EXPANDING PEACE EDUCATION THROUGH THE ”CULTURE OF GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD” COURSE IN MOLDOVA SCHOOLS – 2020

Donor: Nonviolence International, USA (Link), in cooperation with international network – GPPAC (Link)
Implementation period: May – December, 2020

Goals and priorities

One of the key priorities of the GPPAC network in Eastern Europe is to develop long-term strategies aimed at minimizing the conflict potential in societies and preventing conflicts from escalating. This includes the continued development and widening the application of peace education programs involving Moldova (including the region of Transnistria) and Ukraine that were launched by GPPAC members over the last 6 years. The activities will build on one of the most important practical achievements of the regional network so far – its ability to get educators and relevant officials from the Ministry of Education from Moldova and from the self-proclaimed Transnistrian region for the first time to work in cooperation on the development of an educational course for the local school systems.

These planned activities are a direct continuation of work that was carried out by the network over 6 years, work that already brought 2 important results: the development and integration into many dozens of schools in Moldova of a special peace education course and first successful civil bridge-building project between Moldova proper and the region of Transnistria in the field of school education. These bridges between educators on the two banks of the Dniester already became a foundation for a number of other initiatives, supported by various international organizations.

The goals set for this type of network activities in 2020 include:

Enhancing the capacity of the Moldovan educational system to carry out professional educational activities aimed to teach intercultural tolerance and culture of peace at the elementary school level by providing knowledge and skills for innovative teaching methods with diverse content and cultural heritage;
Widening the application of the “Culture of good neighbourhood” educational course in elementary schools of Moldova, with focus on 100% integration of it in the school system of one of the country’s districts;
Continuing /extending the process of implementation/teaching of the educational subject of intercultural education “Culture of good neighborhood” in the Anenii Noi district, one of the biggest districts of the country, situated on the bank on Nistry river, neighboring with Transnistria region and with a significant number of schools for minorities (Ukrainian, Russian and Roma).

Planned activities include:

1.1. Advocacy at various official events and public forums, concerning teachers and parents, providing clear guidance on steps that may be taken to start applying the “Culture of good neighbourhood” course in a typical school program, including in on-line form at least 5 activities (2 meetings face to face and 3 on-line) in different region of the country);

1.2. 2 one day seminars for new teachers, future implementers of the CGN course in Anenii Noi (40 teachers) (August, November). Depending of the situation one or two seminars could be organized on-line;

1.3. 2 one day seminars with teachers from Gymnasium level on the concept of extension the CGN elements implementation in Anenii Noi rayon (20 teachers). 1 seminar can be organized on-line;

2.1. Publishing a workbook for schools (1-4 grades);

2.2. Piloting of the didactic materials with children that have been previously involved in the developed peace education course using the format of “class hours” and other educational courses (5-9 grades). On-line monitoring;

2.3. Developing a concept and recording video lessons for on-line teaching of the Culture of Good Neighborhood subject in primary schools (at least 8 lessons, per 2 for each grade);

3.1. Promoting project activities by publishing 2 papers in Didactica Pro… magazine and on the PRO DIDACTICA web site;

3.2. Conference on the promotion of the results of the project for managers and teachers, and for NGO members from both sides on the Dniester river (in either online or off-line format).

Expected impact of relevant activities:

Intercultural and peace education in the region will be improved and teachers will be trained based on interactive teaching methods with focus on solving the educational conflicts, which emerged in their schools because of ethnical, religious, social diversity. The new educational approaches of the educational and community contexts will enrich/extend the teacher’s skills for working with pupils and their families, based on the specific need of the multicultural context.

Both the implementation of the project with the parties involved and the created peace education school course will increase the levels of mutual trust. Pupils will better understand and know how to handle differences between the divided communities effectively and constructively. By enabling cultural sensitivity, intercultural communication and positive values early on, the risks of discord and conflict in the future will be reduced. The introduction of an adapted “The Culture of Good Neighborhood” course in Moldova and other areas will build up the capacity in local schools and contribute to equal treatment of various minorities. Thanks to civil society organizations, a responsible and democratic society that promotes human rights by respecting the different cultures will be promoted.

Coordinator: Viorica Goraş-Postică