the-peace-advocate-project

North Durham Academy latest school to achieve the Blue Flag

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 10:45:37 GMT

North Durham Academy were the last school to receive Face to Face training prior to Covid Lockdown.

The Peace Advocate Project congratulates the pupils of North Durham Academy for their resilience and tenacity to become Advanced Peace Advocates and the 8th School in the world to achieve the International Peace School Blue Flag. This achievement deserves the highest praise for overcoming all the hurdles that the pandemic created for our young people during all stages of education and the determination of school staff enthused and encouraged by John Brierley of Consett Rotary Club and Anna Rayson of North Durham Academy. The Peace Advocate training restarted in September 2021 with John and Anna overseeing the

skills-based learning and embedding the school based Worry Box (practical) and SOS Box (online) projects. In November 2022 the Peace Advocates started their preparation to gather the next school cohort and facilitate their training to reach the International Blue Flag Award. As the 10 Peace Advocates reached the completion of their facilitation they were awarded their Advanced Peace Advocate certificated status as shown in the photograph. The school was also presented with certification alongside the Blue Flag.

The Peace Advocate Project Charity gives thanks to the foresight of Rotary International North East of England Leaders who encouraged and promoted the work in schools. Also especially to Consett Rotary Club and School staff who gave their time and financial support to create a sustainable impact. An added bonus that has emanated from North Durham Academy has been their desire to spread the impact of Peace Advocacy to other schools across their communities. One such school is Teesdale School and Sixth Form who have completed their initial training for Peace Advocates and we look forward to a collaboration between these schools..

Amazing Award Presented to Peace Team Leader

keithgrahambest@gmail.com (Keith Best) — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 11:45:51 GMT

Rotarian Nigel Anderson and Wellingborough Rotary Club receive Peace Prize for work with School

Wellingborough Rotary Club have been awarded the prestigious Rotary International Past President Bill Huntley Foundation Award. It is an annual trophy for a club or individual that does the most to promote Peace.

Rotarian Nigel Anderson, Peace Advocacy Lead, who has consistently facilitated the Peace Advocacy Programme at Sir Christopher Hatton Academy prior to the Covid Pandemic and enabled them to achieve the Blue Flag status in 2023 has been recognised for his contributions to peace. The Rotary Club who have provided continued support to Nigel thoroughly deserve the recognition.

Nigel told the club that he is looking forward to continuing the achievement that the project has had on the lives of those Advanced Peace Advocates in the school and those who will follow in their footsteps. He is determined to involve pupils studying at other schools both (Primary and Secondary) to widen the local Peace Hub.

Alastair Mitchell and Nick Salisbury, co-principals of Sir Christopher Hatton Academy, said: “We are committed to creating an atmosphere of mutual respect. This project has, and continues to empower our students to be responsible and respectful citizens within and beyond our academy community, and we have been thrilled to see the positive impact of this project on academy life.” Nigel is an accredited facilitator of the Registered Scottish Charity Peace Advocate Project Ltd. SC049839

Fantastic Achievement and Feedback from St James College,Brisbane

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 15:17:17 GMT

Ann Rebgetz, St James College Principal travels to Europe and meets Peace Advocate Project Directors in Edinburgh to share her project success and celebrate the positive changes that have come about in student leadership. This was an inspirational meeting of minds and a memorable occasion for each of us.

Thank you Ann for bringing taking our vision and creating the future leaders who can make a difference to the world.

Above Photo - Online supported training can make such a difference as the photo above testifies - linking Dumfries and Galloway with Brisbane

Dear Jean and Keith,

It is lovely to meet you in person. The Peace Advocacy program has had a marked effect on our students. Currently, the first group have now become our school leaders, bringing with them a developed skill set. The current group used their newfound collaborative conversation skills to develop their mission statement.

“Our mission is to guide St James College to be a place that fosters peace, where all are encouraged to be themselves free of judgement.”

Our group in Brisbane send their regards, -Tom, Isikeli and Catherine.

Thank you for making the time to see me, and for the work you do, which has such an impact.

Warm wishes

Ann

Sir Christopher Hatton Academy Press Release

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:11:22 GMT

Students at Sir Christopher Hatton Academy are celebrating after being awarded the prestigious Blue Flag Peace School Award.

The Peace Advocate Project is a charity set up by Scottish Rotarians Jean and Keith Best. The project enables young people to become peace advocates in schools and community groups. The aims of the project are to recognise and acknowledge the innate expertise of young people, enable them to resolve conflict, embrace success and empower them to become leaders of the 21st century.

The project started at Sir Christopher Hatton Academy in 2018 where we trained a group of over 40 students from Years 8 – 12, delivered by Jean and Keith Best and supported by The Rotary Club of Wellingborough.

From then, the project continued on from strength to strength. The training focused on engaging young people on driving forward positivity amongst their peers, which is a perfect fit with our wider objective to promote and encourage kindness and respect to all.

Alastair Mitchell and Nick Salisbury, Co-Principals of Sir Christopher Hatton Academy, said: “We are committed to creating an atmosphere of mutual respect. This project has, and continues to empower our students to be responsible and respectful citizens within and beyond our academy community, and we have been thrilled to see the positive impact of this project on academy life”

Nigel Anderson from The Rotary Club of Wellingborough, said: “The commitment of Sir Christopher Hatton Academy has been tremendous. A project 5 years in the making takes a concerted effort from teachers and students to make sure that the project reached its full potential, finally receiving its Blue Flag. Wellingborough Rotary Club are committed to achieving the next step which is to engage with other Wellingborough Schools to form a community hub to support your people through challenging times”

Following the receipt of this award, The Rotary Club of Wellingborough have invited our Academy to become a Peace Hub for the Wellingborough Area. The students who have been trained through the programme will assist in training other schools in the local area. T.White , Sir Christopher Hatton Academy

Final steps to become Advanced Peace Advocates January 2023

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 10:56:53 GMT

Moving on towards the Blue Flag

Students at North Durham Academy who achieved the 3 key skills of Peace and Conflict Resolution, applied their knowledge to completing their school-based project. The 10 Peace Advocates are eager to step up to becoming Advanced Peace Advocates to achieve the International Peace Schools Blue Flag status for their school.

Starting at 8.45am for an hour on four school days during January they attended online preparation sessions that would enable and empower them to train the school’s next cohort of over 20 volunteers to become Peace Advocates. The training was facilitated by Jean and Keith Best online with project leader Rotarian John Brierley, Consett Rotary Club and school staff project leader Anna Rayson. Rotarian Susan Mellor also of Consett RC attended online.

The Advanced Peace Advocates will lead a total of eight hours training for the new cohort planning a relevant programme where each section will be led in pairs.

The training covered how to open up discussions about the problems young people face in today’s world and how to make informed choices starting with leadership skills, moving onto role play scenarios, practising the major skills of collaborative conversations, planning future projects before launching into the background to conflict in themselves, schools and communities.

Financially supported by Consett Rotary Club North Durham Academy APA’s will lead their school expertly into the 21s Century. The Peace Advocate Project is looking forward to awarding the Blue Peace Flag during this academic year.

Possible New start for A.B. International School, Ghana 2023 Announced

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 11:30:01 GMT

Possible New start for A.B. International School, Ghana 2023 Announced

Dr. Nana Agyeman Abbeam Danso founder of the A.B. International School and Obiri Institute of Technology located in Kasoa, Accra Ghana has invited the Peace Advocate Project to enable the school to achieve the International Blue Peace Schools Flag Award.

He was inspired to take this step by Elizabeth Amoaa, author and President of the Great Britain Rotary Global Hub. Possible start dates during January 2023. This could be 4 online training sessions each of 2 hours duration.

PEACE ADVOCATE PROJECT LTD CHARITY Extract from TRUSTEE' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 11:26:44 GMT

PEACE ADVOCATE PROJECT LTD CHARITY

Extract from TRUSTEE' REPORT

Achievements and performance

The forecast for the Covid dependant plans for the financial year 2021/22 expressed at the Trustee meeting (April 2021) has proved to be accurate and build a stronger foundation for sustainability. Notable achievements have been made by empowering young people to become Peace Advocates at a school in

Brisbane, Australia over an extended period through Zoom. Similarly delivering 8 hours training to 2 schools in Northumberland linked to two in Kenya simultaneously. The process captured the very essence of connecting classrooms thousands of miles apart engaged in developing the skills of peace and conflict resolution to improve their lives. The financial success of these projects enabled a contract with 123 Reg to develop a more up to date and relevant new website, www.peaceadvocateproject.co.uk to promote and celebrate the achievements being made.

Throughout the year Zoom has continued to be the major platform to deliver the training programmes to schools, community groups and Rotary Clubs where the latter engaged in the all-new programme of 'Self Care (mental health) and Listening Clubs'. The equivalent programme for schools is being piloted by Eyemouth High School supported by the Rotary Club of Eyemouth. Presentations on the Self Care Programme have been delivered to the Peace Advocate Project Network across the UK and Self Care Facilitation manuals have been published, thus adding to the number of resources that the charity offers.

The Blue Flag Award was achieved by Peace Advocates in Dalbeattie High School, Dumfries and Galloway and 3 other schools are nearing completion although Covid management has extended the time to finalise their projects. One of these schools returned to employ face to face training sessions indicating that schools are showing more of a willingness to re-engage in this manner.

Peace Advocacy presentations continued throughout the year 'virtually' at international and national conferences and one special face to face delivery by newly trained Peace Advocates during the International World Unity Week in Australia.

Plans for future periods

The trustees feel that the charity now has a wider range of viable programmes to offer schools, community groups and Rotary clubs in terms of a) Peace Advocacy, b) Self Care curriculum for schools, c) Self Care and Listening Skills for adults as well as young people, d) the international Blue Flag award is increasing in

popularity and is developing an increasing involvement of international partners in Australia, USA, Japan and Europe.

Full Report can be accessed at Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) or via Companies House

First Peace School Flag Awarded in Australia, St. James College Brisbane

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 11:23:59 GMT

Since the initial online training the Peace Advocates have been active during the last 18 months in the school and beyond resulting in the award.

The photograph was taken at the presentation and shows John (school Capt 2023), Principal Ann Rebgetz, Georgi (House Capt 2023), Catherine Bonifant (Rotary Eclub of World Peace), Tom Corkery (English teacher/Peace Advocate project coordinator) The flag was presented by Peace Advocate Manar,(yr 12) to one of the new recruits to build continuity and sustainability into the future. The School Principal Ann Rebgetz and Vice Principal Isikeli Kambumaca were both effusive in their praise of the effect the project has on the students. They commented that two or more of the Peace Advocates had been elected to school captain and other

leadership roles. Principal Ann said “they had, in their speeches, attributed their success to their participation in the PAP course”. It was also highlighted that 2 or 3 other Peace Advocates from the group also had leadership roles this year.

The school is expanding to include years 5 and 6 in the coming academic year to add to the existing secondary classes and it is proposed that the Peace Advocate Project assist with their integration. When speaking with the Peace Advocates Vice Principal Isikeli indicated that he would like to have them instruct the 5- & 6-year groups next year on leadership skills. They responded positively to him and to ideas put forward by a new recruit to the program; a student from Afghanistan

who has arrived here since the Taliban took over and denied education to all girls. Project Coordinator Project Coordinator Tom Corkery said when providing school updates “I’m sure that you will have noticed the strong correlation between students who are part of the program and students who are now in leadership positions…….Fantastic success story”.

PAP Directors Comment: Thank you for living the PAP vision RECOGNISE – ENABLE - EMPOWER.

Congratulations St James College. Looking forward to receiving more updates in 2023.

Promotion across Ireland - September 2019

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 09:23:24 GMT

As a Rotarian, teacher, parent or carer you will be very familiar with the challenges young people have to deal with in everyday life and for some these are difficult to cope with.

The Peace Project is an interactive programme, which is developed with young people to find answers, taking their views and ideas into account. It recognises, enables and empowers young people to make informed decisions, which will affect their lives and the lives of others. Rotary Ireland has had great success with the initiative already through the great work of Mallow Rotary and the Peace Award at last year’s Young Citizen Award ceremony.

We are asking all Rotary Clubs to raise awareness of this programme and identify schools, community and church groups, so we can deliver training to create Peace Advocates in the community. Students will become Peace Advocates and qualify to take their school forward to gain the Blue Flag of Peace for their establishment.

The training takes 8hrs and can be delivered over 2days or online in 2 hour sessions over a number of days. It requires a minimum of 6 students plus a teacher and /or interested adults per school. Rotarians and adults are asked to join in the training so as to support and mentor the school. Costs for this 18 month project is £600 per school. The price includes, training, programmes, logbooks, all power point sessions used, assessment for Blue flag and certification.

Info Sheet November

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 09:19:20 GMT

Information sheet

As a Rotarian, you will be very familiar with the challenges young people have to deal with in everyday life and for some these are difficult to cope with.

The Peace Project is an interactive programme, which is developed with young people to find answers, taking their views and ideas into account. lt recognises, enables and empowers

young people to make informed decisions, which will affect their lives and the lives of others. Rotary lreland has had great success with the initiative already through the great work of Mallow Rotary and the Peace Award at last year's Young Citizen Award ceremony.

The training takes 8hrs and is delivered over 1 ½ to 2 days. lt requires a minimum of 6 students plus a teacher, per school. Rotarians are asked to join in the training so as to support and mentor the school. Cost includes training, Peace Advocate Programmes, Peace Advocate Logbooks, power point presentations, assessment for Blue flag and travel costs for the trainers.

To register interest please email: jeanmbest@gmail.com

The Blue Peace Flag Award for Schools and Community Groups

1. Two day training with:

• Six Hard Copy Programmes

• Six Log Books

• Guidance on skill acquisition practice plans

• Reference presentations of both training days

• Peace Project badges for all participants

• Presenters preparation, delivery and travel expenses

2. Milestones to be reached following training

Complete individual logbooks (required evidence)
Presentation to SMT by Peace Advocates after they have practised and achieved skills. (Presentation of Peace Advocate Certificate to each PA)
Service project planned and achieved
Planned training and delivered to next cohort of Peace Advocates.
Presentation of Advanced Peace Advocate Certificate to PA trainers.
Monitoring and Assessment of progress by trained appointees
Presentation of Blue Flag

3. Costings for new start schools/community group

NB. Accommodation for presenters usually hosted by Rotarian or community group.

Returning Schools who have already received a 2-day training but want to achieve Blue Flag Status please contact Peace Advocate Project directly via email or mobile.

Peace Advocate Project Ltd (Non-profit) SC 592405

keithgrahambest@gmail.com

+44 7882641958

Getting Started

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 14:44:47 GMT

“It is an accepted realisation that our young people are growing up in a fast-changing world. Light years away from the one most of us adults grew up in. They face unique pressures and as adults we should never look back and make comparisons to when we were their age as we were never in their age.” Katharine Hill, A Mind of Their Own

It is also about being honest with our young people, to admit that we are in a new era where covid has changed and influenced everyone’s wellbeing. This pandemic has dealt a blow to our young people’s emotional wellbeing, and in some cases their already fragile self-care.

So:

If you believe in young people being 21st century leaders
If you want to help young people make informed choices to help themselves and others
If you want to learn to facilitate other people’s opinions which may differ from your own
If you want to take the opportunity to get involved with supporting young people in school or community groups or organisations such as Scouts or other voluntary organisations to give our young people a voice with responsibility.

Get started

If you are a Rotarian, use the 'Contact Us' tab contact Jean or Keith to make an awareness presentation to your club
If you are a teacher, community leader, parent use the 'Contact Us' tab to arrange an awareness presentation to your school, community organisation or to other adults.

How to gain the Award of Blue Flag Status

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 14:44:47 GMT

The Blue Peace Flag Status Award for Schools and Community Groups

The award has been created through the Peace Advocate Project Charity (SC049839) to enable schools and groups to sustain a culture of peace and conflict resolution which benefits the school population and their community.

Once a school decides to engage with this award they start with a two day training face to face or a five day of 2 hours per day for an online interactive training.

Resources included within the training package are six hard copy programmes, a log book per student and guidance on skill acquisition practice plans. All reference presentations for each session will be included in the resources along with a peace badge per participant including adults.

There are nine milestones to be reached following the introductory training to achieve the International Blue Flag Award. These are:

Practice the skills employing all scenarios and complete each practice in their log book. (Essential evidence)
Presentation to School Management Team, Senior Leadership Team or community leaders if not a school by the Peace Advocates
Presentation of Peace Advocate Certificate to each student
Notice Boards created to inform their school or community of their work
Service Project planned, implemented and achieved
Planned training and delivered to next cohort of Peace Advocates by current PAs (building sustainability)
Presentation of Advanced Peace Advocate Certificate to each PA trainer
Monitoring and assessment of progress by trainede appointees
Presentation of Blue Flag. (Has a currency of 2 years until next assessment)