Peace child international
Encyclopedia
Peace Child International is a UK based charity focusing on sustainable development
and youth empowerment
.
as a musical
, based on Bernard Benson
's The Peace Book, aimed at resolving conflict between the USA and USSR, and at bringing youth from both countries into contact. The first performance was in October 1981 at the Royal Albert Hall
, with Susannah York
as the narrator. The musical was then taken to the United States, where it was premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in December 1982. The core of the musical was composed by David Gordon and written by David Woollcombe, but it was re-written and customised by the cast wherever it was performed.
Since its debut the musical has been used in conflict resolution efforts in Azerbaijan
and Armenia
, Central America
, Cyprus
, the former Yugoslavia
, India
, Israel
and Northern Ireland
.
After the Earth Summit
in June 1992, Peace Child produced a children's version of Agenda 21
, Rescue Mission: Planet Earth. The book was designed, edited and aimed at young people and went on to be translated into 23 languages. Since this point, Peace Child has focused mainly on sustainable development
issues, and produced a number of further publications on the subject with UN agencies.
, also known as the Rio+20 conference on sustainable development. The project consists of a number of components, including regional youth meetings around the world, the development of a global youth statement on sustainable development and the green economy, a series of educational booklets and a teacher's workbook on sustainable development, and a green business contest.
techniques and peer-to-peer education to reduce bullying and discrimination in UK schools. The programme aims to build confidence, resilience and conflict resolution skills in young people.
The first WYC, held in Hawaii
in 1999, focused on establishing priorities for the new millennium for young people from all regions of the world, with the top worldwide priority being appropriate education.
The second WYC was held in Casablanca
, Morocco
, with the themes of tolerance, solidarity, and the role of young people in sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals
. Delegates to the conference also spent time participating in action projects organised by Moroccan NGOs in all provinces of the country.
The Scottish
WYC, held in Stirling
in August 2005, explored young people's motivations to volunteer and had an overall theme of 'yuong people working for a sustainable world community'. As in the previous Congress, delegates spent three days working on a range of action projects throughout Scotland.
The fourth WYC was held in Quebec City
in August 2008 under the name Regeneration 2008. The Congress celebrated the role of youth in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, youth empowerment, and the 'co-management' model of equal partnership between youth and elders.
in August 2010 with the theme of "Imece
" (a centuries-old solidarity system used in rural Turkey, consisting of mutual aid
and working together for the good of the community), and with three sub themes: Measuring and Evaluating Youth Led Development, the Post-MDGs Development Agenda, and the Climate Change Agenda after Kyoto and COP15.
in May 2012 with a focus on sustainable development
. This Congress will revisit the promises made by governments during the Earth Summit
in 1992 (which was also held in Rio). The Congress is designed to tie-in with the Rio 2012 conference
being held in June.
, Wales
in 2004, Mürzzuschlag
, Austria
in 2007, and Izola
, Slovenia
in 2009.
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
and youth empowerment
Youth empowerment
Youth empowerment is an attitudinal, structural, and cultural process whereby young people gain the ability, authority, and agency to make decisions and implement change in their own lives and the lives of other people, including youth and adults....
.
History of the Organisation
Peace Child International began during the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
as a musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, based on Bernard Benson
Bernard Benson
Bernard Benson is an English author and writer of The Peace Book. He was a fighter pilot during World War II. Later, he worked as an engineer on the Delta wing fighter and missiles. After being inspired by Tibetan lamas, he started writing books for children.-References:...
's The Peace Book, aimed at resolving conflict between the USA and USSR, and at bringing youth from both countries into contact. The first performance was in October 1981 at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, with Susannah York
Susannah York
Susannah York was a British film, stage and television actress. She was awarded a BAFTA as Best Supporting Actress for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe for the same film. She won best actress for Images at the 1972 Cannes Film Festival...
as the narrator. The musical was then taken to the United States, where it was premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in December 1982. The core of the musical was composed by David Gordon and written by David Woollcombe, but it was re-written and customised by the cast wherever it was performed.
Since its debut the musical has been used in conflict resolution efforts in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
and Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, the former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
After the Earth Summit
Earth Summit
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development , also known as the Rio Summit, Rio Conference, Earth Summit was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 June to 14 June 1992.-Overview:...
in June 1992, Peace Child produced a children's version of Agenda 21
Agenda 21
Agenda 21 is an action plan of the United Nations related to sustainable development and was an outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992...
, Rescue Mission: Planet Earth. The book was designed, edited and aimed at young people and went on to be translated into 23 languages. Since this point, Peace Child has focused mainly on sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
issues, and produced a number of further publications on the subject with UN agencies.
Road to Rio+20
This project aims to mobilise youth around the world in the run-up to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable DevelopmentUnited Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
In 2012 the United Nations will convene the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as Rio 2012 or Rio+20, hosted by Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, as a 20-year follow-up to the historic 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development that was held in the same city...
, also known as the Rio+20 conference on sustainable development. The project consists of a number of components, including regional youth meetings around the world, the development of a global youth statement on sustainable development and the green economy, a series of educational booklets and a teacher's workbook on sustainable development, and a green business contest.
Create the Change!
The Create the Change programme uses forum theatreForum theatre
Forum theatre is a type of theatre created by the innovative and influential practitioner Augusto Boal as part of what he calls his "Theatre of the Oppressed." While practicing earlier in his career, Boal would apply 'simultaneous dramaturgy'. In this process the actors or audience members could...
techniques and peer-to-peer education to reduce bullying and discrimination in UK schools. The programme aims to build confidence, resilience and conflict resolution skills in young people.
World Youth Congress Series
Since 1999, Peace Child has organised the approximately bi-annual World Youth Congress (WYC), which aims to promote the role that young people can play in the field of sustainable development and the achievement of the UN's Millennium Development Goals.Hawaii, 1999
The first WYC, held in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
in 1999, focused on establishing priorities for the new millennium for young people from all regions of the world, with the top worldwide priority being appropriate education.
Morocco, 2003
The second WYC was held in Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, with the themes of tolerance, solidarity, and the role of young people in sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
. Delegates to the conference also spent time participating in action projects organised by Moroccan NGOs in all provinces of the country.
Scotland, 2005
The Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
WYC, held in Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
in August 2005, explored young people's motivations to volunteer and had an overall theme of 'yuong people working for a sustainable world community'. As in the previous Congress, delegates spent three days working on a range of action projects throughout Scotland.
Quebéc, 2008
The fourth WYC was held in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in August 2008 under the name Regeneration 2008. The Congress celebrated the role of youth in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, youth empowerment, and the 'co-management' model of equal partnership between youth and elders.
Turkey, 2010
The fifth WYC was held in IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
in August 2010 with the theme of "Imece
Imece
"Imece" is a special name given for a Turkish tradition, which is a village-scale collaboration on an individual’s work or need of human power. For example, if a couple is getting married villagers participate in the overall organization of the ceremony including but not limited to preparation of...
" (a centuries-old solidarity system used in rural Turkey, consisting of mutual aid
Mutual aid
Mutual aid may refer to:*Mutual aid , a tenet of organization theories.*Mutual aid , an agreement between emergency responders.*Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution, a biology book by anarchist Peter Kropotkin...
and working together for the good of the community), and with three sub themes: Measuring and Evaluating Youth Led Development, the Post-MDGs Development Agenda, and the Climate Change Agenda after Kyoto and COP15.
Rio De Janeiro, 2012
The sixth WYC will be held in Rio De JaneiroRio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
in May 2012 with a focus on sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
. This Congress will revisit the promises made by governments during the Earth Summit
Earth Summit
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development , also known as the Rio Summit, Rio Conference, Earth Summit was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 June to 14 June 1992.-Overview:...
in 1992 (which was also held in Rio). The Congress is designed to tie-in with the Rio 2012 conference
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
In 2012 the United Nations will convene the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as Rio 2012 or Rio+20, hosted by Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, as a 20-year follow-up to the historic 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development that was held in the same city...
being held in June.
European Youth Congress Series
Peace Child International also organises the European Youth Congress (EYC), a similar event focused exclusively on European issues. The EYC has currently taken place three times, at St Donat's CastleSt Donat's Castle
St Donat's Castle is a medieval castle in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, overlooking the Bristol Channel in the village of St Donat's near Llantwit Major, and about 25km west of Cardiff...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in 2004, Mürzzuschlag
Mürzzuschlag
Mürzzuschlag is a town in northeastern Styria, Austria, the capital of the Mürzzuschlag District. It is located on the Mürz river near the Semmering Pass, the border with the state of Lower Austria, about southwest of Vienna. The population is 8,745...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in 2007, and Izola
Izola
Izola is an old fishing city and a municipality in southwestern Slovenia on the Adriatic coast of the Istrian peninsula. Its name originates from the Italian Isola, which means island.- History :...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
in 2009.
Peace Child International Publications
- Rescue Mission: Planet Earth - A Children's Edition of Agenda 21 (1994, ISBN 1856971759)
- A World In Our Hands (1995, ISBN 1883672317)
- Pachamama: Our Earth - Our Future (1999, ISBN 0237521199)
- Stand Up, Speak Out: A book about children's rights (2002, ISBN 1854348876)
- Sustainable Human Development: a young people's introduction (2002, ISBN 0237523175)
- Rescue Mission: Planet Earth 2002 (2002)
- Water Rights and Wrongs (2007)
- Every Journey Matters (2007, ISBN 9780955740909)
- Gender Journey: A youth empowerment toolkit (2009, ISBN 9780955740916)
- Energy Revolution: climate change and our post-carbon future (2010, ISBN 9780237539627)
Other Publications
- Findlay, Merrill; Gordon, David; Woollcombe, David; Benson, Bernard S.: Peace Child: A Study Guide for Schools (1988, ISBN 0731609301)
- Peace Child International: Be the Change (2000, ISBN 0896104176)
- Peace Child International: Stand Up for Your Rights (2001, ISBN 1854345737)
- Peace Child International: Stand Up, Speak Out: A Book about Human Rights (2001, ISBN 0613944097)
- UNEP: Is the Future Yours?: UNEP/UNESCO Research Project on Youth and Development (2001, ISBN 9280720112)
- Woollcombe, David: Youth-Led Development (SchumacherE. F. SchumacherErnst Friedrich "Fritz" Schumacher was an internationally influential economic thinker, statistician and economist in Britain, serving as Chief Economic Advisor to the UK National Coal Board for two decades. His ideas became popularized in much of the English-speaking world during the 1970s...
Briefing No. 14) (2007, ISBN 9781903998984)