PROGRAMS

Rome, Italy

In fall 2016, Little Friends for Peace partnered with St. John’s University, Ozanam Scholar’s Program to launch Peace Club Rome. It was warmly welcomed by the Marymount International School, where students were given the opportunity to integrate peace education into their after school program. A series of peace building activities, meditation sessions, and open discussions, were tailored to the engaging and inquisitive elementary schoolers. The club marks a milestone, in globally spreading peace principles among youth.

Peace Club Rome got started as a vision of past LFFP volunteer and camp coordinator, Kirin Taylor, when she took on a study abroad program in Rome. As an Ozanam scholar, she had studied the pillar of education, and how it could be used to solve many social justice issues. There was a direct connection to the LFFP mission, ‘to empower children, adults, and communities to build relationships through empathy and to solve struggles nonviolently through compassion and mindfulness.’
The club set off with a goal to offer a program that would educate young people on how they can answer conflicts, injustices, and unpeace with skills for peace. Ozanam Scholars got on board and found unique ways to merge their talents, skills and creativity to facilitating this program. Themes such as being a peace maker and caring, were taught through treasure hunts, origami creations and role playing differrent scenarios to practice conflict resolution.

‘The club is not your typical club. We were always able to find the balance between having fun and learning valuable lessons. It is refreshing to be a part of a movement that is impactful and real.’ –Seraiah: St. John's University, Ozanam Scholar Volunteer, Spring 2017

‘I loved working at Peace Club Rome. New to peace education myself, I learned a great deal alongside the students. I saw the students’ growth take place right before my eyes. This profound change and enthusiasm with which they embraced the curriculum energized and inspired me. As a future teacher, I now plan to incorporate the principles practiced at peace club into my classroom, to create a community of trust, honesty, love, and security.’- Hannah, St. John's University, Ozanam Scholar Volunteer, Fall 2017

The founders of LFFP, MJ Park and Jerry Park, reiterated that it was important for people to have tools to communicate, in order to solve problems and to ground themselves in the practices that bring peace to themselves, others and creation. MJ remarked that she saw the club as answering to the call, ‘We need Peace Clubs all around the world.’
Peace Club Rome continues to flourish, being pushed by impassioned student leaders, Marymount International School, and the students. Director Kirin Taylor's aspirations for the club are: ‘That these students can pursue peace in their personal lives, as well as in their academic and work futures. Planting the seeds at the elementary school level can really help students to gain perspective on how they can play an active role in bettering the world.’

For more information, or to bring Little Friends for Peace to your community, email: k.taylor@lffp.org or mjpeace@gmail.com

Viviamo pace, siamo pace!