Schools’ Peace Week 2016 Launches!

Schools’ Peace Week 2016 launched today, Monday 8th August, kicking off a week of peace celebrations and activities in schools both nationally and globally - one hundred and forty-four schools are participating.

Across New Zealand, from Bluff to Paihia, and as far away as the USA, China, Jordan, New Caledonia and Pakistan, schools, students and teachers are celebrating Schools’ Peace Week. The theme is “Dialogues for Peace”, and the aim is to build bridges and connections with others. This event will involve thousands of students across Auckland with fifty seven schools taking part; schools such as West Lake Girls High School, St Cuthbert’s College, Baradene College, King’s College, Auckland Girls Grammar School, Mount Roskill Grammar, Edgewater College, Papatoetoe High School and Manurewa High School.

Schools’ Peace Week first began in 2000 as The Peace Foundation’s contribution to the United Nations decade of the child. Each school participates uniquely, carrying out peace activities in their own school or community. Activities this year range from peace concerts, peace banner painting, penpal networks between countries, dialoguing with students in other countries, peace debates and discussions, the list goes on.

Lucy Stewart, Youth Programmes Coordinator at The Peace Foundation says, "The goal of Schools' Peace Week is to promote peace education and foster peaceful schools, students and communities. Our event provides a platform for students and teachers to explore peace issues and initiatives, and is a positive opportunity for them to get involved in creating a peaceful atmosphere around them."

Schools’ Peace Week Ambassador, Dean Shippey, of ‘Find Her Smile’, says, "It is an absolute privilege to be invited to be an ambassador for this year's School Peace Week. As an organisation that targets youth, we know as well as anybody that this is in fact where the power lies. The youth are the future of this world. Therefore, educating and encouraging them to be advocates for peace and justice while still at a young age will ensure that they grow up to be world changers."

About Schools’ Peace Week
The Peace Foundation New Zealand (based in Auckland), started Schools' Peace Week in 2000, as our contribution to the United Nations Decade of the Child, to educate people of the consequences of nuclear war and to campaign for a world of nuclear weapons. The date of Schools’ Peace Week commemorates Hiroshima Day on 6 August, and Nagasaki Day on 9 August. The event has become increasingly popular in New Zealand and abroad each year and students are engaged in various activities, which promote peaceful practices in our schools and communities. By making small changes we are able to empower people to create a safe world based on justice and human rights as well as to build a sustainable environment and peaceful relationships. This year Schools' Peace Week is being held from Monday 8th August to Friday 12th August (Week 2, Term 3, 2016 NZ). The theme for 2016 is “Dialogues for Peace”.
For more information log on to: www.peace.net.nz

The Peace Foundation has launched its crowdfunding initiative to fund the expansion of our flagship Peer Mediation Programmes for primary, secondary and kura kaupapa Maori schools.

www.givealittle.co.nz/project/peacefoundation

Please WATCH this fantastic clip about our Peer Mediation program:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxJFBn3INHI

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