|
 |
     
|
|
|
National Peace Foundation (NPF) Contact: Tom Bertrand, Executive Director tbertrand@nationalpeace.org The National Peace Foundation is an organization that was originally a part of the grassroots campaign to establish an Academy of Peace. Its membership was successful in lobbying Congress so that the US Institute of Peace was established in 1984. The National Peace Foundation (NPF) grassroots has continued as a body of citizens interested in establishing foundations for peace through education, conflict resolution and people to people exchanges. It is both nonpartisan and not for profit. As such, it has participated in a congressionally funded program called Open World http://www.openworld.gov/ since 1999. Over that period of time, more than 10,000 Russian leaders have been hosted in communities throughout the U.S. NPF has hosted almost a thousand of those individuals in civil society, rule of law, cultural and environmental community based programs. To date, it has hosted Russian, Ukrainian and Lithuanian leaders, adults under the age of 45 who have shown an interest in democratic reform and citizen initiative. NPF has established a number of conflict resolution programs in area schools. Our conflict resolution specialist has offered consultation to many other regional efforts to prevent violence in American schools. In the DC area, we sponsor peer mediation training and yearly training of school teachers in conflict prevention. Our Middle East program recently completed focused on a three year commitment bringing Palestinian, Israeli and Bedouin young adults together to envision a world of cooperation. Toward that end, the Palestinians have established community centers offering employment and computer training. The Israeli youth have established a peace program throughout its national Scouting programs. In this country, NPF has also fostered dialogue in American communities from the perspective of both the Israeli and Palestinian perspectives. We have partnered with “Jerusalem Women” in providing communities for Jewish, Muslim and Christian women (one of each in each delegation) tell their own story. In Russia, NPF has been sowing seeds of democracy for the past 15 years. Drawing on the development of citizen groups, chiefly women leaders, and developing their skills and confidence, NPF has fostered a consortium of 250 nongovernmental groups that focus on issues of nonviolence. It is called “Women for Life without War and Violence”. These groups are working in the North Caucasus to mitigate ethnic conflict. NPF and its partner, Union “Women of the Don” have been working with the victims of the Beslan school attack on healing of the community and its citizens. NPF has also spearheaded efforts to provide models in Russia for the prevention and treatment of drug and alcohol addiction and HIV/Aids by joining American partners with the Ministry of Education in Russia to provide evaluation sites and treatment centers for university students and returning Chechen War vets. Recognizing its roots, NPF has been asked to begin the grassroots appeal for the establishment of the US Institute of Peace educational center on the Mall in Washington. The education center and building will emerge as a symbol of America’s commitment to peace. In addition, it will offer a venue for information and exchange on the future of peace in the world and the techniques, skills and strategies required to achieve it.
|
|
|
||||
|
Home | About | Our Work | Members | News | Get Involved | Contact |
|
 |
|