Chance To Meet A Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Chance To Meet A Nobel Peace Prize Winner

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Aug 23rd 2008, 4:13pm By Eli George

What started because of the gang-infested streets of Denver has come to represent a way to reach young leaders of communities, inspiring youth to create positive change through the influence of Nobel Peace Laureates. PeaceJam started in 1996, after it’s co-founders Ivan Suvanjieff and Dawn Engle managed to garner 12 Nobel Laureates to join their movement. Some 600,000 kids have taken part in the program that runs in over 10 countries. The youth involved have managed to create around one million service projects to benefit their communities. Now, The Peace Center brings that same opportunity to Buffalo.

The idea to study a Nobel Laureate in the hopes of changing the minds of youth came from Suvanjieff. When he learned that the gang members knew and respected the nonviolent efforts toward change of Desmond Tutu, he was blown away. PeaceJam provides various curricular programs to engage youth. Vicki Ross and Carlanda Wilson of The Peace Center will soon be attending the national training program to bring the curriculum goals home with them.

The Peace Center recently received a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo to bring PeaceJam to the city. They are collaborating with Stop the Violence Coalition as well as Concerned Ecumenical Ministries to bring this event to the area. It will train local youth in social justice and community change. Some students will even get to travel to Massachusetts at the end of the year and spend two days with other kids from around the county and have the opportunity to meet the Nobel Prize Winner that they studied throughout the year.

To get this program off the ground, The Peace Center is looking for both youth participants aged 14-17 as well as adult volunteers. If you would like to nominate a volunteer or sign yourself up, send an e-mail to Elea Mihou, executive director of The Peace Center. You can also call 894-2013. To learn more about The Peace Center, visit their website.

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