ARIGATOU INTERNATIONAL to CONVENE the GNRC SIXTH FORUM IN ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Tokyo, Japan: March 15, 2024 – Arigatou International will convene the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Sixth Forum from November 19 – 21, 2024. The Forum, to be hosted by the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities (IAFSC) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will bring together children, youth, religious leaders, policymakers, governmental, intergovernmental, and multilateral organizations, and grassroots child rights workers to discuss and recommend proposals for action on some of the most critical issues facing children globally.
The GNRC, an initiative of Arigatou International, is the world’s largest interfaith network of individuals and organizations dedicated to securing the rights and well-being of children. The Sixth Forum takes place as an unprecedented number of children around the world face infringement of their basic rights on multiple fronts. With one in five children currently living or fleeing from a conflict zone, and an estimated 774 million children suffering the compounding effects of poverty and climate change, the theme of the Forum will center aroundinterfaith cooperation to build a hopeful world for, and with children.
Calling on all faith leaders and faith communities, Rev. Keishi Miyamoto, President of Arigatou International and Convenor of the GNRC said, “It is the moral responsibility of people of all faiths to protect the lives of children and ensure their safe and sound development.” (Full message link)
“With the Forum focusing on harnessing the power of religion for the safety and wellbeing of children, our goal will be to encourage and facilitate faith leaders and engage authentic involvement of children,” Mrs. Dana Humaid, President and Chief Executive of the IAFSC said.
Since its inauguration almost 25 years ago, GNRC programs have impacted approximately 100 million people globally. Of this number, at least 40 million people were reached through programs and interventions in response to the 10 Panama Commitments to End Violence Against Children that was launched at the Fifth Forum in 2017.
“The child is calling! As people of conscience, we must respond to, and answer this call. The Sixth Forum will demonstrate that it is indeed possible to build a safe, secure, and sustainable world when children, youth, and adults from diverse backgrounds and traditions work together,” Mr. Kul Gautam, Chair of the GNRC Sixth Forum International Organizing Committee, and former UNICEF Deputy Executive Director said.
About 600 participants, including 100 children, are expected to attend the GNRC Sixth Forum in person. The event will also be streamed via the GNRC’s various media channels.
— END —
About Arigatou International and the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC):
Arigatou International works with people from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds to promote children’s rights and well-being. GNRC, a global-scale interfaith network of organizations and individuals specifically dedicated to securing the rights and wellbeing of children, was established in 2000 by Arigatou International.
Every five years, Arigatou International convenes a GNRC global forum, bringing together members, faith and spiritual leaders, civil society leaders, governments, intergovernmental organizations, young people, and children to advance the work of the Network.
About the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities (IAFSC):
The IAFSC was established to empower faith leaders to work for the safety and security of our communities, tackling issues such as child sexual abuse, extremism, radicalization, and human trafficking.
IAFSC facilitates the building of bridges between key stakeholders including faith communities, NGOs, and experts in various domains. Its current areas of focus are ‘Child Dignity in the Digital World’ and ‘Hate in our Communities’. The Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities has been a partner of Arigatou International and a member of the GNRC since 2018.
For more information, please contact:
Arigatou International
Email: tokyo@arigatouinternational.org | gnrcsixthforum@arigatouinternational.org
Facebook: Arigatou International Tokyo, Japan
The post GNRC Sixth Forum Official Announcement – Press Release – appeared first on Arigatou International.
People who feel close connections to others—whether that’s their family, friends, coworkers, or partners—are healthier and happier. While relationships can be difficult, a positive relationship adds meaning to your life, helps you take risks and pursue dreams, and provides a sense of purpose and belonging.
The word “relationship” is used in so many different ways that it’s easy to forget there isn’t one universal definition. It can refer to the emotional connection you have with someone, the way you interact with an organization or group, or even a business deal. This variety makes it important to define what a healthy relationship looks like for you and the person you’re in a relationship with.
In a relationship, the most important thing is trust. This means believing that the other person won’t lie or betray you and that they will treat you with respect. It also includes feeling safe to be vulnerable with them, even when they make you uncomfortable or worried.
Physical intimacy is another element of a healthy relationship. In addition to sex, this can include kissing, cuddling, and other activities that help you bond with your partner. It can also mean being supportive of each other’s interests and goals, even if you don’t always agree.
When you have a good relationship, you both work together as a team and make each other happy. This can be as simple as taking turns cleaning the bathroom or cooking dinner, or it could involve helping each other through tough times. You can also find a balance between being supportive of each other’s interests and goals and maintaining your own identity as individuals.
Everyone has an image in their mind of what a perfect relationship looks like. But that ideal often falls short of reality. It’s important to recognize that relationships can be messy, stressful, and full of disagreements. That’s okay, but it’s also helpful to learn the difference between a healthy relationship and one that is unhealthy or toxic.
A good relationship is balanced, and this means both people giving and receiving the amount of affection, support, energy, and attention they need. You can measure this by examining your own needs and the needs of the person you’re in a relationship. It’s also a good idea to do a love language quiz so you can give the person you’re in a relationship the kind of affection they need most.
No matter how well you’re doing in a relationship, it’s always worth working on yourself. This will help you understand why you react to situations in the ways you do and how to change those behaviors. It’s also a good idea not to rush into relationships and to consider whether or not you really are ready for commitment. Spending time on yourself will help you be a better partner in the long run. This is true for both romantic and nonromantic relationships. This will give you more patience and compassion when dealing with challenges in your relationship.
The post Healthy Relationships appeared first on www.snvla.org.
Announcement of the GNRC Sixth Forum
On behalf of Arigatou International and the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC), I am pleased to announce that the GNRC Sixth Forum will be convened from November 19 – 21, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The Forum will be hosted by our partners, the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities.
The GNRC was inaugurated in 2000 by my father, the late Rev. Takeyasu Miyamoto, out of his strong conviction that it is the moral responsibility of people of all faiths to protect the lives of children and ensure their safe and sound development. He proposed that people of every faith and religion join hands and work together, regardless of differences, to build a better world for children.
Since then, the GNRC has expanded and GNRC forums have grown into major global platforms for addressing children’s issues through interfaith cooperation. We expect at least 600 participants, including 100 children, to attend the Sixth Forum in person, and an equal number of virtual attendees. Children have always had a clear voice in GNRC global forums, and as at previous forums, they will take part in a Children’s Forum before the main Forum.
As we look at today’s world, it is heartbreaking that so many children are losing their precious lives in wars and conflicts that they did not start, and so many others suffer in poverty and other difficulties not of their making, enduring great physical, mental, and spiritual harm. The efforts of religious communities, especially interfaith cooperation for the sake of the world’s children, are more urgently needed than ever, especially in the divisive atmosphere the world is facing now.
I pray that the upcoming GNRC Forum will inspire greater cooperation and dedication among religious communities and other key actors in the international community to shape a better future for children. It is my sincere hope that our shared effort to build a better environment for children will become a major step on the path towards a peaceful world for everyone.
Keishi Miyamoto (Rev)
President of Arigatou International
Convenor of the Global Network of Religions for Children
The post GNRC Sixth Forum Official Announcement appeared first on Arigatou International.
A casino is a gambling establishment where customers gamble for money on games of chance. Casinos are most often built in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and other locations that attract tourists and have gambling laws. A casino can be run by a corporation or a person and is typically open 24 hours a day. Some casinos feature a wide range of gambling activities while others specialize in particular games or have unique features. Many casinos use security measures to prevent patrons and staff from cheating or stealing.
While musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers help lure in customers, casinos would not exist without the games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno and baccarat make up the bulk of the billions of dollars in profits raked in by casinos each year. While some of these games have a small amount of skill, most are purely based on luck and have mathematically determined odds that give the house a permanent advantage over the players. This edge is known as the house edge or vig. Casinos offset this edge by taking a percentage of each bet made, called the vig or rake.
In addition to generating revenue from the house edge, casinos make money by charging players for certain services and by giving out free goods or prizes to their high-spending customers. These freebies are known as comps, and they can include anything from food and drinks to hotel rooms and limo service. Players must be a certain level of player to receive these benefits, and the amount they play is rated by a host or croupier.
Because of the large amounts of currency handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal. While this happens rarely, it is important that casino owners take a variety of precautions to reduce the risk of theft and fraud. Some of these precautions include using security cameras throughout the casino and limiting the number of people allowed in the gaming areas at any given time. In addition, a casino’s staff must be trained to detect and report potential cheating or fraud.
In the early 20th century, Nevada became a popular destination for gamblers because of its legalized gambling, which eventually led to other states changing their laws to allow casino gambling as well. While mobster involvement in casinos was common, real estate investors and hotel chains soon realized the potential of these lucrative businesses, and bought out the mobsters to gain control of their own casino empires. As federal crackdowns on organized crime became more frequent, mob involvement in casinos decreased, and these legitimate business owners are now able to compete with the mobsters for casino profits. As a result, the number of casinos has risen dramatically in recent years. Some of these new casinos are even located outside the traditional casino markets of Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
The post What Is a Casino? appeared first on www.snvla.org.
Mauritius successfully completed the implementation of ethics education nationally through the Ethics Education Fellowship. The impact of this initiative extended to eight schools, involving 24 teachers and 480 school children.
One major challenge the country faces in terms of its national educational framework is the need to identify approaches that address diverse cultural, religious, and ethical perspectives present within Mauritian society. Currently, the existing subjects of Life Skills Education and Social & Modern Studies attempt to address these values. However, their practical application remains limited inside and outside of the classroom.
The integration of ethics education into the schools presents significant opportunities for bridging this missing link. Ethics education can foster critical thinking, dialogue and empathy among learners through transformative learning approaches and experiential-learning activities. By emphasizing values such as respect, responsibility, and integrity, ethics education can contribute to the holistic development of students, preparing them to navigate complex ethical dilemmas in their personal and professional lives.
The Ethics Education Fellowship initiative started its local implementation in Mauritius with a National Teacher Training workshop in between March and April of 2023 in Reduit. The 5-day workshop involved 24 educators from eight schools teaching Life Skills Education and Social & Modern Studies and six academics from the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE) involved in teacher training.
This workshop was facilitated mainly by the Ethics Education Fellows from Mauritius who underwent multiple capacity-building engagements from the inception of the fellowship, with the support of Mr. Suchith Abeywickreme, Programme Manager of the Ethics Education Fellowship Program Lead and Eleonora Mura, Senior Expert – Ethics Education for Children from Arigatou International – Geneva. The workshop focus and materials were customized to match the context of educators who work with the extended program students, Grades 7 – 9 while exploring the synergies around the subjects of Ethics Education, Life Skills Education and Social and Modern Studies. The workshop also focused on the localization of ethics education approaches allowing better coherence and relevance in Mauritius’ culture and social settings.
During the workshop, thematic areas key to building positive teacher-learner relationships were discussed. Participants reflected on social transformation and learned how to create safe learning environments, including the principles and the use of dialogue. At the end of the training, participants shared how it helped them to step out of their comfort zones as teachers, allowing them to break out of the traditional teaching methods where the teacher decides what happens in the classroom, the topic of discussions and teaching methods. They explored learner-centered approaches where the learning becomes a collaborative engagement. This understanding was paramount for the transformation process that the fellowship was built on and considered to be a great outcome for the participating teachers.
In Mauritius, the Council of Religions functions as a local implementation partner that provides support for the design and activation of ethics education in the country. Through their support, over 480 learners were engaged and empowered to become global citizens who actively participate in the promotion of inclusive and peaceful societies. Through these local interventions, the Fellowship envisions garnering further support from respective decision-making bodies in Mauritius. The fellows aim to transform their national education system to strengthen its core values, particularly the enhancement of life skills through intercultural and interfaith awareness building.
The implementation of the program at the school level started after the teacher training workshops conducted in the beginning of 2023, which capacitated 24 secondary school teachers.
The implementation with children took place in eight schools, targeting learners from grades 7, 8 and 9. Ethics education and its transformative pedagogy were integrated into the Life Skills Education and Social & Modern Studies curriculum. The implementation helped nurture ethical values in children like empathy, respect, and appreciation of diversity. Children were empowered to engage in collaborative actions to positively transform their communities, starting with their school settings.
While the integration of Ethics Education concepts to existing school curricula was taking place, the program also introduced various extra-curricular activities which allowed the learning from and within the community to materialize. Initiatives such as classroom dialogues, cultural and religious field visits, stakeholders’ speeches, etc. took prominence among them and created experiential platforms to build intercultural and interreligious awareness, solidarity, respect and tolerance among young learners and their community members.
It was noted that through these engagements, the relationships between the teachers and learners significantly developed over time. This was also reflected outside of the classroom as the relationships between the learners and their parents and extended community also improved.
Reflecting on this practice, one student shared that, “With the help of this Ethics Education program, my class and I were able to form a stronger bond with our teacher.”
Overall, the program fostered a more participatory learning environment, with students actively involved in discussions and activities. The introduction of ethics education provided learners with fresh perspectives and approaches to knowledge acquisition. It helped to develop their competencies in critical thinking, problem-solving, building respect, equality and solidarity. This contributed to a more peaceful and inclusive environment within the classrooms and beyond.
The teachers also improved their teaching methods, by using transformative pedagogical approaches. By incorporating ethics education into their daily practice, educators received the opportunity to become “role models”, leading to more effective student outcomes.
The Ethics Education Fellowship is a flagship initiative under the collaboration of Arigatou International, the Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace, the KAICIID International Dialogue Centre, the Muslim Council of Elders, the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, and the UNESCO New Delhi Cluster Office, in collaboration with the National Commissions for UNESCO of the participating countries.
The program was launched in 2022 and currently functions within six countries: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Mauritius, Nepal and Seychelles, linking the collective efforts of the Ministries of Education. Through the Ethics Education Fellowship program, 323 teachers have been trained, successfully reaching 7,334 children in total.
We would like to acknowledge the great support we have received in the implementation in Mauritius from the local partners, collaborators, educators, government and non-government organizations, and religious and academic institutions. Similarly, we are grateful to the unwavering commitment showcased by the four Ethics Education Fellows from Mauritius; Mr. Rajiv Kumar, Mr. Jay Ramsaha, Ms. Swalehah Beebeejaun and Ms. Seema Goburdhun, without which this success would not have been a possibility.
The post Empowering Teachers and Learners through Ethics Education in Mauritius appeared first on Ethics Education for Children.
