Educating Toward a Culture of Peace Through an Innovative Teaching Method

AbstractA peace-oriented culture aims to teach its citizens conflict resolution through dialogue, mediation, and acknowledgment of others as having equal rights, responsibilities, laws, and freedoms, so that they and their community can assure the peaceful development and well-being of new generations. A peace-oriented culture is built on values, attitudes, and behaviors that respect life and other human beings across all social contexts. Finding personal peace provides the strength to defend and uphold human rights, the freedom of choice, the ability to listen and appreciate others, and the willingness to share. This chapter describes an innovative model of cooperation and peer education that involved more than 70 students in a high school in Florence, Italy, during the 2016–2017 school year. The program was established through a local partnership coordinated by the Department of Education and Psychology of the University of Florence, in collaboration with the Florence UNESCO Center, and followed the Peace Education Program of Prem Rawat Foundation. The teaching method was characterized by the students' active participation and teaching of non-violent communication. The program's sustainability is reflected in its continuity over time and uptake in new schools and universities