The Non-Violence Project
Start: 2010
Case story: The Non-Violence Project Foundation (NVPF) is a non-profit foundation with the mission to inspire, engage and motivate young people to understand how to solve conflicts without resorting to violence.
The Swiss foundation and its educational mission was founded in 1993 by Jan Hellman and Rolf Skjöldebrand to inspire youth through education. Along the line the educational content has been developed and adjusted with good results and practised by teachers, students, coaches and athletes in schools and sports clubs around the world.
Train the trainers – one of the most important steps to fulfill in order to reach out to young students and athletes. Teachers in training by NVP Mexico.
My role grew into an assignment to structure and develop the educational program for a more global audience considering cultural differences and perspectives, referencing to reliable sources as well as re-structuring and redesigning the programs, the brand platform and the digital platform and outreach program.
A fulfilling and interesting teamwork with talented people and the local NVP-managers active on all five continents.
The educational program aims to work well for young people –10-20 year olds. It has shown to tickle senses and create understanding no matter age, gender, cultural or social background. Mahatma Gandhi said: “If we wish to create a lasting peace we must begin with the children.” Here kids in a school in Brazil.
Evidence based programs for young students and athletes
The non-formal educational methodologies were reconsidered and developed into a curriculum focusing on of 3 subjects: Self-esteem, conflict management and non-violence. The curriculum was structured into 3 levels with 10 sessions each, all based on creativity, activity and participation, only spiced up with small doses of written theories and facts for the participants. However, all of it comprehensively backed up by scientific findings and research studies from some of the world’s most experienced minds and institutions within the fields of psychology and education. Check ut more on nonviolence.com
Already 450 B.C the Chinese philosopher Confucius knew the secret to sustainable education. He said: “Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I may remember. Involve me, and I will understand.” These guys from NVP-Uganda.
Teachers' and coaches' understanding of the underlaying reasons for conflicts, low self-esteem and violence is a link to the young minds in their schools and sports clubs. The methodologies are focused on reaching in to them, not only reaching out to them...
The educational program was restructured, rewritten and redesigned, distributed to schools and sports clubs around the world. After years of educational practices we learned that it simply works very well. Millions of students, athletes, teachers and sports coaches on all five continents have received diplomas from these educational experiences.
The Peace Program Introduction is the base for the subjects and all sessions and activities – referencing to educational sources from some of the world's most trustworthy peace, psychology and educational scientists, institutions and theories. The sessions in Schools For Peace are suited for 45-60 minutes, and shorter versions of the same sessions were designed for sports coaches and athletes with less time and facilities available – 15-20 minutes.
A descriptive demo introduction video of the educational programs, preparing for transferring the curriculum into a digital educational platform.
The knotted gun – a symbol for peace and non-violence
The sculpture Non-Violence is also known as “The Knotted Gun”. It was made as a memorial tribute to the Beatles singer and songwriter John Lennon. Created by Swedish friend and artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd upon a request from John's wife Yoko Ono after John Lennon was shot and killed in 1980. The idea behind the sculpture was to create something envisioning a world at peace.
The Non-Violence Sculpture – the knotted gun – outside the entrance to th United Nation's headquarters in New York, USA. Now there are Non-Violence sculptures erected in more than 30 sites around the world. Check out other Cities For Peace.
John Lennon portrayed on a licensed image and poster for a fund raising activity for the foundation by the eyewear manufacturer and store network SmartEyes. Read more about the cooperation Non Violence/SmartEye
Yoko Ono's greeting to everybody in the "peace industry", encouraging them to support the cause of non-violence. Yoko teamed up with John and her friend Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd for the creation of a monument for her John Lennon. Read more about the Non Violence Sculpture.
Comprehensive Ambassador Program
The foundation is supported by a large number of global and national celebrities as well as iconic local heroes – all of them standing up for the ambition and vision: Non-Violence For Peace! Check out their stories and personal and artistic interpretation of our symbol "The Knotted Gun".
From top left: Ringo Star (fd Beatles), Melissa La Bozetta (Artist), Patrizia Gucci (Designer), Espen Fadnes (Wing Suit World Champion), Dona Chaplin (Actress/Activist), Derrick Green (Singer Sepultura), Patricia Magano (Artist) and Håkan Hellström (singer/Musician).
Smiles like these motivated all of us to work hard for the development of the programs and activities. The need for hands-on inspiring life skill education seems to increase around the world. Ideas for new programs were always present, i.e. about bullying, sexual abuse and diversity.
Distinguished awards for best practice
The education programs and NVPs outreach initiatives have won many awards for best practise. The awards include the President Obama's Call To Service Award, Presidential Daily Light Award, received by President Bill Clinton, the Paul Harris Fellow Award given by Rotary International, the American National Safety Council Award for best practise, the Weed & Seed Award given by US Justice Department in 2009 and Best Non-Profit Award by Facebook for the bold ambition to collect One Billion Faces For Peace. More.
The education programs and NVPs outreach initiatives have won many awards for best practise. The awards include the President Obama's Call To Service Award, Presidential Daily Light Award, received by President Bill Clinton, the Paul Harris Fellow Award given by Rotary International, the American National Safety Council Award for best practise, the Weed & Seed Award given by US Justice Department in 2009 and Best Non-Profit Award by Facebook for the bold ambition to collect One Billion Faces For Peace. More about awards on nonviolence.com
Creds:
Founders: Jan Hellman and Rolf Skjöldebrand
Sculpture: Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd
Educational content: Ivana Busljeta, Bjorn Bertoft, Rolf Skjöldebrand and Fanny Davidsson (NVPF) in cooperation with: Rick Frederick, Orange County Public Schools and Jim Wine, The Peace Appeal Foundation.
Educational Program Structure and Design: B Bertoft
Web Site Structure and Design: B Bertoft, Maria Norberg, HIQ/442
Logo: Sandberg & Timonen
Contact: nonviolence.com