The implementation of Peace Education projects derives from the recognition, by the AHDR, of the necessity to respond to the educational needs of teachers, students and the society at large in relation to Education for a Culture of Peace as well as to the urgency to highlight the importance of peace and non-violence and increased inter-communal contact for constructing alternative futures for the generations to come. All the above prescribe the implementation of innovative programs and initiatives such as the ones described below. It is an imperative for the AHDR to assist educational stakeholders, mainly students and teachers, in redefining the use of terms such as social justice, compassion, solidarity, peace and conflict and deconstruct the ‘friend-enemy’ logic. After all, as Elise Boulding (2000) put it:
‘There can be no enemies, only strangers with whom a relationship needs to be developed.’
The Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR), the Home for Cooperation (H4C), Cyprus Turkish Teachers’ Trade Union (KTOS) and Proodeftiki Primary and Pre-Primary Teachers’ Movement ran the Inter-communal Children’s Choir (ICC) in school year 2017-2018 believing in the need for peace initiatives by organizations, groups and citizens for the promotion of a Culture of Peace.
The Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR) in collaboration with the science education initiative GalileoMobile successfully ran the “Columba-Hypatia: Astronomy for Peace” intercommunal project in schools and at the Home for Cooperation with the support of the International Astronomical Union's Office of Astronomy for Development, the European Southern Observatory's Education and Public Outreach Department, Meade Instruments and Universe Awareness.
Funded by: European Commission
Project Partner: POST Research Institute (leading partner in the project)
Programme Period: July 2014 – July2017