The Vision project had four key objectives: O1. to identify needs and challenges with peace education in schools O2. to develop partners’ competence in peace education and methods in their work O3. to develop students’ competence and confidence to engage in themes of peace education as active citizens at school and community level and in civil society O4. to produce and disseminate high-quality peace education material for upper secondary education
Students today participate in formal education in an era of war in Europe. Schools in A Vision of Peace project come from Russia’s neighboring countries and have students from Ukrainian and Russian backgrounds. The Vision project started at the request of teachers who felt that schools can play a crucial role in furthering sustainable peace as a part of their communities but need support in developing solutions to conflicts arising in classrooms and finding constructive ways to create dialogue to address the rising radicalization and polarization of society. Students’ psychological and social well-being was a special concern for the teachers. Partners in the project saw a need for innovative and participatory peace education to develop appropriate knowledge, skills and tools for empathy and critical reflection through interdisciplinary study. Vision addressed the needs of students, teachers and schools to strengthen their capacity to respond and engage with the current geopolitical circumstances and events as active citizens with non-violent, constructive and peace-building social responses through Peace Education.