"Peace For Kids" - A Canadian Peacewalk for Peace Education
 
The purpose of the peacewalk is to catch and hold Canada's attention to the importance of getting peace education integrated into Canadian curricula before the end of the Decade.
 

From Calgary, on April 22, 2002, Calgarian Charlene Sashuk will be embarking on a 5 month peacewalk across Canada ending in New York City, Ground Zero, on September 11, 2002 (the one year anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre).  "I have had the idea to do a peacewalk across Canada, to campaign for peace education in all schools ... a walk from Calgary to New York City to initiate children to come up with 'peace projects' of their own, sharing these ideas and projects through the internet.  Money raised will go to these projects and peace education generally in Canada."  Linking with Ground Zero, New York City, draws upon dramatic proof of the need for peace education at home and abroad, and an important role Canada can play in bringing peace to the world.   [See Charlene's Peacewalk Intinerary below.]

"Simply, I want peace education to be taught in schools, programs, workshops, access to speakers, children creating peaceful environments or solutions of their own. From my own work in schools as part of the artist in residence program I have seen the need, and see the amazing results I have received through gentle, creative work." 

Vision: to bring peace to the world  [note - this has a double meaning - to "bring peace" as in bringing information, awareness and knowledge to the world; which will eventually result in "bringing peace" to our communities and world by reducing the human costs of violence with the positive application of this knowledge]
 
How: through peace education for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World  [note - the United Nations has declared the decade 2000 to 2010 as the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World; UNESCO is sponsoring a number of peace education initiatives demonstrating the importance of peace education to build world peace;  the Hague Appeal for Peace Global Campaign for Peace Education has two goals: First, to build public awareness and political support for the introduction of peace education into all spheres of education, including non-formal education, in all schools throughout the world. Second, to promote the education of all teachers to teach for peace.]
 
What is peace (or the goals of peace): reduced human costs of violence  [note - put in a positive way, increased human well-being]
 
What is peace education: In her book, Comprehensive Peace Education (1988), Betty Reardon states that the general purpose of peace education is "to promote the development of an authentic planetary consciousness that will enable us to function as global citizens and to transform the present human condition by changing the social structures and the patterns of thought that have created it".  This statement emphasizes the role of peace education in transforming the thinking and the values of students around social interdependence and social justice, in a manner that moves them to become agents for the constructive transformation of the larger society.  We see cooperation, conflict and constructive non-violent approaches to the resolution of conflict as processes that are central to the broader mission of peace education.  [Note - Peace education is a participatory process which changes our way of thinking and promotes learning for peace and justice.  A lot has been written on peace education and we will continue to distil this on our web site at http://www.peace.ca/educationpartnerships.htm ]
 
What are we trying to accomplish: We believe that the most important single world issue is peace education, at home and abroad.  Canada has previously made a commitment at the United Nations to incorporate peace education into Canadian curricula.  It has not happened.  "My prescription to deal with the disease of violence is inoculating all of the children of the world with peace education, starting right here in Canada. As the Preamble to UNESCO's mandate states: "Since wars (and violence) begin in the minds of men, it is the minds of men (women and children) that the defences of peace must be constructed." The Hague Appeal for Peace has launched a campaign to train teachers and to influence ministries of education to consider adding peace to the core curriculum. Everywhere in the world children who go to school... learn the basic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic. The 3 R's. We propose a 4th R, reconciliation, which will help children confront their biases, redirect their aggressive behaviour, learn to negotiate, and discover non violent peaceful means to relate to one another. They will study root causes of violent conflict and figure out ways to cure them."  (excerpt from R. Stewart acceptance speech for Calgary YMCA Peace Award)  We suggest putting peace education on the Canadian agenda, with the goal of getting it integrated into Canadian curricula before the end of this Decade.
 
Why a peacewalk: to catch and hold Canada's attention to the importance of getting peace education integrated into Canadian curricula before the end of this Decade.  Canadian interest should build over the 5 month period of the walk, culminating in a presentation of petitions and letters to the Prime Minister and Government of Canada received from all over the country.  At the same time, we expect to build financial and people support for peace education initiatives, culminating in a significant permanent fund for peace education and a pool of volunteers available to deliver peace education programs across Canada and internationally.  It is our intention for the peacewalk to be accompanied by a mobile peace education resource centre.
 
Keywords: for everyone (inclusive; all ages); community based; empowering; building capacity, people, relationships, hope, leadership, experience, knowledge, empathy, antibias, understanding, communications, dialogue, consciousness.

Charlene has a significant background in film, television, stage and training, among other things [Click here to view Charlene's resume]

Help Wanted:

To help in the preparation for the Peacewalk, we are looking for volunteers who can assist in providing any of the following (contributions will be suitably recognized):

All contributions and donations will be suitably recognized.

Donations:

In addition to raising awareness, a major goal of the Peacewalk is to raise funding for peace education in Canada.  Your contributions are greatly appreciated.  Cheques can be made payable to "Children For Peacewalk 2002" and mail to Suite 703, 104-26ave SW, Calgary AB, T2S0L9.  We have charitable status with Revenue Canada and a Tax-deductible receipt will be issued upon request.  Donations can also be given directly to Charlene when she visits your community, or through Quest Theatre at 1-888-801-2508 or their web site at http://www.questtheatre.org (click on the Peacewalk button) .

Tracking Charlene's Progress and Contacting her 'On The Road':

Quest has set up a 1-888-801-2508 number and a web site at http://www.questtheatre.org (click on the Peacewalk button). This will let people know where Charlene is, any updates, etc. (which will also be featured here on our web site). You can always reach Charlene via her personal email (below) or through Quest's Calgary number 264-8578 (Meaghan Whitney, organizer).  

Official Sponsors:

Official sponsors include the Royal Bank, Quest Theatre, Canadian Centres for Teaching Peace, Robert Stewart Management Consultants and Marda Loop copy.

 

For more information, please contact:

Charlene Sashuk email charlene@calcna.ab.ca  , or

Bob Stewart, Canadian Centres for Teaching Peace
Box 70
Okotoks, AB T1S 1A4
email stewartr [at] peace.ca
telephone 1-800-574-7126
fax 1-800-399-3832

Peace Walk Itinerary


Leaving Calgary on the 22nd of April via Toronto Ottawa and Montreal to New
York estimated arrival on Sunday September the 1st proposed average distance
traveled on a six day week is 270k. There will be a five day rest/
engagement period in Toronto and a two day rest/engagement period in both
Ottawa and Montreal


Leave Calgary Mon 22nd April" Earth Day" to Medicine Hat             distance 286k           arrive Mon 29th April

Leave Medicine Hat Tues 30th April to Moose Jaw                             distance 402k           arrive Fri 10th  May

Leave Moose Jaw    Sat  11th May to Regina                                        distance 75k              arrive Mon 13th May

Leave Regina           Tues 14th May to Brandon                                    distance 371k            arrive  Thurs 23rd May

Leave Brandon         Fri     24th May to Winnipeg                                 distance 197k            arrive Tues 28th May

Leave Winnipeg       Wed  29th May to Thunder Bay                          distance 701k            arrive   Sat 15th June

Leave Thunder Bay Mon 17th June to Saulte St Marie                        distance 708k            arrive   Thurs 4th July

Leave Saulte St Marie Fri 5th  July to Sudbury                                      distance294k             arrive Fri 12th July

Leave Sudbury  Sat 13th July to Toronto                                               distance390k             arrive Tues 22nd July

Five day rest period leave Toronto Mon to Peterborough                  distance 125k            arrive Wed 31st July

Leave Peterborough Thurs 1st Aug to Ottawa                                     distance 278k            arrive Wed 7th Aug

Two day rest period leave Sat10th Aug to Montreal                            distance  205k           arrive Thurs 15th Aug

Two day rest period Leave Mon 19th Aug to New York                     distance 520k            get there 1st Sept