The National Peace Foundationis 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.
To make a tax-deductible
donation to this or any of our programs, Please
mail your check made out to the National Peace
Foundation to our address below. Credit card
payments are also accepted
(Visa/Mastercard/American Express). Please drop
us a note with your name, address, donation
amount and credit card information via regular
post. We have a secure on-line
payment process, and you
can make donations at http://www.active.com/donate/nationalpeace Thank you National Peace
Foundation
National Peace Foundation
666 Eleventh Street Northwest, Suite 202,
Washington, DC 20001 Toll Free 800.23 PEACE /
800.237.3223 Local Telephone 202.783.7030 Fax
202.783.7040
We want your feedback! Please contact us at npf@nationalpeace.org National Peace Foundation www.nationalpeace.org. Copyright 2003