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Gifts for Peace Information


	2007 will mark 100 years of Scouting - 100 years of enormous achievements and making a difference to the lives of millions of young people and their communities. We have a lot to celebrate, but most importantly we must look to the future and see how we can best use this unique opportunity to improve Scouting for the next generations. The Centenary belongs to every Scout - everyone should have the opportunity to be involved in the 2007 projects and activities. The programmes and activities developed for the Centenary can be used as tools to implement the Strategy for Scouting and to further the development of Scouting in every country. They can also be used to show the world the tremendous role that Scouting plays in the fields of non-formal education, specifically peace education, where Scouts are already making a difference and creating a better world for the young people of tomorrow. Peace - a key theme for our Centenary The subject of peace - specifically peace education - has always been a fundamental part of Scouting. Scouting continues to work towards the creation of a more peaceful world achieved through a culture of peace, and not simply the absence of war. Our 100th anniversary is an excellent time to celebrate the work which has been done by Scouting in the cause of peace and to publicly demonstrate our commitment, as a united Movement, to creating a more peaceful world and linking with others having similar aims. The Gifts for Peace project has been developed to accomplish this, to give National Associations a framework to develop new or existing projects in areas which are of key importance to young people and to the local community. The Gifts for Peace projects are therefore national projects - which could be composed of many parts - involving all Scouts, from all age groups for at least one year (September 2005 onwards). As we want to be able to see the results of these projects in our Centenary year, in 2007, the Gifts for Peace projects should be implemented in 2006. What better way to celebrate our 100th anniversary than by giving the gifts of understanding, tolerance, respect and a culture of peace to our communities? Working areas: As the topic ‘peace’ is an incredibly large area, specific working areas have been identified that are relevant to young people and that would truly constitute a valuable contribution to world peace. These areas are: 1. Managing conflict without violence. Peace and conflict resolution, including problem solving, negotiation and mediation skills, anger management. 2. Challenging prejudice. Identifying and challenging prejudices and stereotypes, for example: racism, religious intolerance, bullying and gender. 3. Encouraging greater solidarity. Solidarity with underprivileged groups, for example: refugees, internally displaced people, asylum seekers, street children and ethnic minority groups. The Gifts for Peace should meet the following criteria: • The Gifts for Peace should meet real needs and make a difference to the community. Scout organizations should carefully identify these needs. • They should respond to needs that are important to young people, and while scale is not important, they should address issues that affect young people directly rather than indirectly. • The Gifts for Peace should reach out to people with whom Scouting has not traditionally worked. Scouts should try to ‘bridge the gap’ into a community. • Gifts for Peace may take many forms and may build on previous projects. "Try to leave this world a little better than you found it and, when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best" Baden-Powell