With the current coverage of violence and negative events in the media, we sometimes forget to focus on the good in life and on the ways we can promote kindness and nonviolence. With the introduction of Project Peace in local schools, kids and tweens K-12 are introduced to skills to help them lead a more peaceful life.
Promoting peace to stop bullying
Project Peace, which was created by Sister Paulette Schroeder of the St. Francis Community, strives to educate children and tweens about peace and teach them nonviolence skills. While this applies to many aspects of their lives, the skills tweens learn can really help confront and stop bullying.
“I teach from 7-10 nonviolence skills to 6th and 7th graders to help them feel the innate power they have within themselves to stand with confidence and respond appropriately when they encounter a bully or see someone being bullied,” said Sister Paulette in a St. Francis Community news release.
A variety of skills in a variety of classes
Classes for Project Peace teach a variety of skills, but most aim to teach tweens about the importance of nonviolence and peace, especially in trying situations. Skills learned during the classes can help tweens deal with violent situations, should they encounter one. Sister Paulette helps enforce these skills with games like group work, quizzes and tests. These skills can help tweens both academically and socially.
Most classes for Project Peace are being held in Tiffin with 490 students, but the project is expanding to offer programs to around 500 additional students in rural schools. These programs and classes are brought to students with the help of charities and foundations: the classes in Tiffin are supported by the White Family Charitable Fund of the Tiffin Community Foundation and the classes in rural areas of Ohio are supported by the Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation of Texas.