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LECTURES, SYMPOSIA & CONFERENCES
Asian Educators Symposium and Exchange Program

 

The Goi Peace Foundation and the Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) co-organized the Asian Educators Symposium and Exchange Program "Creating a Culture of Peace through Education" in Japan from 18 to 24 February 2008, bringing together teachers from Asian countries who are actively engaged in peace education.

One of the key action areas of UNESCO is fostering a culture of peace through education by revising the educational curricula to promote qualitative values, attitudes and behaviors of a culture of peace, including peaceful conflict prevention and resolution, dialogue, consensus-building and active non-violence.

The Asian Educators Symposium provided opportunity for the participants to exchange their innovative and effective teaching programs, activities and methodologies, so that they may advance their efforts for peace education in their home countries, and thereby contribute to the creation of a culture of peace in the region and beyond.

Ten educators were invited from Israel, India, Australia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, and USA. During the 2-day symposium held at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Tokyo, they were joined by 23 Japanese educators involved in either formal or non-formal education. The program consisted of an introduction as well as three workshop sessions with the following objectives:

  1. To identify the "Universal Values of a Culture of Peace" and discuss how they can be effectively taught in classrooms.
  2. To identify the various forms of violence which exist in schools and discuss how they can be overcome.
  3. To discuss what kinds of education are needed in order to nurture a responsible global citizen.

Each session proceeded with presentations by the participants followed by lively discussions covering various topics in education. Issues of mutual interest included:

  • Teaching tolerance for different religions
  • Dealing with traumatic stress caused by conflicts and terrorism
  • Overcoming violence, bullying and discrimination in school
  • Character building and moral education
  • Environmental education
  • Role of teacher as a model for students
  • Need to educate parents and to improve the quality of education at home
  • Cooperation of school-parents-community in education
  • Encouraging youth-led initiatives
  • Dealing with special need children
  • True purpose of education





An Open Forum was organized to share some of the highlights from the symposium with the public. About 100 participants, many of them educators themselves, enjoyed exchanging opinions with the teachers from abroad.

The international participants also visited local schools and community classrooms to observe the various educational efforts being made in Japan. In particular, programs at the Earth Kids Space and the Learning and Ecological Activities Foundation for Children (LEAF) offered them examples of educational collaboration among schools, parents and the community. Additionally, they made a trip to Kyoto and Hyogo to deepen their understanding of Japanese culture and traditions.

The extensive 7-day program offered a great learning and networking opportunity for all the participants, who had become like one family ready to support one another in their shared mission as educators and peace-builders. They agreed to continue their communication to exchange new lesson plans and discuss collaborative projects. Some of the participants also expressed interest in starting an Earth Kids Space in their country. A ripple effect of the symposium is expected to spread far and wide in Asia.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

DAY 1 / February 18

  • Orientation & Welcome Dinner

DAY 2 / February 19
Introduction

  • Opening Remarks by Hiroo Saionji, President, The Goi Peace Foundation
  • Greetings and Introduction of the Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO by Masatsugu Kimura, Director of Planning Division, ACCU
  • Speech by Mr. Hiroshi Omura, Assistant Secretary-General, Japanese National Commission for UNESCO
  • Self-introduction by participants

Workshop 1: "Universal Values of a Culture of Peace"

  • Icebreakers
  • Group Discussion "What universal values do we wish to instill in children?"
  • PRESENTATION 1: Preeti Varma (India)
  • PRESENTATION 2: Takashi Fujioka (Japan)
  • PRESENTATION 3: Satomi Yokozawa (Japan)

DAY 3 / February 20
Workshop 2: "Practicing Non-Violence"

  • PRESENTATION 4: Donna Morris (Israel)
  • PRESENTATION 5: Francis Xavier/Diamond Joseph (Pakistan)
  • PRESENTATION 6: Mary Grace Dino (Philippines)

Workshop 3: "Nurturing a Responsible Global Citizen"

  • PRESENTATION 7: Robyn Fields (Australia)
  • PRESENTATION 8: Rowena Escarda (Philippines)
  • PRESENTATION 9: Aki Watatani (Japan)
  • PRESENTATION 10: Masayo Shibamoto (Japan)

Open Forum

  • Introduction of Goi Peace Foundation peace education programs by Hiroo Saionji, President, The Goi Peace Foundation
  • Keynote speech by Masami Saionji, Chairperson, The Goi Peace Foundation
    "Education that Makes Children Shine"
  • Dialogue with Teachers from Asia

DAY 4 / February 21

  • Visit to Hachioji High School (UNESCO’s ASP-Net School)
  • Meeting with the organizers to plan follow-up activities

DAY 5 / February 22

  • Observation Tour in Kyoto
  • Visit to Earth Kids Space Takarazuka in Hyogo

DAY 6 / February 23

  • Lecture by Mr. Masayoshi Ogawa, Executive Director, Learning and Ecological Activities Foundation for Children (LEAF)
    "Building Communities through Environmental Learning: A Case of Environmental Learning City, Nishinomiya"
  • Shukugawa Watching: Walking tour to observe an environmental learning program along the Shukugawa River
  • Visit to the Sake Museum
  • Luncheon with Social Educators in Nishinomiya, Hyogo

DAY 7 / February 24

  • Visit to the Earth Kids Space Setagaya in Tokyo
  • Wrap-up Session