PEACE GAMES imagines a world where every child has the skills, knowledge, supportive relationships, and opportunities to prevent violence and build safer communities. A world where individuals and institutions believe in the power of young people and that violence – in all of its forms – can be prevented. Peace Games believes that this goal is best achieved by building the capacity of schools and community groups to implement holistic, peace and justice education programs.

Our Mission
Peace Games empowers students to create their own safe classrooms and communities by forming partnerships with elementary schools, families, and young adult volunteers.

Our Goals

• To empower children with the skills, knowledge, relationships and opportunities to be peacemakers.
• To engage all community members (students, families, teachers, volunteers, organizations and businesses) to support children as peacemakers.
• To inspire a new generation of educators and activists.
• To change how society thinks about violence and young people.

OUR CORE FOUNDATIONS

In order for young people to be effective peacemakers, they need to be supported in developing a solid foundation in four areas: knowledge, skills, relationships and opportunities. All Peace Games Partnership Outcomes are built on these foundations.

Knowledge Peacemaking requires that we understand, appreciate and value others and ourselves. All Peace Games partners need to understand that young people are problem-solvers, not problems; that they have the capacity to promote peace and create positive change in themselves, their school and their communities. Finally, Peace Games knowledge outcomes are clearly connected to state academic frameworks, especially in the areas of language arts, literacy, social studies, health and fine arts.

Skills Peacemaking requires more than knowledge; peacemakers know how to communicate, cooperate and resolve conflicts without using violence. The Peace Games program, including the classroom curriculum, is intended to introduce, expand and strengthen core peacemaking skills.

Relationships Peacemaking requires allies and networks of supports. Violence is a learned behavior that unchecked, can lead to greater acts of violence. Student and adult peacemakers need positive, supportive relationships if they are to actually use the knowledge and skills promoted in the Peace Games program. Therefore, our school-wide efforts seek to promote positive, peaceful relationships. We build inter-personal relationships within the school as well as broader relations to the community through community service and social action.

Opportunities Finally, Peacemaking requires that students be able to demonstrate their skills, knowledge and relationships through resolving conflicts without violence. The Peace Games curriculum accomplishes this through Peacemaker Projects. These community service projects give students the opportunity to mentor each other, take on civic responsibility, and better their schools and communities.