REAL HOPES

WORLD PEACE CLOWN DAY

Peace education requires the development of an individual understanding of issues and concepts. Essentially peace education aims to: build positive supportive communities, attitudes of truth and understanding, awareness of conflict and non-violent solutions, awareness of alternative truths and self understanding”
(Source: Knight, Peace Education in a Liveable World)

Schools: ideal for all school levels: pre-school, primary, secondary or university.

Special thanks for the photo of ‘Peacefull’ by Andrew Brownbill, Heidelberg Leader.

The World Peace Clown Day is an opportunity to inspire and focus children/ youth on actively learning what peace means and how they can create peace through their actions. The World Peace Clown ‘Peacefull’ teaches the program and is a fun character that spreads love and joy and peace. Peacefull can answer questions about peace and non-violence and discuss experiences in Asia (refugee camps) and Russia (Patch Adams). This program is excellent for promoting Harmony Day or World Peace Day (21 September).

The full day event would encompass Peacefull the clown giving an introductory session and workshops with selected classes throughout the day. There would be some clowning and activities to bring the group together and also discussion about world peace locally and globally.

The World Peace Clown Day can be tailored to meet the needs of your school, for example:

• Introductory session: Talk to school about what it is like to be a clown, world peace activities and short film of Dr. Patch Adams in Russia with international group of clowns;
• Two classes teaching selected values sessions e.g.  Responsibility, Empathy, Awareness Love, Honesty, Oneness, Peace, Enjoyment and Service;
• Teach juggling/clowning sessions to classes;
• Other classes can be involved in peace activities e.g. making posters, clown wigs, masks, poetry, peace songs, mediation role play, puppets, ideas for a peaceful future, wishes for peace, make a peace tree etc.
• Optional: School could organize a BBQ in the evening as a fundraising event to pay for the day and invite family, friends and the community to celebrate peace together;
• Optional: School could invite local speakers and inspire others.
• Optional: One hour or half day workshop sessions available on World Peace is available for children and youth.

Suggested Approaches

Please consider the following:

• To select from 8 values sessions, 2 sessions that your school would consider appropriate given current values focus. Schools can choose two 55 minute sessions from: Responsibility, Empathy, Awareness, Love, Honesty, Oneness, Peace, Enjoyment and Service. For example:
  (1) Responsibility – 1 session on ‘Responsibility’ (mediation role play) and discrimination activity;
  (2) Empathy: 1 session on ‘Empathy’ (standing in another’s shoes), feeling and communicating emotions;
• The sessions would be approximately 55 minutes each. These are suggested ideas, your school may tailor this day to meet your current curriculum focus;
• Parent/Community involvement: Evening BBQ and exhibition, display children’s activities and messages of peace;
• Your school may wish to consider inviting the local media to promote your school and spread the message further through the eyes of children.

Q. What is the price of a World Peace Day (whole school)?

• World Peace Clown Day program: $800 for a day.

Q. What are the benefits for children?

• To explore peace in themselves and in the world;
• To understand the links between happiness and feelings of peace;
• To become aware of ways to actively creating peace at home, school and in the community;
• To view Patch Adams in Russia DVD as an example of a peacemaker;
• To participate in clowning around/juggling to enjoy the feeling of connection with others without competition;
• Empowering the children to take responsibility and apply skills to situations;
• To learn positive self esteem;
• To learn about wellbeing in attitudes and daily activities;
• To develop a deeper appreciation of joy in their lives as healthy and critical for peace in the world.