Church Center for the United Nations, New York City

There is so much diversity in our world today; the potential for learning and collaboration around common issues of concern among peoples of different cultures and faiths is enormous; yet, we also live in a world that is increasingly in the grip of religious fundamentalism and extremism, negative stereotypes and fear of the other, violence and distrust; a world where children grow up without appreciation of the other. What is the role of education to contribute to learning to live together? How can children be empowered to challenge their stereotypes and prejudices, put themselves in another’s shoes, reconcile their differences with others and develop their sense of individual and collective responsibilities?

Ethics Education for Children – The missing piece in Interfaith Education and Peacebuilding Efforts

There is so much diversity in our world today; the potential for learning and collaboration around common issues of concern among peoples of different cultures and faiths is enormous; yet, we also live in a world that is increasingly in the grip of religious fundamentalism and extremism, negative stereotypes and fear of the other, violence and distrust; a world where children grow up without appreciation of the other. What is the role of education to contribute to learning to live together? How can children be empowered to challenge their stereotypes and prejudices, put themselves in another’s shoes, reconcile their differences with others and develop their sense of individual and collective responsibilities?

This workshop aims to discuss the purpose and elements of ethics education to contribute to peacebuilding and interfaith learning, introduce the Arigatou International Learning to Live Together Programme, developed in close collaboration with UNESCO and UNICEF, its educational approach to promote critical thinking and spirituality in children, and identify common areas of potential collaboration with organizations.

Program

• 9:00 – 9:30 Welcome and Introductions
• 9:30 – 11:00 Panel on Ethics Education – A contribution to peacebuilding and interfaith education
  • Dr Heidi Hadsell, President Hartford Seminary –Overcoming fundamentalism and fear of the other – Challenges and opportunities
  • Ms Agneta Ucko, Vice-Chair Interfaith Council on Ethics Education for Children – Spirituality and ethics education
  • Ms Jane Rechtman, Board member at the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education – A paradigm shift in religious education
  • Dr Ilham Nasser, Associate Professor George Mason University, Virginia – Promoting intercultural and interfaith learning in early childhood settings
• 11:00 – 11:15 Break
• 11:15 – 13:00 Introduction to the Learning to Live Together Programme and implementation experiences13:00 – 14:00 Light lunch
• 14:00 – 15:00 Practical activities on the educational approach of Learning to Live Together
• 15:00 – 16:00 Reflections and dialogue – Possibilities for collaboration