In Washington, D.C., vast discrepancies exist in the quality of a child's education depending on where he or she lives. Where some have opportunities, encouragement, and security, others are faced with obstacles and neglect, and fear for their own personal safety. But imagine for a moment an entire community that truly provides a safe space for learning.  A place where each student has a teacher who encourages cooperation, understanding, communication and respect through practical, dynamic, and hands-on exercises. Where every classroom is structured to provide children with the means and time to confront and manage the conflicts they are facing in their daily lives. Where parents support these new approaches that their children are learning by also modeling them in the home. At one of the lowest income communities in Washington, D.C., we are seeing this image become a reality through our new program, DCPEACE.

 The Program: To address these needs that exist in our nation’s capitol, UPEACE/US has partnered with educators, administration, and parents in the District of Columbia Public School system to design and implement an innovative peace education and conflict prevention program for the 2008-2009 school year, which is comprised of:

Educator Trainings: UPEACE/US offers high quality professional development opportunities for educators. By conducting an initial needs assessments, we are able to offer teachers the skills, tools, and concepts necessary to address the challenges they are immediately facing in their classrooms. Our trainings aim to encourage the transfer of peace and conflict resolution skills to the students so they can effectively serve as peacebuilders in their schools and communities.

 Skills for Understanding Modules: Which enable students to learn conflict resolution concepts and skills through concise and interactive workshops conducted by outside facilitators or teachers with the requisite training. This component offers students hands-on skills training and practice with important concepts spanning from effective communication and identity to understanding and global awareness.

Curriculum Enhancement: UPEACE/US equips educators with the appropriate materials, activities, and exercises necessary to successfully incorporate peace and conflict resolution methodology into their existing classroom curriculum. Each weekly curriculum enhancement lesson ties in with monthly program themes and builds sequentially upon the weeks prior, with the goal of encouraging repetition and solidification of these important concepts.

PeaceRooms: Additionally, UPEACE/US has developed an innovative virtual platform called PeaceRooms, in which students will be able to connect with an overseas partner schools for a year long collaboration and experience the tenets of conflict resolution education and explore themes such as multiculturalism, diversity, mutual understanding and world citizenship.

Parent Workshops: UPEACE/US staff will also coordinate high-quality training opportunities for parents to ensure that they are adequately equipped with the necessary skills to serve as positive role models; demonstrating the kind of communication we are striving for in the school system and at home.