Posted: May 04 2010,05:09 |
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Postal address of organization/institution
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World Headquarters, 911 Main Street, Suite 2110, Kansas City, MO 64105 USA
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E-mail address of organization/institution
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ptpi@ptpi.org
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Website address of organization/institution
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www.ptpi.org
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Telephone of organization/institution
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+1.816.531.4701
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PRIORITIES: All of the organization's domains of culture of peace activity |
EDUCATION FOR PEACE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT UNDERSTANDING, TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY
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TOP PRIORITY: The organization's most important culture of peace activity |
UNDERSTANDING, TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY
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PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS: What partnerships and networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the global movement for a culture of peace?
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People to People International (PTPI) has a network of community, university and student chapter members worldwide, who work at the grassroots level to further the PTPI mission toward Peace through Understanding. PTPI also serves as a member of the International Coordinating Committee for Youth Service America; collaborates with a variety of organizations to support humanitarian efforts, including but not limited to The HALO Trust, and The Humpty Dumpty Institute; and works toward building student chapter programs in the Palestinian Territories with Relief International Schools Online and Partners for Sustainable Development. This past winter, PTPI collaborated with Village Health Works to give members a more complete experience when reading Strength in What Remains, for PTPI's Global Book Club.
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ACTIONS: What activities have been undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence during the ten years of the Decade? If you already made a report in 2005, your information from 2005 will be included in the 2010 report.
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Established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on September 11, 1956, PTPI has promoted international understanding and friendship for more than 50 years. A variety of cultural, educational and humanitarian programs are in place around the world, all of which further the PTPI mission toward Peace through Understanding. Programs are offered for all age ranges. Examples include chapters that widen the base of People to People International, serve as international programming and outreach centers for communities, provide humanitarian aid, host international visitors, and participate in a myriad of activities at the local and international levels. Worldwide Conferences and regional conferences gather our global membership to strenghten bonds and to build a network of like-minded people. During the decade, an emphasis has been developing programs for students. The result has been the creation of 141 student and university chapters worldwide, in addition to our community chapters for adults; Peace Camps, for which student travel and tuition is paid so students of many different nationalities and backgrounds may come together safely to understand and appreciate their differences (there have been four Peace Camps thus far, with 185 students from 51 countries); educational Global Youth Forums (started in 2002 there have been 8 GYFs so far, averaging 200 participants, ages 13-18 per year, and representing on average 10 countries; EXPERIENCE travel programs for students; and the School and Classroom Program, which involves students in impactful cross-cultural projects without ever leaving their classrooms (since October 2001, the School and Classroom Program has served 184,405 students and 2,352 teachers in 118 countries). In addition, this decade, PTPI has focused on humanitarianism. As a result, nearly all programs for students and adults, ranging from our travel exchange programs to conferences and even meetings of our Board members, include hands‐on efforts to assist the host destination. We also have taken on the administration of Operation International Children (formerly Operation Iraqi Children), which distributes school supplies to children abroad, and involve our members in supporting a Global Landmine Initiative, which raises awareness about this global crisis and raises funds to support a demining team. Both initiatives generate goodwill between the United States and other nations and provide much-needed resources to create a hopeful future for others.
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PROGRESS: Has your organization seen progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of action and in your constituency during the second half of the Decade? |
Through Peace Camps for students, and Educational & Humanitarian Initiatives for adults, PTPI has a solid presence in the Middle East, working to enhance international understanding and friendship. Through Peace Camp, Israeli students have befriended Palestinians students; through Worldwide Conferences, PTPI has expanded understanding through interfaith panels, keynote speakers, awards to well-known organizations working to achieve peace, and more. Since its founding in 1956, PTPI has obviously seen the end of the Cold War, expansion to China, and ongoing progress toward understanding worldwide. The PTPI-operated Operational International Children program (formerly Operation Iraqi Children) has sent nearly 300,000 school supply kits to Iraq and Afghanistan. Through PTPI's Global Landmine Initiative, in 2009 alone, 7.2 acres of ground in Cambodia was cleared, resulting in the removal of 264 AP mines on 12 minefields.
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OBSTACLES: Has your organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they?
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Obstacles pertain to extending our presence and our outreach to every corner of the world. Such efforts take time. Constraints created by certain countries' regulations can hinder the establishment of chapters in those countries. Language differences also can play a role.
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PLANS: What new engagements are planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence?
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PTPI plans to maintain existing programs and extend outreach to new audiences and destinations. This year marks PTPI's inaugural Educational & Humanitarian Initiative to Turkey.
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GLOBAL MOVEMENT: How do you think the culture of peace and nonviolence could be strengthened and supported at the world level??
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Media plays an integral role in either striking fear or acceptance in the minds and hearts of our global citizens. Positive reports about individuals and organizations extending the hand of friendship work wonders at home and abroad.
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