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 four-day dialogue in Kenya to promote peace and reconciliation through education

In the effort to improve the current state of History and Government teaching in Kenya and explore ways in which these subjects can be used to promote peace and reconciliation in the country, a conference took place from 27 to 30 September 2016 under the topic of “Learning to Live Together through History and Government Education”, organized by Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development with the support of ACT.

Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe and Mr. Suchith Abeyewickreme, from Arigatou International Geneva, were among the 12 facilitators at the Conference. They contributed with their insights into the role of ethics education to uphold and promote human dignity, foster interconnectedness and respect for one another, and help developing inclusive individual and collective identities.

A successful Face-to-Face Advance Training carried out in Panama

Arigatou International Geneva, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES) through the Office of Safe Social Development, organised an Advanced Training Workshop on the Learning to Live Together Programme (LTLT) that took place in Panama City, Panama from 2 to 3 December 2016. This was the first time that an Advanced Training workshop was held face-to-face.

The workshop addressed 18 facilitators who in July 2016 were already trained on how to use of the LTLT programme and now are implementing it with children, young people and families.

Académicos de cinco países son capacitados en temas de Paz, Construcción de Resiliencia y Prevención del Extremismo Violento en África

El Instituto Internacional de Construcción de Capacidades de la UNESCO en África (IICBA, por sus siglas en inglés) junto con Arigatou International y el Instituto para los Estudios sobre Paz y Seguridad de la Universidad de Addis Abeba, llevaron a cabo una capacitación para 21 participantes de Etiopía, Kenia, Nigeria, Sudán del Sur y Somalia, incluyendo conferencistas universitarios, representantes del Ministerio de Educación Superior, representantes de la UNESCO Dakar y de One African Child.

Adaptation of the Learning Live Together Programme to Middle Childhood: Pilots in Bucharest and San Salvador

A series of pilot workshops with young children are being held in different parts of the world, as part of the two-year process to adapt the Learning to Live Together Programme to middle childhood years. After reaching 70 children in Kenya and Portugal, two new workshops were held in Romania and El Salvador.

Advancing Learning to Live Together in Chile, Colombia and Ecuador

A diverse group of members of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) from Chile, Colombia and Ecuador participated in an introductory workshop on the Learning to Live Together Programme.

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.

Animated film is launched to award child-led project in Coimbatore

The Coimbatore Peace Festival, organized by Shanti Ashram in India, was the scenario for the premiere of the animated short film about one of the winners of the Learning to Live Together Global Awards. The festival was held in August 2019 and it was a unique opportunity for hundreds of people to get to know more about the inspiring story of Arun.

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 at the Week for Peace and Sustainable Development organized by UNESCO

Arigatou International was invited by UNESCO to contribute to the UNESCO Week for Peace and Sustainable Development that took place in Ottawa, Canada, from 6 to 10 March. The event was a unique platform for discussion on two key programs of the Education Sector, namely Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Education, and their practical contribution in achieving Target 4.7 of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Education. The Week focused on the issue of teachers and teacher training, and highlighted best practices.

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.

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.

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Learning to Live Together with a Symposium in Sri Lanka

As an opportunity to mark the 10th anniversary of the Learning to Live Together Programme, Arigatou International Geneva with the support of local stakeholders organized a symposium on Learning to Live Together in Sri Lanka.

Concluyen programas piloto para la adaptación del Programa AVJ

Luego de llevar a cabo talleres en siete países alrededor del mundo, los programas piloto para la adaptación del Programa Aprender a Vivir Juntos a la infancia media finalizaron, tras completar los tres últimos pilotos en Tanzania, en julio, y en India y Ecuador en agosto de 2019, llegando a un total de 250 niños y niñas de diferentes comunidades religiosas y étnicas y de orígenes seculares.

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.

Discussing the Rights of the Child and Religious Beliefs with Academia and Decision-Makers in Geneva

In an increasingly globalized world, where the religious landscape is constantly evolving, discussing the right of the child to self-determination in religious beliefs and the extent of the role of the parents and caregivers in guiding them has become an urgent issue.

El Programa Aprender a Vivir Juntos hace incursión en México

El Programa Aprender a Vivir Juntos fue introducido por primera vez en México con un taller de capacitación para facilitadores de cuatro días, que tuvo lugar del 12 al 15 de agosto de 2019.

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.

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.

Expertos se reúnen en Tailandia para la adaptación del manual AVJ para la infancia media

Como parte del proceso de dos años de adaptar el manual Aprender a vivir juntos a las edades de 7 a 11 años, se celebró una segunda reunión anual del grupo de expertos en Bangkok, Tailandia, los días 18 y 19 de octubre de 2019.

Experts meet in Thailand for the adaptation of the LTLT manual to middle childhood

As part of the two-year-long process of adapting the Learning to Live Together manual to the ages of 7 to 11, a second annual meeting of the expert group took place in Bangkok, Thailand on 18 and 19 October 2019.

The meeting was an opportunity for experts to discuss the findings of the first seven pilot workshops held in Ecuador, El Salvador, India, Kenya, Portugal, Romania, and Tanzania.

Facilitator Training Workshop on LTLT in Guatemala as part of the prevention work of the Alliance for Child Protection

A four-day Facilitator Training Workshop on the use of the Learning to Live Together Programme was organized in Guatemala from 15 to 18 October 2019.

Finding synergies to help prevent violent extremism through education

A round table discussion on the topic of education to prevent violent extremism was organized by Arigatou International Geneva on 26 September, bringing together representatives from 15 different civil society organizations, religious leaders and UN agencies working on the topic.

Five enriching months of program implementation in Itsmina, Colombia

A total of 47 children from a Christian community in Istmina, Choco Region in Colombia are being benefited by the implementation of the Learning to Live Together programme (LTLT) since November 2016.

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.

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?

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 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 Dominican Republic, a fulfilling experience for children and adults

Since its successful implementation during the first semester of this year, Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme has benefited over 110 children, between the ages of 13 and 17, in Barahona and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

After the Basic Training Workshop carried out in 2015 in Santo Domingo, five faith-based organizations, members of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC), committed to implement an ethics education program based on LTLT and focused on the main challenges faced by their communities, such as violence, poverty and discrimination.

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 Programme implemented in 30 schools in Kenya, as part of a peacebuilding intervention

Since May 2019, teachers in the counties of Baringo and Elgeyo-Marakwet, in Kenya, have been systematically implementing the Learning to Live Together Programme among students from 30 schools, following the Teachers Activity Book developed for the implementation process.

This is the outcome of the 4-days Facilitator Training Workshop help in April 2019, for 64 teachers on the use of the LTLT Programme. The workshop was organized by World Vision Kenya, and KNATCOM, with the technical support of Arigatou International - Geneva.

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 to Reach Children in Central Schools in Bhutan

Twenty-five Buddhist teachers attended the Facilitators Training Workshop on the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme that took place in Thimphu, Bhutan from 27 to 30 October 2017. The teachers came from all levels of the grade school from pre-primary to the 12^th grade, and from all subjects.

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.

LTLT Training Workshop in Peru for the prevention of violence against children

Nurturing ethical values for the prevention of violence against children was the motto adopted for the first Facilitators Training Workshop on the Learning to Live Together Programme, which was recently held in Lima, Peru.

From 31 October to 3 November 2019, 25 participants had the opportunity to get familiarized with the ethics education approach of the LTLT Programme, its principles, and methodologies, in order to customize it and implement it in their communities.

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 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.

Pilots for the adaptation of the LTLT Programme come to an end

After running workshops in seven countries around the world, the pilots for the adaptation of the Learning to Live Together Programme to Middle Childhood came to an end after completing the three last pilots in Tanzania, in July, and in India and Ecuador in August 2019, and reaching a total of 250 children from several religious and ethnic communities and secular backgrounds.

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.

Programa Aprender a Vivir Juntos se implementa en 30 escuelas en Kenia, como parte de intervención para la construcción de paz

Desde mayo de 2019, los maestros en los condados de Baringo y Elgeyo-Marakwet, en Kenia, han estado implementando sistemáticamente el Programa Aprender a Vivir Juntos entre estudiantes de 30 escuelas, siguiendo el Libro de Actividades para Maestros desarrollado para el proceso de implementación.

Este es el resultado del Taller de Capacitación para Facilitadores de 4 días llevado a cabo en abril de 2019, para 64 maestros, sobre el uso del Programa AVJ. El taller fue organizado por World Vision Kenia y KNATCOM, con el apoyo técnico de Arigatou International - Ginebra.

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.

Scholars from five countries trained on Peace, Resilience Building and Prevention of Violent Extremism in Africa

UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA), together with Arigatou International and the Institute for Peace and Security Studies at Addis Ababa University conducted a training for 21 participants from Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan and Somalia, including university lecturers, representatives from the Ministry of Higher Education, representatives from UNESCO Dakar and One African Child.

The “Training of Trainers Workshop for Higher Education on Peace and Resilience Building and Prevention of Violent Extremism in Africa through Teacher Development” took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 28 October to 1 November 2019.

Se lanza filme animado para premiar proyecto dirigido por niños en Coimbatore

El Festival de la Paz de Coimbatore, organizado por Shanti Ashram en India, fue el escenario para el estreno del cortometraje animado sobre uno de los ganadores de los Premios Globales Aprender a Vivir Juntos. El festival se celebró en agosto de 2019 y fue la oportunidad para que cientos de personas conocieran más sobre la inspiradora historia de Arun.

Seventeen new facilitators trained on the Learning to Live Together Programme in Chile

The Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Chile, in collaboration with Arigatou International Geneva, organized a Training Workshop on how to use the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) programme in Santiago, Chile from 28 January to 1 February 2017.

Sharing Best Practices for Peacebuilding at the Pan-African Symposium on Education, Resilience and Social Cohesion

It is well know that a good educational system can have a strong impact in creating a culture of peace and overcoming poverty. Education can reduce inequalities and contribute to social inclusion while fostering economic development, peace and stability. On the other hand, a weak education system can reinforce exclusion and fuel marginalization, alienation, conflicts and violent extremism.

Sharing Good Practices in the III Scholas Chairs International Congress in Jerusalem

Arigatou International was invited to the III Scholas Chairs International Congress which took place in Jerusalem, Israel from 2 to 5 July 2017, bringing together academics from the Scholas Chairs program, diplomats, religious authorities and governments to promote cooperation and learning based on the idea of education as one of the main tools for social change. In addition, 50 youth from five continents representing the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths, joined the academics in the debates as a way to emphasize their key role in the renewal of education.

Strengthening Families in Chennai, India

Mrs. Prabha Karthik coordinated during a period of ten months an ethics education program with families in Chennai, India. Prabha shares in this interview with us her journey using the Learning to Live Together Programme to support parents on strengthening their parenting skills.

The program used the educational framework, approach and methodologies of the Learning to Live Together manual. Activities were customized to parents with the purpose of creating spaces to discuss about values, spirituality, interfaith learning, the rights of the child and how to create safe environments for children.

This work is part of the Strengthening Family Systems programme of Arigatou International Geneva.

Strengthening Family Systems through Ethics Education in Portugal

GNRC Portugal has been implementing the Learning to Live Together Programme with families under the framework of the new Arigatou International Geneva initiative titled Strengthening Family Systems.  We interviewed Ms Rita Esteves, who is coordinating the project in Portugal to learn more about the experiences, challenges and learnings.

Supporting Young Children to Develop their Own Inner Compass of Moral Values

Arigatou International Geneva participated in a Peer Learning Activity, alongside many like-minded organizations to share experiences and knowledge regarding ethics education for children, and to provide inputs to "Every Child Has an Inner Compass," a booklet on facilitating children's moral development.

Taller de capacitación de AVJ en Perú para la prevención de la violencia infantil

“Prevenir la violencia contra los niños y niñas través de la promoción de valores éticos” fue el lema adoptado para el primer Taller de Capacitación para Facilitadores sobre el Programa Aprender a Vivir Juntos, que se realizó recientemente en Lima, Perú.

Taller de Capacitación para Facilitadores sobre el Programa AVJ en Guatemala como parte del trabajo de prevención de la Alianza para la Protección Infantil

Un Taller de Capacitación para Facilitadores sobre el uso del Programa Aprender a Vivir Juntos fue organizado en Guatemala del 15 al 18 de octubre de 2019.

The Dawning of an Interreligious Community of Practice in Dominican Republic

An Ethics Education Community of Practice (CoP) took off in Dominican Republic bringing together facilitators from five different locations and with very diverse religious backgrounds. In their first meeting, the participants shared their experiences on the implementation of the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme and joined their knowledge and new learnings to plan for the upcoming sessions.

The Learning to Live Together as part of a National Capacity Building Workshop on Global Citizenship for Bhutanese Teachers

Between 24 and 27 December 2014 a Teacher Training Workshop was held for teachers in Phuntsholing Higher Secondary School in the Phuntsholing district of Bhutan, organized by the Bhutan National Commission for UNESCO.  30 teachers from 20 districts attended the workshop. The workshop introduced the participants to the pedagogical concepts and principles of Global Citizenship Education. The program also helped teachers to develop knowledge and skills to prepare young learners for global challenges.  During the workshop, participants reflected about ethics education and education for sustainable development.  The workshop’s main aim was to train teachers on the pedagogical concepts and principles of Global Citizenship Education and build a deeper understanding and realization on the need for integrating and implementing the ideas of Global Citizenship Educaiton in the formal schooling system. 

The Learning to Live Together as part of the Culture of Peace Formation Program with the Civil Military Operations Group of the Philippine Army

Between 18 and 19 August 2014, 25 members of the Civil Military Operations Group of the Philippines Army took part in a workshop about peace education in the framework of the the Culture of Peace Formation organized by our partner Teach Peace Build Peace Movement. Ms Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman, President of the Movement, shares:  "It is necessary to work with members of the military on issues of peace so they can reach out to children affected by conflicts. The Learning to Live Together Approach, content and methodologies was used extensively to achieve the goals of the program".

The Learning to Live Together Manual is Now Available in Swahili

In June 2016, Arigatou International Geneva, in collaboration with the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Tanzania, launched the 'Kujifunza Kuishi Pamoja' – the Swahili language version of the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) manual. This new release aims to support the dissemination of the LTLT programme, reaching new communities in their own language and spreading quality ethics education among children, youth, families, schools and communities throughout the Eastern African region.

Swahili is one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa. It serves as a national language for Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, and it is broadly used in Zanzibar, Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, the Comoro Islands and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has more than 11 million native speakers and about 120 million secondary speakers.

A ceremony to officially launch the manual was held on 15 June in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Speakers included Sister Jean Pruitt, GNRC Tanzania Founder, Mr. Charles Mwaniki from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Kenya; Mr. Suchith Abeyewickreme, Representative from Arigatou International Geneva, and Ms. Pauline Haiba Mandisa, LTLT trained teacher from Tana River County, Kenya.  Peace Club members received the manual with appreciation. 

The manual can be seen and downloaded HERE.

“Of course, we are pleased to have this book in Kiswahili, as it will serve as a guide for our children and young people to learn how to coexist, especially at a time when our country continues to witness erosion of peace and harmony.”

Joyce Mdachi

Youth Education Expert and Community Engagement Officer, GNRC - Tanzania.

The Learning to Live Together Programme Mainstreamed into Kenya’s National Curriculum

Curriculum Developers from Kenya participated in a Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Basic Training Workshop. This is the first time that a LTLT workshop is held to identify ways to incorporate the key concepts of the LTLT Programme into a national curriculum.

The Learning to Live Together Programme making inroads in Mexico

The Learning to Live Together Programme was introduced for the first time in Mexico with a four-day Facilitator Training Workshop that took place from12 to15 August 2019.

The Learning to Play Together Booklet is Turning Heads in Greece

Dr. Angeliki (Gelly) Aroni, Physical Education Teacher and Trainer of the Learning to Live Together Programme, presented the Learning to Play Together (LTPT) booklet as an effective approach to deal with violence in school at the colloquium on Participation and Solidarity in Education.

The Role of Children and Youth in the Prevention of Exclusion, Hatred, and Violence

In its constant efforts to promote children and youth participation in topics that affect them, Arigatou International Geneva, in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Morocco and the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations in Geneva, UNICEF, and the Kofi Annan Foundation organized an event titled: “Learning to Live Together: Enhancing Children and Youth Participation to Prevent Exclusion, Hatred and Violence”.

Transforming Communities by Bridging the Gap in El Salvador

Centro Bartolomé de Las Casas and Global Network of Religions of Children (GNRC) El Salvador have been pioneers in the implementation of the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme since 2007 when the pilot process that led to the development of the LTLT manual was initiated.

Ten years later, and after engaging in a number of trainings and implementations in different areas of the country, the two organizations are joining forces again to work on Bridging the Gap, a two-year project funded by the Dutch Catholic Organization for Relief and Development Aid (Cordaid), that aims to strengthen the local and social fabric and youth leadership in at risk areas in El Salvador.

Workshop in Colombia: Building a Culture of Peace in the Family, School and Community

A training workshop on the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme titled: “Building a Culture of Peace in the Family, School and Community” was held in Quibdó, Colombia from 6 to 9 August. The workshop aimed to deepen and follow up on the programs initiated in 2013 by the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Colombia.

Workshop in Lebanon to implement Learning to Live Together in emergency situations

In October 2016 the UNESCO Regional Bureau for the Arab States, in collaboration with the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and Arigatou International, organized a three-day workshop in Broumana, Lebanon, aimed to introduce the Learning to Live Together Programme to teachers and school administrators from Lebanon, Syria and Egypt.

Young 'Peace Club' Leaders Get Trained to Carry Out Ethics Education Programs in Tanzania.

The GNRC Peace Clubs are a revolutionary initiative that brings together children and youth from different cultural and religious backgrounds to enable mutual understanding and build a culture of peace in Tanzania. To date, 118 Peace Clubs have been established in the country, carrying out different activities like ethics education programs, music and arts projects, weekly forums, discussions between clubs and celebrations of relevant international days.

In order to strengthen the engagement and empowerment of children through the GNRC Peace Clubs, youth leaders participated in a four-day Training Workshop to become facilitators of the Learning to Live Together programme.

Youth's participation as a key aspect to prevent and protect children from violence

By: Mrs. Maria Lucia Uribe, Director Arigatou International Geneva and Secretary General, Interfaith Council on Ethics Education for Children

Many years ago I visited Medellin, Colombia to research peace initiatives in the country. I went to Comuna 13, in Medellin, which used to be one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the world, and a pivotal place for grooming paramilitary, guerrilla and criminal gang groups. As I was waiting outside a bakery to be picked up by some of my contacts from the local government, I couldn’t help but noticing that there were a few young people wandering around and walking back and forth.