Character Education
Cultivating good character is an important part of a child's education at home, at school and in the community. Many UPF chapters offer lessons in classrooms or train teachers and administrators in character education or peace education.
- Written by: Alan Saunders
Character education curiculum overview.
- Written by: Alan Saunders
“This series of books Discovering The Real Me for students of levels 1-12 has amassed knowledge which speaks to the reality of living in this complex and challenging world. The books share with students, parents and teachers lessons that will empower them with strategies that will help make living in this world much easier. The books are reader-friendly, can be personalized to the users and—best of all—are culturally and historically sound.”
- Written by: Alan Saunders
In 2007, UPF launched its Peer Counselor Intern program by sending 30 college students to seven countries. The program in 2008 is expanding to twenty countries.
- Written by: Sally Sayre, Director of Peer Educators, UPF
Natoria, a slender and pretty, somewhat quiet girl of thirteen years, was nearly always waiting at the school almost an hour before it was time for the first session of our day camp to begin. She sat at a picnic table under the colorful mural at Vide Bouteille School. We had come by bus to set up the sound system and a projector, and to prepare our last day of camp. The rest of the camp staff would arrive by car.
- Written by: Dr. Robert Kittel, UPF-South Asia
UPF-India organized a program in Chennai on August 10, 2007 on the theme: "Innovative Approaches to Peace in a Changing Global Environment." The special focus was on youth and human security.
- Written by: Michael Treacy, UPF-Micronesia
- Written by: Remy Taupier, UPF-St. Lucia
Can you change your students?" asked Mr. Alan Saunders of the teachers gathered for a one-day workshop. Some teachers timidly answered "Yes!" A few others shook their heads in sign of "No!" Mr. Saunders insisted: "Do you really think you can change your students?" This time the "Nos!" were much louder. Mr. Saunders commented: "You cannot change your students, you can only influence them. How many of you think you can change your spouse?" After a short pause, he continued: "For ten years I thought I could change my wife! ... Do you think that I was successful? No!"
- Written by: Sally Sayre
- Written by: Michael Treacy, UPF-Micronesia
“What I’ve experienced from this summer camp is that first, change yourself before you change others. I applied this [during the camp] and I changed the way I acted with my friends. I gave them respect, friendliness, leadership, and [an example of] responsibility.” This was how Myron, a ninth-grade student, described the two-week summer camp in Pohnpei, Micronesia.
- Written by: Diana Santelli
In June 2007, I had the opportunity to go to Belize to teach Character Education in Belize City. During our one-month internship, we stayed at the Universal Peace Federation Peace Embassy, located in the heart of Belize City.
- Written by: Michael Treacy, UPF-Micronesia
Based on the success of UPF's Character Education initiative in Pohnpei, Iso Iriarte, a High Traditional Leader of Micronesia, and I organized a visit to another state, Kosrae.
- Written by: UPF-Japan
Mr. Robert Beebe recently completed a trip to Tokyo, Japan, to present UPF’s Character Education Initiative to a forum of Ambassadors for Peace on January 26 at the Hotel New Otani. Present at the forum were approximately 20 Ambassadors for Peace, including several professors, religious leaders, social workers, and politicians.