Values, Character & Peacebuilding
Cultivating lifelong character and holistic growth forms a critical element of a society. Integrating character education into the curriculum emphasizes the need to promote empathy, resilience, and ethical decision-making.
Moreover, developing programs that teach conflict resolution, intercultural understanding and the importance of civic engagement forms a solid foundation of a prosperous community. Schools can collaborate with local organizations to create peacebuilding initiatives that address real-world challenges.
The “Values, Character & Peacebuilding” category of the Great Places to School recognizes institutions that foster character development, responsibility, service, self-discipline, and 21st-century skills like collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking. The schools should have governance structures promoting leadership qualities and confidence, and use experiential-based approaches to cultivate peaceful cultures. They address issues like violent extremism, online safety, and racial and religious segregation, with minimal incidents of bullying and strikes, and a focus on peaceful conflict resolution. The category focuses on assessing the problem-solving mechanisms implemented by schools to address conflicts and foster a culture of peace.