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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.