The second pillar of NDC Mostar’s education work is Peace Education. The Peace Education program is implemented in communities that are ethnically diverse but with one predominant ethnic group and minorities. It offers new and innovative teaching methods related to reconciliation and dialogue. Implemented since 2014, the program has received positive feedback from pupils, teachers and parents and relies on:
- Quality pedagogical content
Peace Education offers quality pedagogical content while enabling pupils to strengthen their intercultural skills and develop stronger social bonds. Participating schools introduce weekly classes tackling the importance of non-violent communication and acceptance of all ethnic groups. The program combats stereotypes, discrimination and prejudices while emphasising human rights principles, dialogue principles and respecting differences. The program seeks to build critical thinking skills and develop a sense of individual responsibility around acceptance of others. As such, it is directly in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Target 4.7 Education for sustainable development and global citizenship).
- Tailored training of teachers (ToT)
Our Peace Education programme is led by local teachers, to whom we provide continuous mentoring. Each teacher first attends a specialised 30-hour training led by our team of experienced educators and mediators. We remain engaged throughout, including by supporting teachers when they run into difficulties and enabling peer learning among teachers (see more information in the teachers and students’ corner section). Our trainings and teaching materials are carefully elaborated and practically tested. To ensure that our activities can be replicated, our team is developing handbooks that will be published in 2021.
11 Local Communities
involved so far in the Peace Education
28 Partner Schools
implement Peace Education activities
55 + Teachers
trained and implement PE Activities
850 + Students
attend PE classes annually