action to end violence against children through INSPIRE dissemination, implementation and monitoring,” more than 150 professionals and representatives of organizations working to prevent violence against children met in for the 1st INSPIRE Implementation Jamboree in Kampala, Uganda.

36 new facilitators were trained in South Sumatra in the Learning to Live Together Programme

Paving the way towards ethics education for children and youth in Indonesia, 36 teachers from two schools in South Sumatra province have just become facilitators on the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme, after following a Basic Training Workshop held from 27 to 29 September 2016, in Tanjung Enim city.

Teachers from Bukit Asam Senior High School and Bukit Asam Vocational School were trained on the concepts, resources and methodologies used to implement this intercultural and interfaith programme designed by Arigatou International.

A Call for Inclusive Education for Migrant and Refugee Children at the Margins of the Human Rights Council

On Thursday, 24 June 2021, a panel of experts gathered online in the framework of the 47th session of the Human Rights Council to reflect on the role of inclusive education in supporting migrants and refugees. The event focused on identifying the main challenges and opportunities to implement educational policies and programs that foster inclusive education as a central response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 130 people from 45 countries attended the event, which was organized by Arigatou International Geneva, with the support of the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies, KAICIID Dialogue Centre, and the Government of Cyprus. The discussion was moderated by Professor Mohammed Abu-Nimer, Senior Advisor at KAICIID Dialogue Centre.

A Global Listening Initiative Engages over 2000 Children and Youth

Arigatou International Geneva organized four focus group meetings with children from Brazil, Indonesia and Portugal in the framework of the G20 Interfaith Forum (IF20) through its Education Working Group.

A Handbook on Good Parenting -14 May 2010

*Handbook that shares principles and methods of parenting, including: being a good role model for your child through your words and actions, developing family mission statement, knowing your limits as a parent, and having fun with your children

A Selection of Tanzanian Folk Stories -1 June 2010

*Compilation of 30 stories narrated by elderly men and women from different ethnic tribes of Tanzania

Adaptation of the Learning Live Together Programme: Pilots in Lisbon and Nairobi

Following the calls from our network of educators for the adaptation of the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme to middle childhood years, Arigatou International – Geneva is continuing the two-year process of adaptation of the Programme. The first two pilots in this process took place in Lisbon, Portugal, 8-10 February, and Nairobi, Kenya, 18-23 February.

Adapting the Learning to Live Together Programme to Middle Childhood Years

During the latest years, Arigatou International –Geneva has received a strong call from its network of educators to develop a new edition of the Learning to Live Together Programme for younger children. The Geneva office is responding to these requests by undertaking the task of coordinating a 2-year-long process of adapting the manual to the ages of 7 to 11.

An ENFOCA Manual for Character Development Was Launched in Panama

On 27 June 2017, the Ministry of Social Affairs in Panama, through its Office of Safe Social Development, launched the ENFOCA - Training For Character Development manual, a document that aims to support educators using arts and sports as a tool to nurture ethical values in youth in a comprehensive and systematic manner.

An international dialogue to prevent violent extremism through education

Policy-makers, experts, youth advocates, members of intergovernmental organizations and civil society from almost 70 different countries gathered together for the International Conference on Prevention of Violent Extremism through Education, held in New Delhi, India on 19 – 20 September 2016.

The conference had the purpose of raising awareness on the importance of education in the prevention of violent extremism (PVE) as well as identifying actions for the effective implementation of PVE activities. At the event, co-organized by UNESCO with the support of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Arigatou International Geneva also had the oportunity to join the dialogue and informally share some experiences about the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme.

Aprender a Vivir Juntos en zonas de riesgo en El Salvador

Arigatou Internacional de Ginebra, en colaboración con el Centro Bartolomé de las Casas, organizó un taller de capacitación sobre cómo utilizar el programa Aprender a Vivir Juntos (AVJ) en San Salvador del 6 al 10 de febrero de 2017. El taller se centró en 28 facilitadores que trabajan en áreas de riesgo en los municipios de Mejicanos y Apopa, particularmente en las áreas de Montreal y Popotlán, muy afectadas por la violencia de las pandillas, y que están comprometidos a implementar sistemáticamente el AVJ en sus instituciones con niños y familias en la educación formal y no formal.

Arigatou International at the Core Group of Experts for Child-friendly Churches

Arigatou International was invited by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and UNICEF to join the Core Group of Experts called to contribute to the process of developing a set of Principles and Tools for Child-friendly Churches.

Arigatou International Geneva and URI partner for the well-being of children

Arigatou International Geneva Office and United Religions Initiative (URI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance their working cooperation to foster children's well-being in the world.

Arigatou International Geneva at the Parliament of World’s Religions

Arigatou International Geneva attended the Parliament of World’s Religions that took place in Salt Lake City, United States from 15-19 October 2015.

The Parliament has been held once every five years since 1893 and is the world’s oldest, largest and most inclusive interfaith event for the global interfaith movement.

Arigatou International Geneva presents at ADEA Triennale 2017

From 14 to 17 March 2017, Arigatou International attended the Association for Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)'s Triennale 2017 in Dakar, Senegal, under the theme “Revitalizing education towards the 2030 Global Agenda and Africa’s Agenda 2063”.

Basic Training Workshop Reaches 17 Institutions in India

A Basic Training Workshop on the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme was conducted in Coimbatore, India from 19 to 20 March 2018 by Shanti Ashram, bringing together 34 teachers from 17 institutions.

Bridging the Education Gap in India: for Children – by Children

The Children’s Parliament in India engaged more than 300 children from nine villages in discussions to brainstorm what could be done to address issues related to education, health care and livelihoods. It was the mass school closures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic that motivated the children to decide on solutions to support access to education. As a result of the school closures and education suddenly shifting to digital spaces, the children had discovered that most public-school students in the villages could not afford digital gadgets and access to the internet to continue attending classes online. This left them out of education and the school environment to the point that younger children even started forgetting the basics of the alphabet and numbers.

Building a Culture of Peace - Learning to Live Together in Dominican Republic

The Global Network of Religions for Children, GNRC, Dominican Republic in collaboration with Arigatou International Geneva, organized a Basic Training Workshop on how to use the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme.

The workshop took place in San Victor, Moca from 3 to 6 June 2015 and targeted 30 educators from faith-based organizations, working directly with children, that are committed to implement the LTLT systematically in their organizations.

Challenging Discrimination and Xenophobia with Education: A Discussion in Light of the 39th Human Rights Council Session

Education can be a tool for refugee or migrant children to integrate into their new host societies, and has the potential to empower them to lead a joyful and fruitful life. It is with this idea in mind that a panel discussion on Empowering Youth Through Education: Challenging Xenophobia, Discrimination, and Exclusion among Youth in Europe was held, reflecting on the role of education in fostering more inclusive societies and empowering youth.

Children as Agents of Peace: Second Training Workshop in Baringo, Kenya

Sixty teachers from Baringo and Elgo-Marikwat Counties, Kenya, were reunited in a second facilitator training workshop, as part of a peacebuilding intervention led by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Kenya, Kenya National Commission for UNESCO, World Vision Kenya and Arigatou International Geneva.

Children Leading the Way: How The Children's Solutions Lab Gave Young People the Platform to Make Changes

Arigatou International - Ethics Education for Children, together with End Child Poverty launched in September 2020 the Children’s Solutions Lab, an opportunity for children and youth from different backgrounds to come together to discuss, learn, and take action against child poverty through education backed solutions

Collaboration and Trainings with the International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA)

Arigatou International - Geneva, in collaboration with UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) is developing a program on “Youth Empowerment for Peace and Resilience Building and Prevention of Violent Extremism in Sahel Countries through Teacher Development” in Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal.

Commemorating Cyberbullying Prevention Day with a Full-day Online Conference

Within the framework of the #StopCyberbullyingDay, a 24-hour online conference held on 22 June 2019, gathered the voices of the youth, the academia, teachers, journalists, and lawmakers, as well as representatives of social organizations, families, technology entrepreneurs and governments worldwide to create a global conversation about Cyberbullying and Bullying, one of the issues that worries the youth nowadays.

Countering Segregation Through Values-based Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Since 2011, the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme has been making headway in Bosnia and Herzegovina under the leadership of Ms. Ismeta Salihspahić, local GNRC Coordinator, and one of the main advocators of the Programme in the country. In the past couple of years, the Programme has reached more than 400 students annually, in six different schools, fostering solidarity and mutual understanding among children from different religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Creating a Culture of Encounter - Empowering Youth Through Education to Challenge Xenophobia, Discrimination and Exclusion among Youth in Europe

The collaborative project “Creating a Culture of Encounter - Empowering Youth through Education to Challenge Xenophobia, Discrimination and Exclusion in Europe,” took off in September 2021 with a partner’s meeting in Lisbon. The project, which seeks to reach 100 young people from Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain, aims to empower and enable youth to become agents of transformation in their communities.

Creating Spaces for Children to Reflect about Ethical Issues during the Pandemic

Arigatou International Geneva was invited to facilitate an online workshop for children from Indonesia on “Peace, diversity and solidarity during the pandemic.” The workshop was held on 10 February 2021 and was organized by educators belonging to the UNESCO Associated School Project Network (ASPnet) and several other partners.

The webinar aimed to help children become more aware of how they can respond to the social reality of the pandemic by focusing on peace, appreciation of diversity and fostering a sense of solidarity. Children took an active role in the organization and coordination of this webinar. They led the ice breakers and supported the facilitation of the session.

Cultivating Care in Educational Institutions: Symposium in Haifa

The issue of how to cultivate a culture of caring in educational settings, and what conceptions and practices are best suited to integrate caring into educational institutions, is complex and yet crucial to creating a peaceful and harmonious society and providing children with a holistic education. This topic led the discussions at the 2nd International Symposium, “Cultivating Caring in Educational Institutions: Conceptions and Practices”, organized by the Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace (GHFP) and the Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, with the participation of Arigatou International - Geneva.

Diecisiete nuevos facilitadores capacitados en el Programa Aprender a Vivir Juntos en Chile

La Red Global de Religiones a favor de la Niñez (GNRC) Chile, en colaboración con Arigatou Internacional Ginebra, organizó un Taller de Capacitación sobre cómo usar el Programa Aprender a Vivir Juntos (AVJ) en Santiago de Chile del 28 de enero al 1 de febrero de 2017.

Don’t Marry them – Educate them

“Saada and Suleina are sisters living in a community where child marriages are still practiced. The two sisters are school-going teenagers but their parents decide to marry them off, in line with the community’s customs. The marriage plans and procedures are concluded, making Saada and Suleina wives to two men in the community. But that did not last long for Saada, thanks to her relentless will to be educated. She boldly defies her parents and the community, walking away from her marriage to pursue her education. She secures a scholarship guaranteeing her to continue her education away from her home. All this time, Saada has tried convincing her sister Suleina to follow suit but she declines, citing her adherence to community norms.

Join the conversation

Educación Ética para los Niños y Niñas: Una contribución crítica para la implementación de la Agenda 2030

El mundo de hoy está en la encrucijada del progreso tecnológico y la inestabilidad social, económica y política. Por un lado, tenemos más acceso a información y herramientas que nos permiten comunicarnos a través de las fronteras; por otro lado, las desigualdades, las ideologías extremas, la exclusión y la discriminación se están extendiendo por todo el mundo.  

Education as a Tool for the Prevention of Violent Extremism in South-East Europe

Arigatou International Geneva participated in the Global Citizenship Education for Peaceful Societies in South-East Europe: A Sub-Regional Capacity-Building Workshop on the Prevention of Violent Extremism, which was held on 2-4 May 2018 in Venice, Italy.

Empowering Youth through Learning to Live Together - The Story of Clara Mduma in Tanzania

In this issue we interviewed Clara Mduma, Member of the Global Network of Religions for Children, GNRC, Tanzania and facilitator of the Learning to Live Together Programme

1- Tell us a bit about yourself (where are you from, where do you live, what are you studying and how do you spend your free time)

My name is Clara Mduma, I live in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. I completed in 2013 a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and a Major in Corporate Finance at the University of Dodoma.

Ending Violence Against Children: working towards the GNRC Fifth Forum

All the members of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) are gearing up towards the Fifth Forum of GNRC to take place in Panama City on May 2017, under the theme “Transformed Faith Communities: Ending Violence Against Children”.

Worldwide millions of children and young people are daily exposed to violence in different forms and they are also the most vulnerable victims of the scourge of radicalization. In this context, one of the sub-themes of the Forum will be Building Resilience to Prevent Violent Extremism and Organized Crime: The Role of Faith Communities. The aim is to “identify actions that can be deployed by religious leaders and faith communities to prevent, reduce and end the manipulation and use of children for violent extremism and organized crime”, explains Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali, the Secretary-General of GNRC.

Enhancing Dialogue and Collaboration for Children’s Rights and Well-being – Ethics Education at the GLOBAL WEEK of Faith in Action for Children

More than 1,700 children, youth, and adults from diverse cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds got together at the GLOBAL WEEK of Faith in Action for Children, held online from 16 to 20 November 2020. The GLOBAL WEEK was organized by Arigatou International, in collaboration with UNICEF, Religions for Peace, Shanti Ashram, World Vision International and KAICIID; and with the support and participation of 64 global, regional, and local partners.

Ethics Education for Children: A Critical Contribution to the Implementation of Agenda 2030

The world today is at the crossroads of technological progress and social, economic and political instability. On one side, we have more access to information and tools that allow us to communicate across borders; on the other, inequities, extreme ideologies, exclusion and discrimination are running rampant around the world.

Ethics Education in Romanian Schools: The Value of Training and Continuous Education

Laura Molnar is a trainer of the Learning to Live Together Programme (LTLT) and has become the driving force behind its implementation in the Romanian formal education system.

Laura comes from a little mountain town in Transylvania, Romania, but she is currently based in Bucharest. Her journey with the LTLT Programme started in 2009 when, while working as a psychologist for disadvantaged children, she was trained in a basic workshop in Geneva. With this new set of knowledge and skills, she started implementing the LTLT approach with the children she worked with. One year later she was selected to participate in the International Train the Trainers course organized by Arigatou International Geneva, which led her to a certification as a LTLT trainer.

Ethics Education Workshop at Catholic University of Eastern Africa

Arigatou International Geneva facilitated a workshop on Ethics Education for 100 professionals from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and several other higher education institutions in Kenya on 15 March 2018. The workshop is part of a conference jointly organized by Globethics.net and the Catholic University of Eastern Africa on Integrating Ethics in Higher Education that took place from 13-16 March 2018 at CUEA, Kenya. 

Ethics Education Workshop for Curriculum Development Officers in Kenya

Arigatou International Geneva, under the request of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), trained a group of 30 Curriculum Development Officers on the Learning To Live Together (LTLT) Programme. The training took place from 18 to 20 May 2015 at their institute in Nairobi, Kenya.

As the KICD is going in to a curriculum revision process, this was seen also as an opportunity to enhance the capacity, thinking and approaches of the Curriculum Development Officers from the Institute.

Ethics Education Workshop to Foster Intercultural Education in Mauritius

Arigatou International Geneva in collaboration with the Council of Religions of Mauritius co-organized a two-day introductory workshop on Ethics Education for Children on 5-6 April 2018, reaching 27 teachers from schools of Islamic, Christian, and Hindu religious backgrounds, together with two participants from the Reunion Islands.

Facilitator Training Workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Arigatou International Geneva in collaboration with the Sarvodaya Movement - Sri Lanka organized a facilitator training workshop (FTW) for representatives of religious communities, government, faith-based and civil society organizations in Colombo from 11 to 15 July 2018. This was the second FTW with open applications held by Arigatou International Geneva since 2012.

The workshop was conducted with a focus on how to use the Learning to Live Together Programme and integrate it in organizational programs to contribute to peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

Facing Racism: In Search of the Beloved Community -14 May 2010

*A Study of Youth, based on the two conferences of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program which wrestles with the issue of racism *Contains five one-hour sessions intended for a weekend youth retreat for a group ranging from 12-25 students

Faith for Social and Behavior Change Initiative

As part of its continuous engagement with UNICEF, Arigatou International was invited to participate at the global workshop Faith for Social and Behavior Change in Bangkok from 10-12 July 2018. The workshop was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with Religions for Peace, the Joint Learning Initiative, and Rissho Kosei-kai, bringing together 80 participants from UNICEF country offices and faith-based organizations, from more than 30 countries.

First Meeting of the Interfaith Council correspondence, April 2005 -17 May 2010

*Information regarding First Meting of the Committees of the Interfaith Council on Ethics Education in Geneva, Switzerland, February 10-12 2005 *Includes complete itinerary, time schedule, mission document, Interfaith Learning and Ethics Education document, summary report of the Interfaith Council Committees Meeting in February 2006, and updated lists of Council and Committee members

Four-day workshop contributing to spread Learning to Live Together in Panama

Social and grassroots workers, teachers, psychology experts and community leaders gathered to participate on a Basic Training Workshop on the implementation of the Learning to Live Together Programme, held from 28 to 31 July 2016 at Capira district in Panama.

The LTLT Programme, which is already being implemented in Panama since 2008, has now become one of the main pillars of ENFOCA, a project on Sport Disciplines for Character Development and Personal Autonomy for Children and Adolescents launched by the Ministry of Social Development of Panama  (MIDES), through its Safe Social Development Office (ODSS), in partnership with the Central American Secretariat for Cultural Integration (SISCA), Arigatou International Geneva, the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC), the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), CODICADER and the University of Panama.

Gateways to Spirituality: Pre-School through Grade Twelve -12 May 2010

*Focuses on spirtual formation in American pre-collegiate education *15 contributors who advnace views about the connections between spirituality, learning, social and ethical consciousness, and community life *Useful to educators who wish to acknwledge youth spirituality in ways that are informed, fair, constitutional and inclusive

General Comments of the Committee on the Rights of the Child -17 May 2010

*Includes CD with Concluding Observations *Includes General Comments No. 1- No. 8 (2001-2006): The Aims of Education; The Role of Independent National Human Rights Institutions in the promotioon and protection of the rights of the child; HIV/AIDS and the rights of the child; Adolescent Health and Development in the contesxt of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; Treatment of Unaccompanied and Separated Children; Implementing child rights in Early Childhood; The right of the Child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment *Includes other materials for the CRC at 18

Geneva Peace Week 2020 - Rebuilding trust after disruption: Pathways to reset international cooperation

For a third consecutive year, Arigatou International Geneva participated at the Geneva Peace Week, which has held online from 2 to 6 November 2020. This year's theme was "Rebuilding trust after disruption: Pathways to reset international cooperation" with the aim of galvanizing leadership, building trust, and working towards international collaboration in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Good Practices using the Earth Charter -20 May 2010

*Offers case studies where the Earth Charter has been implemented in non-formal education settings, primary, secondary, and higher education

Higher Education Teachers from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia Get Trained on Transformative Pedagogy for Peace and Resilience Building and Prevention of Violent Extremism

A second round of the advanced online training of trainers on “Design and Delivery”for higher education teachers was held on 15 – 18 February 2021. This time, the workshop was carried out in French and Arabic language, reaching 25 participants from the northern African countries of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.

These online workshops are being organized together with the UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA), in the framework of the Higher Education on Peace and Resilience Building and Prevention of Violent Extremism project.

How a Transformative Pedagogy and Fostering Ethical Reflections Can Support Teachers during Covid-19 for Resilience and Prevention of Violent Extremism

As the sanitary crisis brought up by the Covid-19 pandemic forced almost 90% of the world’s children out of school, teachers are called now more than ever, to reinvent how learning takes place. Educators need to ensure that quality learning reaches children in inclusive and meaningful ways, addressing not only the curricular areas but also the emotional and mental stress that children suffer in these uncertain days.

To respond to this pressing need, Arigatou International Geneva, in partnership with UNESCO International Institute of Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) carried out a series of four webinars on “How Transformative Pedagogy and Fostering Ethical Reflections Can Support Teachers during Covid-19 for Resilience and Prevention of Violent Extremism.”

Ideas flow when people talk

"Mankind’s greatest achievements have come about by talking and its greatest failures by not talking.
It doesn’t have to be the future. With technology at our disposal, the possibilities are unbounded.
All we need to do is make sure we keep talking."
Stephen Hawking

Investing time in building relationships with children:

My mind runs back to a conversation I had with my adorable 7-year-old nephew Aditya Aram over Christmas 2017. We had just returned from a field visit. As we got off the car, he asked ‘Bua - who is the boss at Shanti Ashram?’ The word ‘Boss’ bothered me. Within a fraction of a second, it made me reflect as to what leadership example I was presenting to him. Even as I managed to answer this question, his second question quickly followed, ‘When you die - who will lead?’ To this, I said very honestly, that I had not started thinking about it, but I was sure that someone good and able would be ready to lead. Throughout the conversation, he was engaged, curious and patient and it seemed that just having the space to ask questions and to be in the conversation were important first steps for him. In the week preceding this particular conversation, we had often walked to my office and participated in programmes together. He got to see my work first hand at the International Center for Child & Public Health. For me too, just sharing my daily work & life with him was enriching....and I have come to look forward to my conversations with Aditya. My work with children over the past 20 years has given me the rare privilege of meeting children from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. Interactions with them have often been purposeful, open and constant and it has surely helped me evolve into who I have become.

Implementation of the Learning to Live Together Programme in Bhutan

The Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme is being implemented in Bhutan by the Bhutan National Commission for UNESCO and the Bhutan Youth Development Fund (YDF), with the purpose of equipping teachers and young people with knowledge and skills to develop as global citizens and promote social cohesion in their societies.  

Intercultural Education (Vol. 16, No. 4, 2005) -6 May 2010

*Scholarly journal with articles on the implications for the eucation of african American students, interculturalizing education in Bulgaria, perspectives on the experiences and perceptions of refugee children, Learning from genocide, social representations in diversity in a South African urban school, integrating ICT and multicultural aspects within a classroom, influence of a multicultural teacher education program on teachers' multicultural practices

Intercultural Education (Vol. 18, No. 3, Aug 2007) -14 May 2010

*Scholarly journal with articles on the affective politics of hatred and the implication for education, intercultural learning and language education in Latvia, educational responses to immigrant students in Madrid, cooperative learning, creating strategies to deal with problems of teaching controversial issues in social studies education in African schools, students as a resource for introducing intercultural education in business schools, research note on situative cognition as a barrier to teaching across cultures, and the Human Rights Olympics

Intercultural Education Vol. 5, October 2010 -18 February 2011

Promoting diversity in and through education is the objective of a society that looks towards the future (and the present) and that should consider this as the only form of re-inventing itself in the face of the uncertainty which represents human life. In this focus issue, we wish to show how, in practice, educational diversity is able to present itself as a slow but safe path by which to create a world that aims to be less unequal and more just.

Intercultural education Vol.21, No6, December 2010 -18 February 2011

We are educational researchers with a long-standing interst in multicultural education and qualitative ethnographic research. The significant and linguistic diversity that constitues our respective societies, Australia and Scotland, has been the catalyst for much of our research.

Intercultural education, Vol.21, No3, June 2010 -18 February 2011

As a generic and diversified pedagogy, cooperation learning (CL) reaches out to the field of intercultural education with an offer to establish a reciprocal relationship. After a short description of CL and a brief explorationof the influence that culture has on learning, this paper depicts how the partenrship between CL and intercultural education can help to create a culturally sensitive CL classroom, where learning is made relevant for all. Culturally responsive teaching implie using CL methods and strategies to discover the students' worlds and incorporate into the world of the classroom

Intercultural education, Vol.21, No4, August 2010 -18 February 2011

This paper examines educational practices in Spain and particular Madrid. With this contextual frame as the starting point the following issues are discussed: the official conceptualization of cultural diversity, educational policies and resolutions related to cultural diversity, and school programs and ressources facilitatde by educational authorities to address diversity. The analysis was undertaken using an intercultural approach

Interfaith Council Annual Meeting: Moving the Ethics Education for Children Agenda Forward

As in previous years, the Interfaith Council on Ethics Education for Children held its annual meeting to help strategize and provide recommendations for the next period. This time, the meeting took place from 10 to 14 August 2017 in Coimbatore, India where the headquarters of Shanti Ashram, a long-time partner of Arigatou International Geneva, is located.

At the meeting, members of the Interfaith Council had the opportunity to review achievements and challenges of Arigatou International Geneva during the last year, reflect on relevant topics regarding Ethics Education for Children, and exchange views on the strategic plan for the next three years, providing technical recommendations as well as rationale-related inputs.

Interfaith Council on Ethics Education strengthening its commitment to interfaith learning

Every year, the Interfaith Council on Ethics Education for Children holds a three-day meeting to strategize, provide recommendations, and help set priorities for the coming period. This time, the annual meeting took place in Cape Town, South Africa from 12 to 14 August 2016.

During the discussions, members of the Interfaith Council had the opportunity to assess the main achievements of Arigatou International Geneva and provide recommendations to Ethics Education for Children. The recommendations included finding synergies with other Arigatou International initiatives in the prevention of violent extremism through education, working more closely with religious communities and faith-based organizations to promote interfaith learning with children and youth, and acting collaboratively with families in nurturing values in their children.

International Online Conference on Building New Bridges Together

“Ethics is about hope; it is about life. How to enhance life in everything by doing the right in thought and in action.” With these words, Prof. Dr. Obiora Ike, Executive Director of Globethics.net welcomed the participants to the International Online Conference on Building New Bridges Together.

International Seminar on Pedagogical Resources in Human Rights: Coexisting in Diversity

Arigatou International participated in the Second International Seminar on Pedagogical Resources in Human Rights, held on 18 and 19 February 2020 in San Sebastián, Spain. This seminar was hosted by Eskura Zentroa, a center for pedagogical resources in human rights that aims to create an informed society through the collection, generation, and dissemination of educational resources for peace, coexistence, and human rights.

International Train the Trainers workshop: 27 new trainers to spread the values of Learning to Live Together around the world

A total of twenty-seven participants from 18 countries were successfully trained during the Second International Train the Trainers workshop organized by Arigatou International Geneva from 9 to 13 April 2017.

Interreligious Workshop on the Learning to Live Together in Sao Paulo, Brazil

A training workshop on the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) educational approach was held from 5 to 8 October in Sao Paulo, Brazil under the title: “Building a Peace Culture in the Family, School and Community.”

Introducing Learning to Live Together at risk areas in El Salvador

Arigatou International Geneva, in collaboration with the Centro Bartolomé de las Casas, organised a Training Workshop on how to use the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) programme in San Salvador from 6 to 10 February 2017. The workshop targeted 28 facilitators working at risk areas in the municipalities of Mejicanos and Apopa, particularly in the areas of Montreal and Popotlan, highly affected by gang violence, and that are committed to implementing the LTLT systematically in their institutions with children and families in formal and non-formal education.

Is freedom of expression without limits and is the charge of blasphemy universally applicable?

The terrorist attacks in Copenhagen and Paris are on my mind. I could mention many other places, where people have been killed but I want to focus on Copenhagen and Paris and not only because it is close to home for me. No, these killings are mentioned and discussed in the context of freedom of expression and whether there is such a thing as blasphemy. Is freedom of expression without limits and is the charge of blasphemy universally applicable?

Jeunes refugies africains: construire l`avenir -5 May 2010

*Un dossier pedagogique pour les eleves des ecoles secondaires *Une vidéo (67 minutes) et un support de cours pour l’enseignant

Joining Forces to Transform the World Together in Africa

Within the framework of the 2030 Education Agenda, the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, with the support of the Government of Japan, organized a regional technical workshop titled "Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED): Transforming and Sustaining Our World Through Learning". The workshop aimed to support member states unpacking the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.7 in their national policies and practices.

Kenia: dos escenarios para brindar recomendaciones sobre educación basada en valores y pluralismo mediante la educación

Arigatou Internacional Ginebra, como parte de su continuo compromiso para apoyar el Proceso de Reforma Curricular en Kenia, fue invitado a participar en un proceso de cinco días dirigido por el Instituto Keniano de Desarrollo Curricular (KICD por sus siglas en inglés) para desarrollar un marco curricular basado en valores y un apoyo al proceso de implementación como parte de las reformas curriculares nacionales en Kenia.

Kenya: two scenarios to provide recommendations to values-based education and pluralism through education

Arigatou International Geneva, as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting the Curriculum Reform Processes in Kenya, was invited to participate in a five-day process led by the Kenyan Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to develop a values-based curriculum framework and a support the implementation process as part of the national curriculum reforms in Kenya.

Lanzamiento del manual AVJ en Bahasa, un paso más hacia ampliar el Programa en Indonesia

Como parte del compromiso por ampliar el Programa Aprender a Vivir Juntos a nivel nacional en Indonesia, el manual se lanzó oficialmente en Bahasa durante una ceremonia que tuvo lugar en Yakarta el 29 de julio de 2019.

Desde el 2012, el Programa AVJ ha llegado a más de 1,000 niños en más de 30 escuelas en todo el país. La traducción del manual constituye otro paso hacia la ampliación del Programa en todo el país, a través del trabajo de la Comisión Nacional de Indonesia para la UNESCO y el Ministerio de Educación, con el apoyo de Arigatou International Ginebra.

Learning for Life: From Inspiration to Aspiration -10 May 2010

*Compliation of favorite stories, inspirational figures, and personal reflections from over 250 prize-winning students

Learning to Live Together Facilitator Training Workshop in Mandalay, Myanmar

Myanmar has been in the global spotlight in recent times due to its changing political landscape. Led by a military regime for several decades, the Myanmar government is now in a process of transitioning back to a democracy and opening up to the world.   Myanmar also faces its own struggles with identity based conflicts related to both ethnic and religious identities. It is in this setting that a Learning to Live Together facilitator training workshop was held in the city of Mandalay from 5 to 8 January 2015.

Monastic education - meaning teaching of the government’s secular education curriculum lead and managed by monasteries - is a very popular school system in Myanmar.  In a context where the government is struggling to provide high-quality education to its population, monastic communities have stepped forward to meet the needs of children.  Education in these monastic education schools are known to be more dynamic and child centered than in other government-run schools.  

Arigatou International Geneva partnered with the Phaung Daw Oo Monastic Education School of Myanmar to organize this workshop in Mandalay.  Phaung Daw Oo Monastic Education School’s first engagement with Arigatou International was during the Fourth Forum of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC), as part of the GNRC South Asia delegation in 2012.  Later in the same year Arigatou International New York office with its partners organized a training on Positive Parenting as part of a World Day of Prayer and Action for Children (DPAC) celebrations, in which Phaung Daw Oo Monastic Education School participated as well. In 2014, representatives from Phaung Daw Oo participated in a Regional Facilitator Training Workshop on the Learning to Live Together Programme in Bangkok, Thailand.  The workshop conducted in Mandalay intended to train other colleagues of the teachers trained in Thailand in 2014, in order to create a group of facilitators who can work together to implement the Learning to Live Together programme.

The workshop brought together 20 participants from several monastic education schools and from an interfaith youth organization active in Mandalay.  During the four days of the workshop the group of participants had the opportunity to explore the key concepts, approaches and methodologies of the Learning to Live Together interfaith and intercultural Ethics Education programme; to develop their facilitation skills and to practice facilitating ethics education sessions and receive feedback.

Participants reflected on issues of memorizing based learning approaches, lack of support for critical thinking, issues of corporal punishment, ethnic discriminations, hate speech and poverty as some of key challenges faced in Myanmar.  They appreciated the Learning to Live Together programme as a comprehensive package with flexibility to adopt to local contexs and address areas of concerns while giving opportunity to children to engage with each other and nurture positive relationships across ethnic and religious divides.

It is expected that the trained participants will also support the pilot Learning to Live Together programme already initiated at the Phaung Daw Oom Monastic Education school by facilitators trained last year.

Learning to Live Together in South Africa: Fostering Inter-religious Cooperation

Saydoon Nisa Sayed is a South African human rights faith activist. She is moved by her faith, passionate about children and restless on gender justice advocacy. Saydoon lives in Overport, a hilly residential area near Durban, South Africa where she is the regional coordinator for Religions for Peace, an international and interfaith movement that works across religious divides to bring peace and understanding.

Learning to Live Together in Tana River County, Kenya

Arigatou International Geneva, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Kenya (MoEST) and UNESCO Regional Office for East Africa, have developed an initiative to implement the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme in Tana River, one of the counties in Kenya affected by tribal violence.

Since February 2015, trained teachers from 13 different schools have been implementing the LTLT Programme after participating in two training workshops for them to learn how to use the manual and develop facilitation skills. A workshop for the head teachers of these schools was held on 11 May to deepen their understanding of the Programme, respond to questions and get their full involvement as the program evolves. Following this meeting, a workshop for the teachers was held from 12 to 15 May to develop further facilitation skills and introduce them to project development and how to support children to initiate collective actions. Experiencing the workshop themselves helped them to get more involved and committed with the next phase of the pilot , which involved child-led projects.

Learning to Live Together Making Inroads in Formal Education in Indonesia

The Learning to Live Together Programme continues making inroads through formal education in Indonesia.  This time, a two-day training workshop was held in Jakarta from 28 to 29 October, organized by the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO and with the support of the Ministry of Education.  The workshop reached 35 teachers from 19 different schools around the Jakarta area.

Learning to Live Together Monitoring and Evaluation visits in Europe: A learning journey

From 8 to 20 March the Arigatou International Geneva – Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator visited Romania, Greece, and Portugal; three of the countries implementing the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) programme in a systematic and monitored way. The aim of the visits was to learn more in detail about the impact that the Learning to Live Together Programme has on the implementation with children, as part of the impact assessment process that is taking place in seven countries for a period of at least six months. One of the visits took place in one of the countries implementing the LTLT manual with families, as part of the pilot project on the adaptation of LTLT for families.

Learning to Live Together Pilot Programme in Kenya : Second Teacher Training Workshop in Tana River County

Travelling over bushy land some times walking for several kilometers, teachers in rural areas of Tana River Delta district of Kenya continue to serve the educational needs of the local communities.  They not only have to deal with the reality of rural poverty but also with the tensions of communities in conflict.

Learning to Live Together to Address Violence against Children and Discrimination in Macedonia

A diverse group of twenty-one teachers, school counselors, educators and social workers participated in a Facilitator Training Workshop on the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme in Skopje, Macedonia, with the common aim to tackle violence and discrimination against children from different ethnic and national groups.

Learning to Live Together Trainers Join Arigatou International's Global Campaign to Protect and Empower Children during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Arigatou International Geneva conducted three online meetings, to connect with Learning to Live Together International Trainers in the framework of the Covid-19 Pamedmic. The meetings resulted in an action plan to respond to the more pressing needs brought up by this unprecedented sanitary crisis, from the ethics education perspective, and in line with the Faith for Action Global Campaign.

Learning to Live Together: The role of education in preventing violent extremism

By: Rev. Dr Hans Ucko

Whenever I hear words such as “violent extremism”, it is as if I am drained and a feeling of fatigue overpowers me. The words conjure up images of dead and wounded children and young people. Children as victims. There is Alan Kurdî, the little boy found drowned on the beach in Turkey. There is Omran Daqneesh, the little boy covered in dust in the ambulance in Aleppo wiping away blood from his face. The first victims of war and conflict are children. Political and religious rhetoric advocating violence is attracting and motivating individuals or groups but there is nothing that could justify violence against children.

LTLT manual launched in Bahasa, another step towards scaling up the Programme in Indonesia

As part of a commitment towards scaling up the Learning to Live Together Programme at the national level in Indonesia, the manual was officially launched in Bahasa during a ceremony that took place in Jakarta on 29 July 2019.

Since 2012, the LTLT Programme has reached over 1,000 children in more than 30 schools throughout the country. The translation of the manual constitutes another step towards scaling up the Programme at the national level, through the work of the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Education, with the support of Arigatou International Geneva.

Mindful Educators: Ethics, Values and Inclusivity in Education

Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe, Executive Director of Arigatou International Geneva, was invited by Mindful Educators  - Sri Lanka, to lead the third of a series of online learning sessions on Ethics, Values & Inclusivity in Education. The session was held on 18 February 2021 and aimed at guiding educators towards using mindfulness-based practices in the classroom.

More than 1,300 Children and Youth Have Been Reached by Learning to Live Together in Tanzania

Following a Facilitator Training Workshop that took place at the end of 2017 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, over 1,300 children and youth from 17 madrasas, primary and secondary schools have been reached by the Learning to Live Together Programme.

During the workshop, 28 teachers and youth mentors who have been working with youth from the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Peace Clubs were trained on how to use the Learning to Live Together Programme in their schools and organizations. As a result, 900 children aged 12 to 17 have been reached by the systematic implementation of the Programme in 12 schools, and another 400 children have been reached through different activities based on the Programme that have been carried out by their teachers.

Multiplying Efforts Across Dominican Republic

34 participants coming from each of the 31 provinces of Dominican Republic gathered in Santo Domingo from 2 to 4 June 2017 to go through a Facilitator Training Workshop of the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme. The workshop allowed participants to acquire new knowledge and develop specific skills to foster dialogue, understanding, and respect in at-risk areas throughout the country.

New Release: Learning to Live Together - An Activity Booklet for Children during the Covid-19 Pandemic

As a part of our response to the covid-19 pandemic, Arigatou International Geneva launched a new booklet with activities for families with children between 4 and 18 years old.

Nurturing Environments for the Wellbeing of Children and Their Family: Advancing Early Childhood Development at the 2019 ISSA Conference

The International Step by Step Association (ISSA), a network that connects professionals and NGO's working in the field of early childhood development (ECD), organized on 18-19 June 2019 their Annual ISSA Conference, which welcomed 396 professionals from 61 countries under the theme “Nurturing Environments for the Wellbeing of Children and Their Family.”

Nurturing Spirituality in Children - Online course

The Arigatou International’s Ethics Education Initiative launched on 25 February an online course on Nurturing Spirituality in Children. The course is part of a series of online courses to complete the Advanced Training Accreditation of the Learning to Live Together Programme. 

Online Course on Ethics Education for Children: Empowering Teachers and Children Through a Transformative Pedagogy to Learning to Live Together

With over 140 participants from 45 countries, the online course on Ethics Education for Children: A Transformative Pedagogy to Learning to Live Together, came to an end on 26 June 2020 with an online celebratory event.

Online Training on Transformative Pedagogy for Peacebuilding in Southern African Countries

Arigatou International Geneva, together with the UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA), held an online workshop of six sessions from 1 to 11 December 2020 on 'Transformative Pedagogy for Peacebuilding.' The workshop aimed at 34 participants from Ministries of Education, Universities, UNESCO National Commissions and UNESCO in Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Outcomes and Learnings from the Pilot Program in Kenya

The Pilot Program to implement the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme in the Tana River County came to an end, delivering positive outcomes, particularly in relation to its impact on children, teachers and the communities.

The initiative, which took off in September 2014, was developed by Arigatou International Geneva, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Kenya (MoEST) and UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, reaching 657 children between 9 and 17 years old.

Oxford Dictionary of Religions -2 October 2009

Description of the resource

Panel Discussion in Tunis: Another Perspective on Migration and the Role of Education in Resilience

This year marks the 70th anniversary since the adoption of the Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly. It is in this context that the Ninth International Forum of NGOs, in partnership with UNESCO, took place in Tunis, from 26 to 27 September. The Conference was hosted by the Arab Institute for Human Rights, with the theme ‘Another perspective on Migration’, which aimed to discuss human mobility and its impacts on building sustainable peace and development.

Panel Discussion on the Role of Ethics Education in Strengthening Families and Nurturing Spirituality in Children

More than 100 attendants participated in a panel discussion held in Panama City on 11 May 2017, during the third day of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Fifth Forum. In this occasion, participants were invited to reflect on the role of ethics education to nurture spirituality in early childhood through family engagement.

Pilot Program in Tana River, Kenya

Preventing Violence Against Children by Promoting a Culture of Peace in Ecuador

Tumbaco, a typical Ecuadorian town, located only 15 kilometers to the east of Quito, was the chosen venue to host a Facilitation Workshop on the Learning to Live Together Programme.

Promoting Learning to Live Together in Latin America and The Caribbean – A Story of Service and Conviction

Ms. Mercedes Román has been a key driving force in the implementation and dissemination of the Learning to Live Together Programme in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) since before it’s conception. She was part of the first group of experts, gathered by Arigatou International in 1998, to work on the launch of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC), and has been working with Arigatou International ever since.

As GNRC Coordinator for Latin America, she conducted several test workshops in the region to try out what was then known as the Ethics Education Toolkit. After the launch of Learning to Live Together, she has conducted countless Facilitator Training Workshops in the region, as well as Europe.

Ms. Román has dedicated her life-work to serve the most vulnerable in our society, and to promote the rights of the child, to contribute to their full and sound development. Nowadays, she is the Senior Advisor for the GNRC in LAC and is also part of the group of experts working in the adaptation of the Learning to Live Together Programme to middle childhood years.

In this interview, she shares about her journey working with children and women in vulnerable situations, and how her family and religious background instilled in her a strong sense of justice, generosity and caring for the most needed members of society.