Convivencia y Paz:Peace Games in Colombia

James Noonan Silvia Diazgranados Steven Brion-Meisels

Context: Violence in Colombia

Colombia – and its people – have faced more than four decades of war. In this climate, a vaster and more pernicious culture of violence has emerged.

In 2003, Humans Rights Watch estimated that there were more than 11,000 child soldiers active in the guerrillas and paramilitaries.

In 2006, UNICEF reported more than 35,000 children were victims of violence at home (and 70% of cases are not reported).

In 2006, Colombia reported its lowest total number of violent deaths in two decades with 17,206. However, this still ranked among the highest rates in Latin America.

A National Strategy through Education

Citizenship Competencies convivencia y paz participación y responsabilidad democrática pluralidad, identidad, y valoración de las diferencias

humanas

National Program for Citizenship Competencies regional forums to collect best practices National Forum in 2004 to gather national and international

expertise National Test for Citizenship Competencies (all 5th and 9th

graders; every other year)

Peace Games Comes to Colombia

In 2002, Silvia Diazgranados – an student at the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá – came to Boston to complete an internship. She knew that she wanted to study peace education and found Peace Games.

In 2003, she returned to Bogotá and began working with Enrique Chaux – a professor at Los Andes who was also leading the National Program for Citizenship Competencies. With Enrique, Silvia developed a literacy-based peace education project for schools in Bogotá.

Peace Games Comes to Colombia

Invited by Enrique Chaux, Steven and Silvia both present at the 2004 Forum.

Officials from Norte de Santander negotiate to bring Peace Games to their region for a pilot project through the Project for Rural Education.

Silvia negotiates an arrangement with Magisterio, the Ministry of Education, and Peace Games to adapt, translate, and distribute the Peace Games curriculum.

Peace Games Comes to Colombia

Translated and adapted by Silvia and her mother – with illustrations provided by a family friend – Magisterio publishes eight volumes in the Colección Juegos de Paz at the end of 2005.

Peace Games Comes to Colombia

Soy especial

Tengo sentimientos

Somos amigos

Comunicación y cooperación

Explorando el conflicto

A favor de la justicia

Género, cultura e identidad

Cambio personal y social

Resolución de conflictos y

construcción de paz

Since the publication of Colección Juegos de Paz, Magisterio has sold more than 6,000 copies of the books across Latin America.

Pilot Project: January-June 2006

Funded by the World Bank through the Project for Rural Education – and led by Silvia and a team from the Universidad de Los Andes:

2 trainings for 45 teachers and administrators Representing 5 “centros educativos” (two traditional

and three “escuelas nuevas”) for a total of 21 school sites

Reaching 1,200 students

Peace Labs: July 2007-December 2008

Funded by the European Union and led by the Juegos de Paz Team, in collaboration with Cananpronort (the regional teachers collaborative)

3 trainings for 90 teachers and administrators Representing 6 traditional schools (including one

from the Pilot) Featuring regular on-site coaching from local

university students Reaching 1,700 students

Teacher Training

The TrainingTeam for thePilot Project

Teacher Training

Teaching Cooperative Games

Teacher Training

A Session on Democratic Discipline

Teacher Training

Model Lessons and Practice Teaching

Teacher Training

Cross-Site Collaboration andTeam-Building

Teacher Training

Graduation Day

Project Implementation

AnEscuelaNueva

Site

Project Implementation

Schoolwide Celebrations(no matter how remote)

Project Implementation

Activities for Multi-Age Classrooms

Project Implementation

Activities for Multiple Learning Styles

Project Implementation

Project Implementation

Regular On-Site Coachingand Collaboration

Project Implementaion

Action Plans for Project Growthat School and Regional Level

Project Implementation

• Pre- and Post- Student Surveys• Student Focus Groups• Teacher Focus Groups

Project Outcomes (So Far)

Significant increase in students’ “peacemaking” behaviors and significant decrease in “peacebreaking” behaviors

Peace Games model and tools determined to be valid and appropriate for a rural Colombian context

Meaningful shift in teachers’ pedagogical practice (as observed and self-reported)

What Teachers Say About Juegos de Paz

“It changed the way I look at my students”

“Peace Games has encouraged meto create new ways to look at conflict.”

“I never realized that sometimes when[my students] wanted to express an opinion – what I used to see

as a lack of discipline – is actually an indicator oftheir enormous potential as leaders.”

Opportunities Ahead

The potential for growth for Juegos de Paz in Colombia is significant - with a far reach and deep impact. Past and potential partners include:

European Union National Ministry of Education Inter-American Development Bank Davivienda Bank Magisterio municipal and regional Departments of Education

Questions, comments, clarifications?