We're growing - and our next opportunity is our biggest yet! We have been invited to train 50 teachers from 25 schools in western Uganda how to use our "Are We Together?" peace curriculum effectively. They will be participating in a 3-day festival to train 5,000 students how to use arts for peace, organized by Mentoring Peace Champions Uganda. "Are We Together?" will give them a practical resource to return home with, with over 72 hours of interactive activities to help students develop the attitudes and aptitudes of peacebuilders.
"Are We Together?" is making an impact
Since 2024, we have been training teachers and community leaders how to facilitate the free, certified, "Are We Together?" peace curriculum for youth. The children love it, and the leaders say it is having an impact. Our first facilitator, Joshua, wishes that everyone, young and old, could learn the skills it teaches for better self-awareness, positive relationships and practical community-building skills. Headteacher Jimmy, who introduced it to his school in June 2024, said, that the curriculum has changed his own life, and empowered the peace club members to become peer mediators at school. Before we approached him, no one had ever taught him about peace, and he wants to share its lessons with his church, as well (he is also a pastor). Headteacher Milcah, who adopted the program in September 2024, has been teaching peace, with great effect, at her primary school, women's groups and church. One of its pioneers, Abraham, still uses the lessons it taught him to resolve conflicts in his family, workplace and community, over 15 years later.
How you can help
The opportunity to train 50 motivated peace patrons is too good to pass up, but was not anticipated in our 2025 budget. Since the peace festival is an annual event, our next chance to participate in it won't arrive until September 2026, and we already plan to be there! But we know that the global community is passionate about peace, and that peace, youth and security is part of the UN 2030 Agenda. You can help by:
- Donating to the cause - every contribution helps
- Donating airmiles for Carole's flight (one of our biggest expenses)
- Fundraising for the festival workshop
What will this support?
- 50 teachers from 25 schools will be trained how to use "Are We Together?" effectively to teach their peace, drama and Interact club members how to nurture peace
- They will be equiped with the "Are We Together?" Facilitator's Manual and training materials - almost 400 pages of interactive activities
- Approximately 5,000 students will participate in the first cohort
- We hope thousands more students will benefit from future cohorts
- As they see the benefits of peace education, additional schools may adopt the curriculum
It will take the One Global Family to make this possible, but if we all contribute what we can, the impact will be priceless.
How much will it cost?
Because we are a volunteer organization partnering with the festival, we can keep our costs very affordable. The training budget is only $4,360 CAD - that's $88 per teacher, or less than $1 per student. What an incredible return on investment! This amounts to $3,160 USD, or approximately 11 M UGX.
I'm in! How can I donate?
This amazing opportunity would not be possible without your generous support.
- Canadian and international donors can contribute via PayPal, using your PayPal balance, debit or credit card
- Ugandan donors can contribute to Positive Peace Generation Uganda and dedicate the funds to the CryPeace Workshop – contact Carole for details
- You could hold a fundraiser, or invite Carole to speak to your group
Learn More About the Peace Festival
The Peace Festival will be the second annual peace festival organized by Positive Peace Generation Uganda. For three days, 5,000 students from 25 schools in Bushenyi District, Uganda, will learn how to use the arts and drama for peace. They will be accompanied by 50 teachers, who are primarily the patrons of the peace, drama and Interact clubs at the schools. On the final day of the festival, they will present the dramas and presentations they have developed at the festival, then bring them home to their schools and communities.
Learn More About Mentoring Peace Champions Uganda
Mentoring Peace Champions Uganda is an award-winning Ugandan non-profit organization, founded by dedicated Rotarians. They volunteer their time and talent to run this annual festival, and other activities. Partnering with them will expand our mission to raise a generation for peace in Uganda to 25 more schools, in a new region, with over 5,000 motivated students. While this is a dream come true, I have come to expect such "divine appointments" during my trips to share peace.
Learn More About "Are We Together?"
"Are We Together?" is a peace education curriculum for youth, co-developed by Canadian and Ugandan peacebuilders, and certified by Uganda's National Curriculum Development Centre for use in Ugandan schools. CryPeace trains and equips existing organizations to train the children they already reach, making this a sustainable, scalable model. Together, we are raising a generation for peace in Uganda, one child at a time. Since 49% of Ugandans are under the age of 15, reaching children in their formative years is not only effective, but an incredible opportunity to make a big difference.
How to Donate
Both CryPeace, and our partner organisations, volunteer their time to train children in the values, skills and aptitudes that nurture peace. Generous donations enable us to offer manuals and training to organizations at no charge, but we do have expenses for printing, travel, and training workshops. Will you please partner with us to help train 5,000 students and future leaders how to nurture peace? Based on testimonies from former trainees, these essential life skills will empower them to be more positive contributors to their families, campuses and communities for decades to come. Click the PayPal button below to contribute, or contact Carole to contribute in Uganda or explore options:
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