The online programme is an "innovative peacebuilding" scheme with "action at its core".

It is a youth-led, intergenerational and cross-cultural learning experience with the goal of contributing to "personal and social change through world class peace education, mentoring and direct action projects".

The projects can be local or international in scope and participants will choose if they are done individually, in small groups or with the full Guernsey contingent. They may be directly related to peace - such as conflict in the workplace, cyber-bullying or domestic abuse, or in other areas of social change and peace education - such as the environment, art or music. The young people themselves decide what is relevant to them from their prior knowledge and understanding, their own interests and their new learning from the course.

Pictured: The programme is a joint initiative between World BEYOND War and the Rotary Action Group for Peace. It offers participants opportunities to learn from, dialogue with, and strategise for change with experts, peer activists and other changemakers from around the world.

The launch programme in 2021 had participant groups from 12 countries - Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia, Serbia, South Sudan, Turkey, Ukraine, USA and Venezuela. The range of action projects was vast and included:-

Colombia: Implemented ten projects with youth throughout Colombia promoting a vision of Colombia as a multicultural society in a territory of peace. Projects included film screenings, art workshops, urban gardening, and recording a podcast.

Kenya: Facilitated three workshops for over one hundred children, youth and community members to develop their peacebuilding competencies through a combination of education, arts, play, and cultural activities.

USA: Created a collaborative music Album - The Peace chords - aimed at imparting some of the key strategies toward effecting a more peaceful planet, from exploring the systems at play to how one finds peace with him/herself and others.

The programme will run from 6 February to 11 June with a suggested minimum time commitment of three hours per week.

To find out more and to apply local contact Jannine Birtwistle on 07781 450725 or email rotaryjannine@icloud.com.

Pictured top: Brian Action, President of the Rotary Club of Guernsey with a display of some of the projects Rotary is involved with.