Earlier Programs

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Winter, Spring & Summer 2015

In February to March 2015, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted dozens of high school students from schools across the country including including Potomac High School (VA), School for Ethics and Global Leadership (DC), Carrboro High School (NC), Poolesville High School (MD), Glasgow Middle School (VA), North County High School (MD), and the Eagle School (WI). Students learned about peace and conflict, human rights, and peacebuilding and were briefed on the work of the PeaceTech Lab.
In April 2015, high school and middle school students visited the Global Peacebuilding Center through the International Montessori Academy Summit. Students hailed from the U.S. as well as Peru, the Philippines, and Spain.
In May 2015, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted a reception for the winners of the National History Day USIP Special Award. Those in attendance included USIP staff and the winners' families. The winners spoke about their winning entries, and President Nancy Lindborg presided over the awards ceremony.
In June 2015, high school students from the State Department's Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exhange and Study (YES) program visited the U.S. Institute of Peace for a workshop. Students were from the following countries: Yemen, Pakistan, Israel and Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Suriname, Senegal, Mali, and Cameroon.
In July 2015, 20 students from the Cyprus Friendship Program, which aims to engage Cypriot young people of Greek and Turkish origin in building bridges and reconciliation, join the Global Peacebuilding Center for a workshop on peacebuilding.
High school students from the George Washington University Pre-College Program and the American University Community of Scholars program participated in workshops with the Global Peacebuilding Center in July 2015.
In August 2015, undergraduates from the One World Youth Project visited the Institute for an introduction to its work. OWYP partners with universities in 5 countries (Guyana, Turkey, Pakistan, Kosovo, and the US) to train groups of their students to go into local middle-schools and facilitate lessons on topics such as culture, identity, communication, and peacebuilding.

Fall & Winter 2014

The Global Peacebuilding Center hosted 45 Springbrook High School students from an IB history class. The students were introduced to USIP, learned about the role and history of the Institute, and participated in an experiential workshop about community and police dialogues.
On October 28, a Model UN class in the Wilson International Studies Program at Wilson High School visited the Global Peacebuilding Center for the first time. These 36 high school juniors participated in a workshop on active listening, where they learned to cultivate listening skills and use them to constructively resolve conflict.
On October 1, the Global Peacebuilding Center trained four high school students from Washington-Lee High School to facilitate various activities and lessons from the Peacebuilding Toolkit for Educators. These students then led workshops for groups of middle school students in their community. Through building their knowledge and skills of conflict management and peacebuilding, these young peacebuilders are now empowering other youth with the skills to use conflict constructively.
30 middle school students from various countries—including Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, and the United States—participating in the Children’s International Summer Village visited the Global Peacebuilding Center on July 18. These students live together for two weeks at the CISV DC summer camp, where they participate in activities that teach them about conflict resolution and the importance of diversity. At the GPC, this group participated in a workshop where they learned about the definitions of peace and conflict and were challenged to refine their understandings about these concepts.
On April 7, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted 25 8th grade students for a workshop on reconciliation. The students learned about competing priniciples in reconciliation processes and some historical cases of reconciliation in post-conflict settings.
Undergraduate students visited the Global Peacebuilding Center for a briefing on religion and peacemaking on March 24. The students were involved in their school's Center on Faith & Public Life, and learned about the role of religion in conflict and peace.
On March 14, high school students enrolled in a Global Issues class visited the Global Peacebuilding Center. The class was completing a Conflict unit, and learned how conflict can be used to spark conflict or build peace.
20 students from an all-girls school who are part of a Model UN club and particpated in the Global Classrooms MUN Conference visited the Global Peacebuilding Center to participate in a negotiations workshop. The students learned how to employ negotiation skills to build consensus and peace.
In late February, 16 middle school students from Escuela Americana in El Salvador visited the Global Peacebuilding Center to learn about the many ways to be a peacebuilder. The teachers received Spanish-language versions of the Peacebuilding Toolkit for Educators to help introduce conflict management and peacebuilding skills into classrooms in their school.
On February 21, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted a group of middle school students from Florida to help the students define peace and conflict. The students also learned how they can introduce peacebuilding skills into their community.
In late January, 24 sixth grade students involved in Model United Nations at their school participated in a Model UN negotiations workshop at USIP. The students learned how to use negotiation skills to advance resolutions within a UN context.
The Global Peacebuilding Center hosted 51 undergraduate students from around the country for a briefing on technology, social media and peacebuilding on January 29. The students learned about USIP's work using social media and technology to build peace from a member of USIP's PeaceTech team.

Fall & Winter 2013

In December, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted high school students from Virginia who are building peace through their involvement in their school's Humanitarian Club. The students participated in a workshop that challenged them to define and refine their understanding of conflict and peace.
On November 22, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted students from American University’s Global Scholars Program. The scholars, who have an interest in international relations, learned about peacebuilding in practice and received a briefing on USIP’s work in the Middle East.
On November 20, a group of high school students from Champlain Valley Union High School in Vermont who are enrolled in an International Baccalaureate history program visited for a workshop. They learned about peacebuilding in the U.S. government and about USIP’s current peacebuilding projects.
On November 19, graduate students in business and international affairs at the George Washington University (GWU) hailing from Argentina, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Mexico and South Africa visited the Global Peacebuilding Center to discuss the work of USIP and collaboration across the U.S. government for peacebuilding work.
On November 16, a representative from the Global Peacebuilding Center gave the keynote address on “Peacebuilding & Diplomacy for Model UN” at a high school Model UN conference in Virginia. For more on our work with Model UN students and teachers, see our online resource {LINK}
On November 15, we hosted high school students from Bosnia & Herzegovina as part of a youth leaders program to learn about the many perspectives and definitions of peace and conflict.
On October 30, the Global Peacebuilding Center held a briefing on Libya for community college students enrolled in a Peace and Stability Operations course at Northern Virginia Community College. The class, which included exchange students from Sweden and Norway, was briefed by USIP experts who work on the ground in Libya.

Summer 2013

On July 18, high school students from Cyprus visited USIP for a Global Peacebuilding Center program on the key concepts of conflict and peace during their George Washington University International Summer Program.
For the second summer in a row, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted several educational programs for high school students participating in the National Student Leadership Conference, a pre-college summer program held in Washington, DC. While at USIP, the students received briefings from USIP staff on key aspects of USIP’s work and explored concepts of leadership in peacebuilding.
Over the summer of 2013, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted a number of middle and high school student groups from the educational travel program People to People Ambassador Programs. While in DC, the students visited USIP to learn more about how they can manage conflict and build peace in their own communities and globally.
On July 2, student interns from several local organizations attended a Global Peacebuilding Center program on the role of youth in peacebuilding, drawing connections between their summer work and their own agency as peacebuilders.
On June 14, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted young leaders from South Africa for a briefing on approaches to international peacebuilding. These undergraduate and graduate students were in DC as part of the South Africa-Washington International Program, a program that supports and develops young South African leaders.
On June 3, students from a public high school in Philadelphia with ties to the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia visited USIP to learn more about international conflict management and peacebuilding. The Global Peacebuilding Center has worked closely with World Affairs Councils around the country, providing teacher training and student programming.

Spring 2013

This spring, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted a number of programs for almost 300 middle and high school students visiting Washington, DC, with the educational travel program Close Up. While at the Institute, the students received an introduction to conflict management and peacebuilding.
On May 21, USIP staff visited a local high school and ran a program for social studies students on key peacebuilding themes. This program was part of a larger school assembly on international peace, during which students participated in song and dance and explored ways to build understanding between different cultures and people.
On April 30, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted a workshop on conflict and peace for middle school students from a Montessori school in Maryland. This workshop complemented what the students were learning during their class’ Peace Education learning cycle.
On April 3, the Global Peacebuilding Center held a workshop for a high school IB class in cultural and social anthropology from Virginia. While at USIP, these students explored the challenges and importance of multiple perspectives in peacebuilding.
On March 13, students from an all-girls high school in Maryland visited the Global Peacebuilding Center. While here, they learned more about the role of gender in conflict and peacebuilding, hearing from USIP experts and participating in peacebuilding activities.
In March, the Global Peacebuilding Center worked with local students participating in the United Nations Association-National Capitol Area Model UN conference to help the students develop their negotiation skills. Read more about the connection between Model UN and peacebuilding.
On February 22, eighth grade students from Florida visited the Global Peacebuilding Center during their school’s annual class trip to Washington, DC, and learned more about the key concepts and skills of peacebuilding.
The Global Peacebuilding Center welcomed a student group from American University’s International Communications master’s program on February 9, and another group from American University’s Pre-College Program on July 19. Both groups received briefings on specific USIP programs and themes.
On February 7, Brazilian high school basketball players traveling with the U.S. Department of State’s Sport Diplomacy program participated in a program at the Global Peacebuilding Center on key peacebuilding concepts.
On February 4, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted high school students visiting the U.S. from China with the educational travel program WorldStrides China. The students explored perspectives on conflict and peace in their workshop at USIP.
On January 15, students from a peace club at a local elementary school visited USIP for a program on the many ways they can build peace. USIP staff then visited the students at their school to learn more about how they are incorporating the themes of conflict management and peacebuilding into their peace club.

Fall & Winter 2012

In November and December 2012, the Global Peacebuilding Center at USIP welcomed several groups of students from Washington, DC-area high schools for onsite programs focused on peacebuilding themes.
On November 16, the Foundation for International Understanding through Students (a State Department exchange program) brought a group of high school students and teachers from Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Global Peacebuilding Center at USIP for a workshop on peace and conflict.
On October 16, Director of the Global Peacebuilding Center Ann-Louise Colgan gave a workshop to nearly 40 Montessori students from Ohio. The middle school students, who were interested in “learning about peace,” learned about conflict management and the United States Institute of Peace’s work abroad, and considered their own potential as peacebuilders.
In September, the Global Peacebuilding Center welcomed high school students and teachers from Azerbaijan for a workshop on Defining Peace & Conflict. The workshop was part of the students’ orientation before spending a year in a U.S. high school. The students learned about concepts of conflict management and peacebuilding, and brought these concepts to life through the Global Peacebuilding Center’s multimedia exhibits.

July 2012

On July 5 and 19, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted nearly 250 students from the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) International Diplomacy Program. USIP staff visited students at NSLC’s American University site on August 6. During the programs students engaged in peacebuilding activities and learned about USIP’s conflict management work. In addition, NSLC students heard from USIP’s President Richard H. Solomon on July 23 at American University. Dr. Solomon talked about USIP and his career in international diplomacy.
On July 19, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted 150 students from the UNESCO Center for Peace for a workshop on defining peace and conflict. The students participated in a two-week Model UN program and were from 11 countries - including Guinea, Brazil, Senegal, Tunisia, and the United States. This is the second year the UNESCO Center for Peace has visited USIP.
On July 16, the Director of the Global Peacebuilding Center at USIP, Ann-Louise Colgan, traveled to Massachusetts to facilitate a workshop for more than 70 young people from around the world who are part of this summer’s “Project Common Bond” program. Project Common Bond is an initiative of Tuesday’s Children, and brings together young people who share in common the loss of a close family member to an act of terrorism.
On July 11, David Smith of USIP’s Global Peacebuilding Center conducted a web chat on the Center and its resources for educators with educators around the world enrolled in an introduction to peace education course conducted by Teachers Without Borders and sponsored by the National Peace Academy. This conversation happened online, with participating educators from Canada, Colombia, Pakistan and the United States.
The Seeds of Peace organization gathers young people from conflict zones in the Middle East, South Asia, Cyprus and the Balkans for a three-week camp in Maine that encourages dialogue and understanding and aims to help build the next generation of leaders who can contribute to resolving some of the most challenging international conflicts. On July 9, 43 second-year “Seeds” in their mid-to-late teens visited USIP for a briefing on the Institute's work and to experience some of the content of the Institute’s Global Peacebuilding Center. Representing the United States, Israel, Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, the teens are returning to the Seeds of Peace camp in Maine as Peer Supports (counselors) after first attending the camp two summers ago.

June 2012

Over the course of June, we hosted a series of groups of middle and high school students from across the U.S. visiting Washington as part of People to People Ambassador Programs. With the middle school students, we discussed defining peace and conflict. The high schoolers attended briefings here on “Conflict Management Challenges in Today’s World.”
On June 26, 49 educators from across the country participating in the American Red Cross’ 2012 Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) Institute in Washington, DC attended a workshop hosted by the Global Peacebuilding Center at USIP titled “Bringing Peacebuilding Into the Classroom.” USIP has had a long relationship with the American Red Cross, having provided initial grant support for the development of the EHL Program more than two decades ago. Over the years, USIP has worked closely with the American Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross to advance international humanitarian law in the context of our peacebuilding work.
On June 20, the Global Peacebuilding Center at USIP held a workshop for this year’s National Peace Essay Contest individual state winners. The program explored the many ways to be a peacebuilder and was part of a week of activities for the students that culminated in an Awards Ceremony for the overall winners.
Also in June, we welcomed students from Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. The program explored what it means to be a peacebuilder. Noor Kirdar, from USIP’s Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding, talked about USIP’s online courses. Katherine Rowell, the faculty organizer and sociology professor at Sinclair Community College, attended USIP’s seminar for community colleges in 2006 and has been using USIP’s online courses with her students ever since. To date, approximately 500 Sinclair students have completed one or more of the Academy’s online courses.

May 2012

In late May, we hosted two groups of students visiting Washington from across the United States through the Virginia-based Close Up Foundation. The first group learned through interactive activities and our exhibits that there are many ways to be a peacebuilder. The second group discussed definitions of peace and conflict.

Alexis Toriello stands in front of a screen with the buildingpeace.org website displayed as she speaks to Ocean County College students seated in a classroom.

USIP’s Alexis Toriello (far left) talks to students of Ocean County College on May 17, 2012 about the work of USIP’s Center of Innovation: Media, Conflict and Peacebuilding, including Salam Shabab.

In mid-May, we hosted students and faculty for the 11th consecutive year from Ocean County College in Toms River, New Jersey. Since 2002, the college has organized an annual student trip to Washington, DC that focuses on the work of international conflict management and peacebuilding. This year’s visit to USIP took place over two days - May 17 and 18. The first day centered on briefings from USIP experts Alexis Toriello talked about the work of the Media, Conflict, and Peacebuilding Center, and Kathleen Kuehnast briefed the group on the Gender and Peacebuilding Center. The second day focused on a peacebuilding workshop using the Global Peacebuilding Center’s multimedia exhibits: the Witnesses to Peacebuilding and the Peace Well.
On May 9, 22 students who participate in Model UN at Godwin Middle School in Woodbridge, VA came to USIP’s Global Peacebuilding Center for an introduction to USIP’s work.
In April and May, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted several groups of students from an education program hosted by the Asper Foundation of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that brought Canadian students to Washington, DC to learn more about human rights and international issues. The groups were hosted at USIP by Jacki Wilson and David Smith.

April 2012

In April, we hosted a group of international students from China, Germany, Lebanon, Singapore, South Africa, and South Korea from the Global Ambassadors Program at Dominion High School in Sterling, Virginia.
Also in April, student peer mediators from Northwood High School in Silver Spring, Maryland visited USIP for a program that focused on conflict management. (See photo below).

Northwood High School peer mediators with USIP's David Smith at USIP.

Peer mediators from Northwood High School in Silver Spring, Maryland visited USIP for a pilot program with David Smith (left) in April 2012.

In March and April, the Global Peacebuilding Center hosted a series of groups of middle school students from across the U.S. affiliated with the People to People Ambassadors Programs.

March 2012

In early March, we welcomed international students participating in the AFS student exchange programs, who came here to explore the range of ways in which young people can be peacebuilders. David Smith and Megan Chabalowski hosted the students. (See photo below.)

AFS Intercultural Programs Group Visits USIP

Students from the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange, Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), and Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study programs – sponsored by the State Department and administered by AFS – visited USIP in April 2012.

In March, the California-based group Kids for Peace brought over 100 young people and adults to USIP where they recited their peace pledge to USIP President Dr. Richard Solomon and presented their Heart Tree Banner that they had created before coming to Washington, DC.
Also in March, 130 high school seniors from Boston Latin School visited USIP for a briefing co-sponsored by the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights. The group was welcomed by Tara Sonenshine and learned more about USIP’s work from Global Peacebuilding Center Director Ann-Louise Colgan.
Earlier that week, we hosted a group of high school seniors from Georgetown Day School for a workshop on peace and conflict.
The same month, students from Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland visited us for a briefing given on Nigeria by USIP specialist Jacki Wilson, who has spent considerable time engaged in peacebuilding work in that country, as well as other parts of the African continent.

February 2012

In February, in collaboration with the NEA Foundation, we hosted 55 public school teachers from more than 35 U.S. states for a program titled “Bringing Peacebuilding into the Classroom.” USIP's Alison Milofsky introduced the teachers to the newly released Peacebuilding Toolkit for Educators, and to some peacebuilding activities and concepts that they can share with their students. (See photo below.)

Four teachers gather around the Witnesses to Peacebuilding stations to watch video interviews with Betty Bigombe and other peacebuilders.

Teachers participating in the NEAF program watch Betty Bigombe's video in the "Witnesses to Peacebuilding" exhibit of the Global Peacebuilding Center.

Also in February, we hosted 25 graduate students from the University of Southern California’s Public Diplomacy program. The meeting included a briefing from Tara Sonenshine, USIP’s Executive Vice President and recently nominated by President Obama as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, and the students also had the opportunity to preview the multimedia exhibits of the Global Peacebuilding Center.
The same month, 20 peer mediators from Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring, Maryland visited us for a pilot program on negotiations hosted by David Smith of USIP. (See photo below.)

Students from Eastern Middle School in Maryland raise their hands to answer a question posed by USIP's David Smith (center).

Peer mediators from Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring, Maryland raise their hands to answer a question posed by USIP's David Smith (standing). USIP's Global Peacebuilder Center engages the next generation of Peacebuilders.

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