(left to right) Opening panelists for the CCI Forum: Jose Altamirano, Director of IDPPS, Lilian Samaniego, Paraguay Senator, Alfredo Jaegli, President of the Paraguay National Congress, Luis Scaso, OEI representative, and Hermelinda Alvarenga, vice-minister of Higher Education.

Dr. Moon has emphasized character education as a crucial part of educating the whole child. The following is a report on the work of Global Peace Foundation and its partners to implement character education in Paraguay.

Since 2008, Paraguay’s Ministry of Education and Culture, in partnership with Global Peace Foundation has placed added emphasis on character competency education.  With the belief and understanding that is commonly held by organizations including the YMCA and the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, that academic competencies are not enough to equip students with the tools necessary for a successful future, additional  curriculum has been introduced. This includes areas that focus on character and leadership skills such as communication, mediation and service.

In early June of this year, Phase I of the Character and Creativity Initiative (CCI) program was successfully completed. During this initial phase over seven hundred teachers were trained and educated in the CCI curriculum.

On June 17th, following the conclusion of Phase I, newly trained educators, students, teachers and administrators, convened for a forum on “”Character Formation of Paraguayan Youth”” at the National Congress of Paraguay, a sponsor of the forum. Global Peace Foundation, Ministry of Education and Culture, the Office of Congresswoman Lilian Samaniego, Together for Education and the Organization of Inter4American States (OEI) at the Congress of Paraguay were additional sponsors.

What was meant to be a modest gathering of educators, students and legislators, turned into a full house.  500 plus individuals, from all 17 states of Paraguay, gathered to share their experience and input on how their schools have been changed through the character education curriculum.  They also voiced their hope for continued implementation of the curriculum. This unexpected turnout forced organizers to “bring hundreds more chairs” to accommodate those who found themselves “standing at the rear and on the steps of congress.”

The forum was opened by the President of the Congress, followed by the unveiling of Phase II of CCI by GPF’s CCI Director, Juan Carlos Tominaga. Phase II will focus on nurturing creativity and building a transformative school culture. Ministry of Education officers, principals and teachers expressed their enthusiasm for the next phase of CCI.

As can be seen with the enthusiastic turnout at the CCI Forum in Paraguay, the curriculum is showing the importance of educating the whole child, both their minds and hearts to secure the success of future generations.

– To view the original article visit: www.globalpeace.org.

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Global Peace Foundation reported the success of the Character and Creativity Initiative in Nairobi Secondary Schools.

Dr. Manu Chandaria (center) with some of the school’s best-performing students.

In recognition of the successful implementation of GPF’s Character and Creativity Initiative at Maina Wanjigi Secondary School in Nairobi, the school welcomed GPF senior advisor and Kenyan corporate leader Dr. Manu Chandaria as the chief guest at a ceremony on June 26, 2013.

Addressing students, teachers, administrators, and dignitaries at the ceremony, Dr. Chandaria praised the Character Competency Initiative, which emphasizes qualities such as respect, personal integrity, and determination as part of the curricula, and said that plans are underway to engage the Ministry of Education to expand the initiative from 40 secondary schools to 400 secondary schools nationwide.

 “Without knowledge and character, we will not have bright future as a nation,” Dr. Chandaria told the assembled guests. He had previously opened the event by formally inaugurating the school’s new administration block, which was built through the support of a Constituency Development Fund.

Other invited dignitaries included Hon. Yusuf Hassan, a Member of Parliament representing Kamukunji, and Hon. Maina Wanjigi, a former Member of Parliament and patron and namesake of the school.

Hon. Wanjigi brought students and parents to attention when pointing out, “Luck is the extension of ability,” and “ability is the first child of discipline and determination.” He commended the good work that school is undertaking in guiding the students. And he thanked parents for entrusting their children to the school.

Hon. Hassan urged students to resist the appeal of drugs and criminal activity. He advised parents to be vigilant in monitoring their children and also pledged additional support in modernizing the school’s infrastructure.

Hon. Yusuf Hassan, a Member of Parliament, encouraged parents to stay involved with their children.

The school was established in 1989 as a mixed day school to address the urgent needs of the surrounding community through basic education and literacy classes, and special programs to combat crime and drug abuse. In a testimony to the school’s impact since the school’s founding, a majority of graduates have continued their education at local and international universities.

 This article originally appears on www.globalpeace.org.

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The following announcement was made on the  Global Peace Foundation website.

 03-Jun-2013 |

Global Summit on Character and Creativity

The Global Peace Foundation will be hosting its 5th annual Global Peace Convention December 5-8, 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in partnership with Malaysia’s Department of National Integration and Unity and the University of Malaya.

An all day Global Summit on Character and Creativity will take place prior to the convention on December 5, 2013 at the University of Malaya.

The Summit will be a networking opportunity that engages global educators to nurture character and creativity in their schools and effectively prepare students for success in life, work and their community.

International delegates include Ministries of Education, Leaders of Educational Associations, School Principals, Superintendents, Lead Teachers, Sponsors and other Stakeholders.

The Summit will also enable educators and experts from diverse backgrounds to share best practices. In-depth and interactive discussions will occur on the needs and approaches that empower global educators to effectively promote, develop and implement wholesome school cultures that nurture character and creativity.

This in turn improves academic performance, teacher satisfaction, and student motivation and decreases discipline issues and an array of social problems.

Countries (Partial List): Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, India, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Paraguay, Brazil, Ireland, USA.

For information on joining, sponsoring and partnering, contact:

Tony Devine Ed.D.
Executive Director, LeadIn; VP, Global Peace Foundation
tdevine@leadin.org +1 203-521-8648 www.LeadIn.org

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