SFP Presents Community of Peace Initiative to the United Nations
Service For Peace in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) participated in the 62nd annual conference of the United Nations Department of Public Infromation (UN DPI) in Mexico City, which was held from September 9th to the 11th, 2009. The theme of this year's conference was "Disarm Now, for Peace and Development," in which SFP was given the opportunity to showcase the Communities of Peace™ initiative as a breakout workshop session.
Service For Peace was represented by four youth leaders in the LAC region: Marcia Lorena Miranda, Nicaragua National Coordinator; Joan Alberto Mateo, Dominican Republic National Director/ Executive Director; Juan Pablo Barrera, Guatemala National Director; and Harold Alexander Silva, LAC Regional Director. The conference included prominent speakers and representatives such as Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General; Kiyo Akasaka, Under Secretary-General for Communication and Public Information; Tadatoshi Akiba, Mayor of Hiroshima and pioneer of the Mayors for Peace initiative; and many others.
The SFP representatives were invited to a private evening reception by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in which only a few organizations were selected to network and learn from each other. They also attended a youth informational meeting on the Global Youth Conference 2010 to be held in Mexico City.
The SFP-LAC Directors presented the Communities of Peace™ model, which was one of the few presentations chosen through a highly selective process. The interactive presentation engaged the audience as the youth leaders enthusiastically showcased the Communities of Peace™, its successful models in their countries, and of course their personal stories. At the conclusion of the presentation, participants gave positive reflections, acknowledging the youth leaders for their transformational roles in the region.
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A Community of Peace Established in Yamasá, the Dominican Republic
Service For Peace is proud to announce the completion of two classrooms at the Cristina Elena Elementary School in Yamasá, the Dominican Republic.
As part of a Global PeaceMakers program, held from August 11th to August 23rd, volunteers from the Dominican Republic, New York, Miami, Seattle, Taiwan, Turkey, Japan, and beyond came together to convert the community of Yamasá into a true Community of Peace. As a result of our program, junior and senior community members are now excited about doing service, eager to give help and share with one another. You can see some photos from the camp here and some testimonials from the participants here.
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International Volunteers Transform the Community of Crimea, Ukraine into a Community of Peace
From August 11th to August 24th, 2009, Service For Peace in Ukraine held a Global PeaceMakers Camp in Crimea, Ukraine, sponsored by the European Youth Foundation and the William J. Clinton Foundation.
The goals of this summer service program were to initiate a dialogue among the 34 young participants from 9 different nations, mostly from Eastern Europe, as well as to pass on to them some basic knowledge on conducting community needs assessment, planning and managing youth projects, social entrepreneurship, and other useful skills for organizing volunteer projects in their local communities.
Thanks to all the volunteers' devoted efforts a real change took place in the community of Crimea: a park was cleaned, a children's playground was renovated and the local children took part in handcraft workshops and in English lessons, given by the volunteers.
"My favorite part of the program was when we all were working together to paint the playground. Тhen I could feel the power of local people's deep gratitude for our efforts." (Janet, 24)
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International Symposium on Justice: A Special Report by SFP Board Member Dr. Michael J. Lenaghan
Special to my friend Shaikh Mulana Shafayat Mohamed and extended family in the Darul Uloom Institute
From July 19 - 21 2009, I was a symposium presenter at the Risale-I Nur Institute located in Cagayan de Oro City, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, The Philippines. My delight at being among Islamic scholars from 12 countries and being entrusted to share information, insights and inspiration relating the priorities and practices of service learning as implemented by Service For Peace as such relates to the inspired writings and teachings of the Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, a scholar and commentator on the Qu-ran from Turkey was both spiritual and professional. Within the greater issues of "contemporary perceptions of larger truths explained by Said Nursi within Sharia Law" and delineation of how the sacred Qu-ran and the Prophet Muhammad explains why bad things happen to good people, my modest role was to demonstrate the spiritual and practical implications of cultivating and nurturing an ethic of lifelong, selfless service through formal education and training as a spiritual, personal, professional and civic as a compelling mandate intertwined with Said Nursi's teachings pertinent to the Qu'ran and a vibrant human community based upon an exemplary life. To read the whole article, please click here.
To read another article by Dr. Lenaghan on Mindanao Peace Initiative: Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, please follow this link.
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A Prize in International Development Goes to an SFP Staff Member for Her Outstanding Performance
By Gareth Davies
When Janna Gullery returned to college following the conclusion of the GPM in the Dominican Republic, she received a very nice surprise and a check for $500!
For those who may not know Janna, she is the Senior Program Coordinator for SFP in Latin America & the Caribbean. Janna first came to SFP in 2005 when, as a high school student, she participated in the first GPM program in the Dominican Republic. Not only did Janna continue to be involved in SFP but she also decided to develop a career in the field of international development. She therefore enrolled as a student in Clark University, a private school that has an excellent international development program.
Last week, one of Janna's professors informed her that she has won the Theodore Von Laue Endowed Undergraduate Prize in International Development.
"Established in 2002 by Mrs. Theodore (Angela) Von Laue, this fund provides an undergraduate prize for a junior majoring in international development who has demonstrated accomplishment and commitment to Professor Von Laue's values of the search for peace, equitable distribution of resources, human well being and environmental justice."
Janna is a GREAT ambassador for Service For Peace and a truly worthy recipient of this honor!
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Louisville Volunteers Join President Obama in National Day of Service!
"On a once-vacant lot in west Louisville, tillers and trimmers buzzed early Friday morning as volunteers worked to create a community garden in remembrance of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"A lot of people died, but this shows we're thinking about life and the future," said Rudy Davidson, head of the Shawnee Neighborhood Association, which partnered with Service For Peace, a volunteer group, on the project.
It was just one of many such projects held across the country during the first National Day of Service and Remembrance. President Barack Obama signed the "Serve America Act" in April to commemorate the victims of 9-11.
Lisa Jumper, a member of Service For Peace who was helping Friday, said the project fit perfecting into a day meant to commemorate victims of the 9-11 attacks.She said the group planned to send a picture montage of the event to Obama.
"It's Louisville's own way of saying that we remember," she said."
To read the whole article, please follow this link.
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Upcoming Projects: Build a Community of Peace for Christmas in Brazil
The Global PeaceMakers project in Brazil will bring together young people from the United States, Brazil and other countries in the region to build a library in a primary school in Jardim Planalto, a poor community outside the capital city of Brasilia. The community currently does not have access to a library, and many children have illiterate parents. By creating a positive and resourceful learning environment for schoolchildren, this program will ensure a more positive future for the children, the families, and the entire community of Jardim Planalto. The program will include several visits to cultural and historical sites in and outside of Brasilia in order for volunteers to explore Brazilian culture. Participants will participate in community events and festivals, and really become a part of the Jardim Planalto community. The program also includes an interactive educational component that will give participants the opportunity to practice their leadership skills, and process their experiences through personal and group reflection. For more information, and to apply, please go to our global program calendar.
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UN Volunteers Set Theme for International Volunteer Day 2009
United Nations Volunteers has announced the theme "Volunteering for Our Planet" for the upcoming International Volunteer Day - December 5, 2009. In her announcement, Flavia Pansieri, Executive Coordinator of UNV, says: "On 5 December...UNV will celebrate International Volunteer Day (IVD), which falls 48 hours before the start of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
Pansieri stated, "To celebrate IVD and to remind us of our common commitment to the environment, the theme of the Day will be: 'Volunteering for Our Planet'. "I would hereby like to encourage each of us to do our part in combating climate change: to show that action is needed but tangible results are possible; and to demonstrate to the conference participants in Copenhagen that we can all make a difference together."
For more information, go to http://www.unv.org/en/current-highlight/volunteering-for-our-planet.html and in the right column look for the download of the Volunteering for Our Planet Fact Sheet.
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