The Partnership
The Muhammad Ali Center along with the United Nations Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict have partnered to create The Schools for Global Peace program. Through this unique initiative, students learn about the lives of children living in places of armed conflict, explore the issues, and work toward establishing a worldwide network with other young people who share similar hopes for the future. The Schools for Global Peace program includes additional partnerships with the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children, For Our Children’s Sake, Save the Children, Committee on Teaching About the United Nations, Cyber School Bus (U.N.), and the Jane Goodall Institute.
The Program
The program uses biographical reading material to convey the hardships of conflict and the messages of peacebuilding. Students read books that address the obstacles a child must face when living in an area of armed conflict. The accompanying curriculum provides teachers with the tools to implement writing and role-playing activities associated with the themes of peace, understanding, tolerance and love. These learning exercises encourage children to empathize with the global community, to express their thoughts and opinions, and to take action to help their peers exposed to armed conflict. Upon completion of the program, the participating schools are named Global Peace Schools and each student is designated a Global Peacebuilder by the United Nations Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. For more information about the program, click here.
About the United Nations
As set forth in its Charter, the United Nations purpose is to maintain international peace and security; to develop friendly relations among nations; to cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these ends.