Many student and educator groups come to the nation’s capital to learn how our government works, how the U.S. relates to other countries, and to explore issues of global importance, including those dealing with war and peace.
The Global Peacebuilding Center at the U.S. Institute of Peace hosts groups of American and international students for a range of educational programs that continue USIP’s longstanding work with young people and with teachers.
These programs integrate two multimedia exhibits that help tell the story of the challenges and importance of peacebuilding, and they draw on the content of our Peacebuilding Toolkit for Educators, which focuses on key skills and concepts in conflict management and peacebuilding. Educational programs also include briefings from USIP’s practitioners in the field. The Global Peacebuilding Center continues to expand USIP’s outreach to younger audiences through these onsite programs as well as the online activities and resources available here at www.buildingpeace.org.
Recent programs and visits have included:
- In December 2015, the U.S. Institute of Peace along with the Global Peacebuilding Center invited third grader Beckx Mason and his mother Lara Johnson to USIP for winning the Washington Post photography contest “My Favorite Building” with a stunning photo of USIP headquarters. During his visit, Beckx met with USIP President Nancy Lindborg and toured the headquarters with members of the Global Peacebuilding Center.
- In December 2015, Director Ann-Louise Colgan traveled to Montgomery, Alabama to host a "Peace, Conflict and Technology" seminar for 60 high school students as part of the Montgomery Bus Boycott 60th Anniversary events. Students learned about the power they had to us social media and technology to build peace and counter violence in their communities and effect change globally.
- In September to December 2015, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted educational programs for students from across the country, including Atlanta International School (GA), Springbrook High School (MD), Warwick High School (VA), Champlain Valley Union High School (VT), Georgetown Day School (DC), Garrison Elementary School (DC), Moses Brown High School (RI), and The Potomac School (VA). Students participated in workshops and briefings where they learned about the themes and skills of international conflict management and peacebuilding.
- From September to November 2015, the Global Peacebuilding Center attended several conferences where educators and students had the opportunity to explore Global Peacebuilding Center resources as well as engage in lively peacebuilding workshops. Some of the conferences included the Fairfax County Public Schools’ Social Studies Conference (VA), the Global Education Forum (PA), Milton Hershey School’s Government Association Leadership Conference (PA), and the annual National Council for the Social Studies Conference.
- In September and December 2015, the Global Peacebuilding Center briefed interns from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the Bureau of International Information Programs on the Global Peacebuilding Center’s public education work and shared with them our multimedia exhibits.
- The Global Peacebuilding Center provided briefings on USIP’s work for several college and university groups in October and November 2015, including a community college professors participating in the National Community College Peacebuilding Seminar, the Kennedy School at Harvard University, and Grinnell College.
On September 21, USIP's South Sudan Youth Fellow Silvio Deng represented the Institute and the Global Peacebuilding Center at Northwood High School's (MD) school-wide International Day of Peace assembly.
View photos of these and other programs for students and educators.
