A group of 14 educators and representatives of organizations participated in a training workshop on the Learning to Live Together program in Guatemala.
The workshop was held in a blended format in Guatemala City on 9, 10, 11 and 13 May 2022. The activity sought to train facilitators belonging to Puerta de Esperanza, Fe y Alegría and ODHAG, both members of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) in Guatemala.
During the workshop, the participants were able to become familiar with the main concepts of the Learning to Live Together program, its methodologies and its educational approach. “I found particularly interesting that with this approach children are at the center. It reflects on their realities, it provokes transformation,” asserted a participant.
The participants reflected on the violence that affects children and adolescents in the contexts in which they work, and the role that values-based education can play in promoting peace and resilience. “Educating is not just being in front of a group of students, but living together in unity and fraternity,” shared another participant at the end of the workshop.
The workshop is part of a project carried out by Puerta de Esperanza with the support of Toybox, an international NGO that has been working for more than 25 years to help children and young people around the world get off the streets. The project aims to strengthen the protection and resilience factors in children and adolescents who work, live or operate in the “Mercado La Terminal, zone 4” of Guatemala City, through the implementation of Learning to Live Together and its transformative pedagogy.
We thank the facilitators and participants for their commitment and enthusiasm. We hope that this training workshop can provide a basis for the implementation of the project with the children of Guatemala.
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A group of 14 educators and representatives of organizations participated in a training workshop on the Learning to Live Together program in Guatemala.
The workshop was held in a blended format in Guatemala City on 9, 10, 11 and 13 May 2022. The activity sought to train facilitators belonging to Puerta de Esperanza, Fe y Alegría and ODHAG, both members of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) in Guatemala.
During the workshop, the participants were able to become familiar with the main concepts of the Learning to Live Together program, its methodologies and its educational approach. “I found particularly interesting that with this approach children are at the center. It reflects on their realities, it provokes transformation,” asserted a participant.
The participants reflected on the violence that affects children and adolescents in the contexts in which they work, and the role that values-based education can play in promoting peace and resilience. “Educating is not just being in front of a group of students, but living together in unity and fraternity,” shared another participant at the end of the workshop.
The workshop is part of a project carried out by Puerta de Esperanza with the support of Toybox, an international NGO that has been working for more than 25 years to help children and young people around the world get off the streets. The project aims to strengthen the protection and resilience factors in children and adolescents who work, live or operate in the “Mercado La Terminal, zone 4” of Guatemala City, through the implementation of Learning to Live Together and its transformative pedagogy.
We thank the facilitators and participants for their commitment and enthusiasm. We hope that this training workshop can provide a basis for the implementation of the project with the children of Guatemala.
The post Members of GNRC-Guatemala Participate in a Training Workshop appeared first on Ethics Education for Children.
The post Members of GNRC-Guatemala Participate in a Training Workshop appeared first on Arigatou International.
—Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children
The world was not on track to end violence against children before the arrival of COVID-19. It is apparent now that the pandemic threatens to reverse the limited gains made for children. The pandemic is harming children worldwide, affecting the poor and vulnerable children the most. In the words of Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, “what began as a health crisis risks evolving into a broader child-rights crisis.” And it has.
The mitigation measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have increased the risk of violence both at home and online. The pandemic is disrupting provision of already limited child protection services everywhere and leaving significant negative effects on children’s mental health and well-being. The immense socio-economic impact of the pandemic is exacerbating child poverty and vulnerability to many forms of violence, including child marriage, child labor, trafficking, recruitment in armed or violent extremist groups, and sexual exploitation and abuse.
Even though the world was in a different place when the Panama Declaration on Ending Violence against Children was adopted by the participants of the Fifth Forum of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) in 2017, the 10 Commitments co-created with children are relevant today more than ever. We know religious leaders and faith-based communities command extraordinary moral authority, they foster dialogue, help to bridge differences, and influence thinking and behaviour change even during the pandemic.
We also recognize the tremendous resilience and leadership of children as we are seeing an increase worldwide in children’s engagement: children, deriving from their innate sense of responsibility creativity, and solidarity, are taking an active role in helping each other and their families in the time of pandemic. They are creating awareness, supporting each other, documenting their experiences, helping their communities, and suggesting solutions.
At the same time, far-reaching consequences of the COVID-19 crisis call for children and all dimensions of their rights to be prioritised in the pandemic response and recovery planning. We must ensure that child protection services are identified as essential and life-saving – along with physical health, mental health, education, and justice services – and built on a solid and sustainable social protection system that are considered as investment.
To do so, strong multi-sectoral mobilization of governments, the international community, civil society, faith-based organizations, and private sector must be steered in this direction. In the Nelson Mandela Lecture in July 2020, the Secretary-General said, “It is clear that countries must make an effort to invest more … for a new generation of social protection policies that can address the dramatic situation of those that are in more poor and more vulnerable conditions.” This must become the principle of a New Social Contract in the post pandemic world, where children and young people live with dignity, enjoy prospects and opportunities and are safe from violence.
The World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, celebrated annually on Universal Children’s Day on 20 November, provides an occasion for gathering and mobilization of wider partnerships to bring tangible, positive impact on children’s lives and communities around them in the building back better period.
We need to mobilize all stakeholders in order to keep the promise of the 2030 Agenda to end violence against children, leaving no one – no child – behind. The strong commitment to dignity, equality and responsibility of religious communities and faith-based organizations such as Arigatou International and its partners will help influencing thinking and behaviour across nations, religions and faiths to help building back better and to ensure children are involved as an active part in this process.
The post Let’s invest in inclusive and safe recovery for and with children appeared first on Prayer and Action for Children.
The post Let’s invest in inclusive and safe recovery for and with children appeared first on Arigatou International.
—Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children
The world was not on track to end violence against children before the arrival of COVID-19. It is apparent now that the pandemic threatens to reverse the limited gains made for children. The pandemic is harming children worldwide, affecting the poor and vulnerable children the most. In the words of Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, “what began as a health crisis risks evolving into a broader child-rights crisis.” And it has.
The mitigation measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have increased the risk of violence both at home and online. The pandemic is disrupting provision of already limited child protection services everywhere and leaving significant negative effects on children’s mental health and well-being. The immense socio-economic impact of the pandemic is exacerbating child poverty and vulnerability to many forms of violence, including child marriage, child labor, trafficking, recruitment in armed or violent extremist groups, and sexual exploitation and abuse.
Even though the world was in a different place when the Panama Declaration on Ending Violence against Children was adopted by the participants of the Fifth Forum of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) in 2017, the 10 Commitments co-created with children are relevant today more than ever. We know religious leaders and faith-based communities command extraordinary moral authority, they foster dialogue, help to bridge differences, and influence thinking and behaviour change even during the pandemic.
We also recognize the tremendous resilience and leadership of children as we are seeing an increase worldwide in children’s engagement: children, deriving from their innate sense of responsibility creativity, and solidarity, are taking an active role in helping each other and their families in the time of pandemic. They are creating awareness, supporting each other, documenting their experiences, helping their communities, and suggesting solutions.
At the same time, far-reaching consequences of the COVID-19 crisis call for children and all dimensions of their rights to be prioritised in the pandemic response and recovery planning. We must ensure that child protection services are identified as essential and life-saving – along with physical health, mental health, education, and justice services – and built on a solid and sustainable social protection system that are considered as investment.
To do so, strong multi-sectoral mobilization of governments, the international community, civil society, faith-based organizations, and private sector must be steered in this direction. In the Nelson Mandela Lecture in July 2020, the Secretary-General said, “It is clear that countries must make an effort to invest more … for a new generation of social protection policies that can address the dramatic situation of those that are in more poor and more vulnerable conditions.” This must become the principle of a New Social Contract in the post pandemic world, where children and young people live with dignity, enjoy prospects and opportunities and are safe from violence.
The World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, celebrated annually on Universal Children’s Day on 20 November, provides an occasion for gathering and mobilization of wider partnerships to bring tangible, positive impact on children’s lives and communities around them in the building back better period.
We need to mobilize all stakeholders in order to keep the promise of the 2030 Agenda to end violence against children, leaving no one – no child – behind. The strong commitment to dignity, equality and responsibility of religious communities and faith-based organizations such as Arigatou International and its partners will help influencing thinking and behaviour across nations, religions and faiths to help building back better and to ensure children are involved as an active part in this process.
The post Let’s invest in inclusive and safe recovery for and with children appeared first on Prayer and Action for Children.
The post Let’s invest in inclusive and safe recovery for and with children appeared first on Arigatou International.
Lancement du projet Amani Kwanza
Le 18 Mars 2015, la GNRC-Tanzanie en partenariat avec le Conseil Inter – religieux pour la paix en Tanzanie (IRCPT) et le Comité européen pour l’éducation et l’agriculture (CEFA) ont lancé le projet Amani Kwanza à la salle Karimjee de Dar es Salam.
Etaient présents pour l’occasion, des chefs religieux de la Tanzanie, les chefs de gouvernement locaux, des représentants de la communauté diplomatique, des représentants de la société civile, les médias et les jeunes.
De gauche à droite : Mme Mwase (GNRC), Rev. Cannon Godda (IRCPT), Sheikh Mussa Alhaj, l’hon. Saïd Meck Sadiq (invite d’honneur), Sa Grâce l’évêque Kilaini, l’Ambassadeur Olivier Chave (Ambassadeur de Suisse en Tanzanie) et Sr Jean Pruitt (GNRC TZ Fondatrice)
Dans ses remarques préliminaires, la coordinatrice de la GNRC-Tanzanie a fait un bref survol du projet et les partenaires qui y participent. Elle indiquant que les partenaires reconnaissent que la paix est une condition préalable pour le développement durable à tous les niveaux, individuel, communal et national. C’est dans ce but précis le projet Amani Kwanza a été conçu. Celui-ci est un programme de prévention multisectorielle qui vise à bâtir la résilience des communautés contre la menace de l’extrémisme violent. Le projet vise également à promouvoir un esprit de compréhension, de coexistence pacifique et de dialogue entre les citoyens Tanzaniens et à éliminer les obstacles sur la voie de la paix et du développement. Ceci, en essayant de :
i. Renforcer la paix et l’encadrement pour le dialogue interreligieux en Tanzanie
ii. Accroitre les capacités des médias à contribuer au renforcement de la paix et à la résolution des conflits, en particulier, dans la perspective des prochaines élections générales ;
iii. Jeter les bases de la création d’un mécanisme national d’alerte précoce de conflit; et finalement
iv. Améliorer les conditions pour la tenue d’élections libres et équitables et d’accroître l’intérêt de l’électorat d’y participer de manière active et pacifique
Le Rev. Cannon Thomas Godda, Directeur Executif de l’IRCPT
Le directeur exécutif de l’IRCPT, chanoine Thomas Godda a donné une description détaillée du projet, y compris les activités et les résultats attendus du projet. Il a souligné que c’est un projet pilote qui sera mis en œuvre à Dar es-Salaam, Pwani, Arusha, Mbeya, Mwanza, Kigoma, Tanga et Zanzibar.
Les chefs religieux ont indiqué leur soutien au projet Amani Kwanza, tout en reconnaissant qu’il est venu au bon moment. Dans ses remarques, Sheikh Mussa Alhaji, chef religieux de Dar es Salaam (Conseil Suprême des Musulmans de Tanzanie) a souligné que le fondement de la paix exige l’égalité, l’observation des droits de l’homme, le respect, le pardon, l’amour et la tolérance.
Le Rev. Stephanie Franz (ECT ECD) et le Sheikh Alhaj Mussa (BAKWATA)
Le Rev. Stephanie Franz, représentant du Conseil évangélique luthérienne de Tanzanie (CCT) a salué le message de paix se référant au Psaume 133 : 1 tout en soulignant la nécessité que nous devons tous coexister.
Son Excellence l’Ambassadeur Olivier Chave, ambassadeur de Suisse en Tanzanie et principal bailleur de fonds du projet, souligna le fait que la paix doit être nourrie car il ne tombe pas du ciel. Il a reconnu que nous vivons dans une époque dangereuse où le manque d’éducation et d’emploi peut conduire à la violence extrême. Il a mis l’emphase sur la nécessité de renforcer la capacité à tolérer et à aimer l’autre.
Sa Grace l’évêque Kilaini et son excellence l’ambassadeur Olivier Chave
Quand a sa Grâce, l’évêque Méthod Kilaini, co-patron du projet Amani Kwanza, il exprima le sentiment qu’il n’y a rien d’aussi bon que de rassembler des gens de différentes pensées pour la paix.
De gauche a droit: le Sheikh Alhaj Mussa, l’honorable Said Meck Sadiq (le commissaire régional de Dar es Salaam) et sa Grace l’évêque Kilaini.
L’invité d’honneur, l’honorable Saïd Meck Sadiq, commissaire régional de Dar es Salaam, a axé son discours sur la jeunesse car c’est le groupe le plus vulnérable à la violence. En outre, il a expliqué comment des hommes et des femmes en souffrent : les jeunes hommes sont envoyés au front alors que les jeunes femmes sont violées et forcées à se marier. Il a souligné que lorsque la violence s’empare d’un peuple, il ne s’arrête pas car la violence est aveugle. Tous seront touches et nous devons donc maintenir la paix.
L’événement a été diffusé sur des chaines télés dont Channel 10, Sibuka TV, Tumaini télévision et TBC. Il est également apparu dans les journaux suivants : Uhuru, The Guardian, Majira, Mwananchi, Nipashe, Raia, Mtanzania et la Tanzanie Daima.
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