Teaching Children the Art of Peace

Recognising the importance of addressing a broad spectrum of conflicts that affect our global community—from personal disagreements to larger societal disputes is the first step in understanding CISV’s approach to peace education. Our dedication to global friendships helps us tackle these challenges through educational discussions and constructive engagement, all within a non-political framework that ensures a safe, inclusive environment for all participants. While we steer clear of current political or military conflicts, we lay the foundational skills necessary for instigating conversations on conflicts and resolutions constructively. 

How you can encourage non-violence and conflict resolution 

• Redefine Conflict Perception: Conflict is a word that we often associate with negativity. Many people view conflict as something that should be avoided and feel that if a conflict arises it means that something is wrong. This fear of conflict is completely understandable and has a lot to do with how society perceives conflicts. As a result, we often don’t develop the tools and skills we need to allow us to handle conflict effectively. 

• Practice Active Listening and Empathy: In daily interactions, practice active listening and empathy. Encourage children to understand different perspectives and express their feelings calmly. This can help prevent conflicts from escalating and promote mutual respect. As highlighted in ‘Mosquito Tactics; A book about Peace Education,’ good solutions often arise from opportunities for communication, cooperation, and critical thinking. 

• Encourage Peaceful Dispute Resolution: Teach children to resolve conflicts through dialogue and mutual respect. Role-playing scenarios can be an effective way to practice these skills. For instance, CISV’s educational programs often include activities that simulate conflict situations and guide participants through the process of finding win-win solutions. Understanding the building blocks of conflict resolution—self-awareness, communication, and openness—can significantly enhance one’s ability to manage and resolve conflicts constructively. 

CISV’s approach to conflict and resolution 

We educate participants to understand both the nature and the intentional and unintentional causes of conflict, whether between individuals or groups, personally, socially, or politically. Our learning activities teach how to resolve interpersonal conflicts peacefully and constructively and to identify the contributing factors to social and political conflicts and peaceful solutions. 

As active global citizens, we aim to find non-violent, constructive approaches to conflict. This is why we dedicate significant time to exploring the concepts and challenges of making a nonviolent approach to conflict real and part of our everyday lives. We should accept that we will engage in conflicts no matter what we do, conflicts are all around us. We might not be able to fix things all individually, but we can contribute something positive, though it may not be easy.  

Through our programs and activities, we aim to equip our participants with the attitudes, skills, and knowledge they need to become agents of change, both locally and globally. By promoting non-violence and conflict and resolution, we hope to inspire a generation that prioritises dialogue and cooperation over aggression. 

By Carmen Mendoza Losada