» Welcome Guest
[ Log In :: Register :: Search :: Help ]

Click here to add a report from another organization.
new topic
Organization: "Love That Child" foundation
The following information may be cited or quoted as long as the source is accurately mentioned and the words are not taken out of context.
Posted: Feb. 22 2010,14:00 If you wrote this report, you will find a button here that you may click
in order to make changes in the report.

Postal address of organization/institution

P.O. Box 27, 1303 Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail address of organization/institution

madison.terry@gmail.com

Website address of organization/institution


Telephone of organization/institution

359-02-8291822 / 0888692863

PRIORITIES: All of the organization's domains of culture of peace activity

EDUCATION FOR PEACE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
UNDERSTANDING, TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY

TOP PRIORITY: The organization's most important culture of peace activity

EDUCATION FOR PEACE

PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS: What partnerships and networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the global movement for a culture of peace?

Municipality of Sofia, Virtues Project, Canada

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.

1. Teaching participatory classes on “Virtues” in 2 state high schools for 2 years, a private high school for 1 year, a private elementary school for 2 1/2 years and a private primary school for almost 2 years (currently).

2. Meetings with parents and use of “Family Virtues Guide in Bulgarian for parents.

3. Two major articles were printed in leading newspapers.

4. Produced a 4 minute video of high school children making comments of how the Virtues Classes affected their lives.

5. Held weekly evenings on “Virtues” for adults including teachers, for 2 years.

6. Gave Seminars on Virtues in 2 high schools for small groups of teachers.

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?

1. High school students wrote essays anonymously about the way the “Virtues” classes affected their lives. We were deeply touched by their honest assessment! Excerpts are available.
2. We use the Virtues Educator’s Guide for lesson plans and the 5 strategies, spiritual companioning and especially the language of the virtues and we see a difference in most of the students.
3. Setting clear boundaries at the beginning of the class helps to keep order and create courtesy and peacefulness in the class.
4. Even 1st graders begin to speak in the language of virtues, “I just gave Alex my marker, aren’t I practicing generosity?”  We can see a change in the behavior of children.

OBSTACLES: Has your organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they?

1. In the schools, there is always a question if this is related to a religion, but when explained that all religions practice virtues and that this is a moral education, specifically dealing with 52 virtues, it is understood and accepted.
2. The biggest obstacle we face is lack of funding. The Municipalities have very limited funds. We would like to cover as many schools as possible in each city, but even in Sofia, the capital, funding is extremely limited and so our project is limited as well.

PLANS: What new engagements are planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence?

1. Short-term: Through the enthusiasm of the then Deputy Mayor of Sofia (now Mayor), a connection was made to the Municipality Council of Sofia and we are now at the beginning of a project through this Municipality, which includes 3 state schools and a kindergarten. Seminars will be given to 10 teachers from these schools, then practical demonstrations in their classes to assist the teachers and help introduce the topic of “Virtues” to the children. The teachers will then continue teaching and after a few months, another Seminar will be held for feed-back, assistance etc. These teachers will especially be picked by the Directors to be able to train others for the project to be sustainable.
2. Medium-term: After meeting the Deputy Mayor of Plovdiv, the 2nd largest city in Bulgaria and explaining this project, he has requested a similar project in Plovdiv starting in May, 2010.
3. Medium-term: We need to translate the Educator’s Guide.
4. Long-term: We will introduce this project in the Ministry of Education with concrete success of the project through the Municipalities and hopefully, eventually, it will be included in the curriculum of all schools, which would make a difference in the children and youth, preventing aggression and promoting a culture of peace!

GLOBAL MOVEMENT: How do you think the culture of peace and nonviolence could be strengthened and supported at the world level??

1. Hope for the future: Wherever possible, Virtues should be introduced in all schools. There could be a world-wide campaign to change the existing pattern of aggression to peacefulness and corruption to truthfulness. We can start to bring a Culture of Peace to the world at least with the next generation practicing the “Virtues”!
Back to top
Organization: "Love That Child" foundation

Click here to add a report from another organization.
new topic