Discover amazing peace education organizations and networks. Find resources, connections and inspiration for your peace education efforts.

by Taylor O’Connor and Mustapha Ali | 17 August 2024

“Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war.” – Maria Montessori

I (Taylor) remember getting my Masters in Peace Education at the UN Mandated University for Peace back in 2008 – 2009. As far as I know it is the only Masters program in PeaceEd that exists, or at least it was. And it was an exciting time for the global movement.

Peace Education was a component of the UN’s International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001 – 2010). As I studied it, we were in the prime years of the global movement. UN funding supported tons of peace education organizations and initiatives. They setup websites. They developed frameworks, curriculum and other resources. They held global and regional events. Key leaders published academic articles about it. It was an exciting time and the future of the movement seemed bright.

Then came 2011. UN funding for peace education and more broadly anything related to building a culture of peace dried up. Funding shifted to other projects. People finished their contracts with PeaceEd organizations and initiatives and got other work. In the coming years few new frameworks, curriculum resources, academic articles and resources were published. And many organizations based on PeaceEd closed their doors. Some websites shut down while others haven’t been updated in 15 or more years.

Key innovations building the future of peace education

A few core organizations and networks remain. And you find some passionate individuals and groups that carry on the torch of the global movement for PeaceEd. You will also find some innovative groups that are still creating in PeaceEd . Some peace educators have moved into other themes associated with PeaceEd like human rights education, social justice education, anti-bias education, intercultural education, global citizenship education, education for sustainable development and other themes.

And there are some innovations happening, both within the global movement and in associated themes. What I’ve done with this blog post is mapped key influential organizations and networks in the global movement. I have included these core groups, key innovators, and some amazing organizations working on associated themes for which we can use as inspiration. Peace education is a vibrant movement.

If you are interested in PeaceEd, find some organizations in here that are inspiring to you. Get connected. Join their email list. Download their resources. Participate in their virtual events. And use what you learn to integrate peace education in the activities you are in involved in, whether you are involved in peace education or if it is a new concept for you.

What is peace education?

I prepared a presentation on approaches for peace education recently. At some point soon I’ll turn that into a blog post and when I do I’ll link it here. Anyhow, in it, I collected some key PeaceEd resources and reports. I reviewed how they define peace education, and from this I created my own definition.

Peace education: Peace education encompasses numerous educational approaches aimed at resolving conflicts peacefully, creating conditions conducive to peace and/or empowering individuals to actively contribute to a more peaceful, just society. Peace education approaches generally include a combination of the use of peace education learning content and application of peace education teaching-learning methods. Peace education activities are generally associated with learning of knowledge, attitudes and skills in one or more peace-learning themes. Peace education activities may include direct planning and implementation of peace education programs and activities, development of peace education curriculum and learning materials, education policy reform for peace, among others.

Often, PeaceEd practitioners create a learning framework (or use an existing one) to inform their program, then they collect curriculum and resources to use in their program in support of their learning framework. You can find a blog post I write on PeaceEd learning frameworks HERE, and another post I wrote in PeaceEd curriculum and learning materials HERE.

Some themes associated with peace education, though not explicitly PeaceEd are listed below. Many of them have their own organizations, networks and resources not included in this blog posts. Themes associated with PeaceEd below:

Global Citizenship Education (GCED)
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD); or Environmental Education
Human Rights Education (HRE)
Education for Disarmament, Demilitarization and/or War Abolition
Education for Conflict Management and Resolution
Education for a Culture of Peace
Education for Social Cohesion and/or Peaceful Coexistence (also interfaith and intercultural education)
Comparative History and/or Peace History
Social Justice Education (for anti-racism, gender justice, decolonization, and/or other specific topics related to justice)
Values Based Education or Ethics Education
Emotional Intelligence and/or Psychosocial Wellbeing

Also, I make a distinction between PeaceEd usually aimed at the general public and peacebuilding training which aims at equipping peacebuilders with skills for building peace. If you are looking for peacebuidling trainings you can find my blog post on that HERE, or if you are looking for resources for peacebuilding trainings you can find those at my other blog post HERE.

Influential PeaceEd organizations and networks

In this section I have mapped influential PeaceEd organizations and networks. Some explicitly describe themselves as PeaceEd organizations while the main focus of others is education with a focus that covers a range of associated topics like rights, justice, sustainability, peace, etc.

I have organized these into the following categories:

Global peace education networks and initiatives
Peace education creators and influencers
Unique and innovative peace education initiatives
Community peace education initiatives
Education for peace, but not explicitly peace education

Please note that there are hundreds, probably thousands of PeaceEd organizations, programs, and initiatives around the world. Most of them do not have a website or online presence however. The purpose of this blog post is to share about key influential organizations and networks where you can find key resources, join networks, see inspiring examples you can emulate, and otherwise find resources and support for your own activities.

Not included in this blog posts (but many to be included in other blog posts in the near future) are the following:

Organizations involved in education for peace, justice, etc. as one activity of many, but peace education is not their main focus.
Think tanks that have published a report or two on peace education
Individual persons who are thought leaders or influencers in peace education
Peace education initiatives focused exclusively on younger children
Peace and conflict university programs , unless they publish peace education resources
Organizations that were influential in the development of the field of peace education, but that are no longer active
Education programs that focus exclusively on socio-emotional learning for children and youth. Often they use the word peace a lot, but their activities don’t extend beyond mindfulness or socio-emotional learning

Global peace education networks and initiatives

In this section I have included key PeaceEd and initiatives. Some have been around for many years, and some are quite new and look promising for what they hope to contribute to the advancement of the global movement for peace education.

Global Campaign for Peace Education (GCPE)

Global Campaign for Peace Education is the leading global network dedicated to promoting peace education around the world. The network is made up of individual peace educators and education NGOs committed to fostering cultures of peace through peace education. Network members work in their respective contexts around the world and they participate in the movement by promoting peace education where they live and sharing stories, news and resources about PeaceEd with the wider network. The network is also a hub of resources and information about PeaceEd. You can join the network as an individual or organization.

International Institute on Peace Education (IIPE)

International Institute on Peace Education (IIPE) is a weeklong experience uniting peace educators from diverse backgrounds in different countries that happens every other summer in a different country. It is like an event that includes workshops and networking activities. Participants exchange knowledge, conduct pedagogical experiments, and engage in deep, cooperative inquiries to advance peace education globally while fostering a vibrant community. Often participants develop collaborative projects together to advance peace education within their countries, regions and globally.

Education for Global Peace

Education for Global Peace (EGP) is dedicated to building a global network and movement that seeks to bring about a world based on cultures of peace. They work to empower individuals through PeaceEd at all levels. Their core activities include the development of innovative pedagogical strategies for peace education through concrete projects, advocacy for PeaceEd at different institutional levels, and the promotion of peace education research. EGP is working on developing a ‘peace education gateway’ – a web platform for students around the world to access existing PeaceEd programs and curriculum based on their needs and connect with each other.

The Peace Pad

The Peace Pad specializes in PeaceEd , consulting and peacelearning programs for both children and adults. Their aim is to create a positive impact on people’s learning environments, organizations, and communities, fostering peace and justice education that empowers people to create a just and peaceful world. They offer professional workshops, coaching, strategic planning, leadership guidance, project management, consulting, and designing learning experiences to mainstream PeaceEd .

Peace education creators and influencers

In this section I have included organizations that create their own PeaceEd frameworks, approaches, curriculum and guidance resources. Some have been around for many years while others are newer.

Center for Peace Education at Miriam College

The Center for Peace Education is an advocacy center for PeaceEd within Miriam College in the Philippines. They have been a key influencer within the global movement of PeaceEd for many years. They promote a culture of peace through education and advocacy. Peace courses are offered in the College and peace concepts like conflict resolution and mediation are integrated into other academic programs at the college. Be sure to check out their resources page where they include many of the influential PeaceEd guides, curriculum packs and reports on they have developed over the years.

Global Citizenship and Peace Education activities at UNESCO

UNESCO has long been a key influencer in global citizenship education (GCED) and peace education. Their Global Citizenship and Peace Education activities include the development of amazing curricula and learning materials, program guidance materials, publication of research studies, strategic visioning, and promotion of international collaboration. Their efforts support GCED in schools and out of schools, as well as policy level engagement.

The Peace MoMo

Peace MoMo is a Korean organization that offers facilitator training programmes and conducts research on PeaceEd related topics. They also invest a lot of time cultivating networks of facilitators and connecting peace educators in Korea and those abroad. They have their own collaborative peace-learning approach that they developed that they call P.E.A.C.E. Pedagogy that embraces the principle of “everyone learning from everyone else.”

The Peace Literacy Institute

The Peace Literacy Institute has developed their own methodology, approaches and curriculum on education to help people of all ages develop their ‘peace literacy.’ In training people on peace literacy as they define it they aim to educate people to be as well-trained in waging peace as soldiers are in waging war. They have developed a series of curriculum materials with teacher/facilitator training videos that can all be accessed for free on their website. They note that the curriculum can be modified to different age groups, from pre-K to 12th grade, through to higher education and adult education. Our materials can also be used to meet Common Core and other regional standards.

PeaceWorks: Peace Education Foundation

PeaceWorks is a private organizations that promotes and sells PeaceEd curriculum materials for school age children. They have developed their own frameworks, approaches and curriculum materials. They offer training services on how to use their curriculum. All curriculum and training offerings are paid materials and services. The website includes no free offerings.

Unique and innovative initiatives

This section includes a few organizations that have unique and innovative PeaceEd initiatives. All in this section are carrying out programs in many places around the world using their unique approach.

NewGen Peacebuilders

NewGen Peacebuilders is on a mission to “make learning to be a peacebuilder a rite of passage for everyone.” Through the training programs they help young people understand frameworks related to power, conflict, violence and peace; develop project planning and management skills; and embrace peacebuilding as a personal responsibility. They partner with school districts, universities, and cities to offer a range of program experiences for young people in physical and virtual spaces. They also have workshops for educators who want to incorporate PeaceEd in their classrooms. NewGen Peacebuilders has carried out activities across multiple states in the US, as well as Argentina, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Lebanon, South Sudan and the Western Balkans.

The United World College (UWC)

The United World College is a global network of schools (primarily secondary schools) that seeks to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Each of the 18 schools around the world this by a deliberate approach to cultivate a diverse student body and their commitment to the making education a force for peace and sustainability. There are schools in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. While each school has its own unique identity, what they share is that students come together from all over the world, and from very different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, to live and learn with each other and from each other what change is needed in the world, and how they can make it happen. UWC schools have 60,000 alumni worldwide.

The Peace Boat

Peace Boat is a Japan-based international NGO that uses education and experiential learning to promote peace, justice, and sustainability around the world. Each year they organize three Global Voyages and two shorter Asian regional voyages in their ‘peace boat’ – a cruise ship that sails around the world. During voyages participants learn about peace, human rights, and sustainability issues through their onboard education programs, then they connect with local organizations in the countries they visit. Their approaches to promoting peace and sustainability center around educational programming, supporting local grassroots actions, and forging connections amongst international participants with local actions.

Inspiring community initiatives

This section includes initiatives that carry out non-formal PeaceEd programs in specific locations. In reality, there are hundreds or even thousands of these around the world, but few have websites to share. Organizations in this section have well-established peace education programs that can be used as an example for others.

Ceeds of Peace

Ceeds of Peace is an initiative based in Hawaii that works to nurture the capacity of people from all walks of life to build peace. They do this by creating opportunities for adults and youth, educators, family members, service providers, those in the justice system, business leaders, the faith community, and non-profit professionals to work together in our collective pursuit to build sustainable, just, peaceful communities. The initiative is part education and training, and part creation of spaces and community platforms for building peace. They have developed their own tools, activities, and resources which they share on their website.

Peace Learning Center

The Peace Learning Center is a community learning center based in Indiana that trains young people to learn peacemaking and nonviolence. They have a wide array of PeaceEd and learning programs for different community members including youth, educators and youth workers, parents and families, as well as businesses and nonprofits.

The Peace Education Program

Peace Education Program is a PeaceEd initiative based in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. They work to strengthen communities and schools by training youth and adults to build and sustain positive relationships. They provide learning experiences to reduce violence, enhance personal integrity and foster mutual respect. They teach conflict resolution, peer mediation and prejudice reduction. youth and adults to build strong, positive relationships in their communities and schools. The program has already impacted 20,000 youths annually and counting!

Education themes associated with peace

This section includes organizations that create amazing learning materials or serve as a hub for resources on topics associated with PeaceEd , but aren’t explicitly PeaceEd. Focus areas include social justice education, human rights education, interfaith/intercultural education, comparative history, and others.

Learning for Justice

Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching for Tolerance) is a community education program of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) that develops educational resources and training materials to inform action for liberation and justice in support of an inclusive, multiracial democracy. They have tons of curriculum and resources to teachers as well as other content like podcasts and webinars. All resources are developed for the USA context and adapted to national standards by age group. They have age-appropriate curriculum for a range of themes including teaching the civil rights movement, teaching hard history (topics like slavery, etc.), and anti-bias education.

Arigatou International

Arigatou International develops amazing ethics-based educational curriculum and resources focused on themes of intercultural and interfaith learning. building a just and inclusive society. I’ve used their resources for years. They also have great resources that promote inclusion of refugee and migrant communities. In recent years they have collaborated with global PeaceEd influencers to develop resources that have been the foundation for several interventions to build peace and resilience in conflict affected contenxts around the world.

Yes! Magazine for Teachers

Yes! Magazine for Teachers publishes resources for teachers on a range of topics to help teachers discuss social issues in the classroom and empower students to find ways to transform the causes of these issues. Key themes include social justice, sustainability, and the promotion of empathy and respect. They also have a great series of resources for teaching ‘tough topics’ like decolonization, anti-blackness, mass incarceration, school shootings and other topics. Yes! Magazine for Teachers is a project of Yes! Magazine Solutions Journalism that focuses on challenging conventional economic, political, and social structures, encouraging us all to think differently and take action towards a more equitable, sustainable, and compassionate planet.

Zinn Education Project

Inspired by the life’s work of rebel historian Howard Zinn, Zinn Education Project promotes and supports the teaching of people’s history in classrooms across the country. The project develops curriculum and learning materials to help students engage with understanding of history that is not found in traditional history textbooks. The website offers free, downloadable lessons and articles organized by theme, time period, and grade level. With a social justice focus, key themes include the role of working people, women, people of color, and organized social movements in shaping history.

Facing History and Ourselves

Facing History and Ourselves develops curriculum and learning materials using lessons of history to challenge teachers and their students to stand up to bigotry and hate. They train educators and manage a network of hundreds of thousands of educators reaching millions of students worldwide. They host regular virtual learning events and have a huge database of curriculum and learning materials searchable by themes of racism, genocide, culture, human rights and other topics.

Teaching for Change

Teaching for Change creates curriculum and learning materials to support educators with tools to create schools where students learn to read, write, and change the world. They work to provide educators with the necessary tools, professional development, and resources to foster social justice and equity in the classroom. They offer lessons, workshops, and critically reviewed books to support teaching about history, multiculturalism, and social justice, inspiring students to question, build skills, and work towards a more equitable society. Their website has tons of resources.

Human Rights Education Associates (HREA)

Human Rights Education Associates (HREA) is a key organization for the promotion of human rights education worldwide. They develop human rights education materials and train human rights defenders and professionals; Their website has an amazing searchable resource center where you can find a wide array of human rights education resources and learning materials. They have periodic webinars and also offer in-person training workshops, hybrid trainings and e-learning courses on human rights education.

Get involved in the global movement

Peace education is not just an area of study and practice – it’s a calling, a way of life. As we reflect on the history and development of the field, we must recognize the organizations and networks that continue to champion this cause and innovate for the future.

From these, may you find inspiration, resources and connections to help you begin your journey, to strengthen your efforts, and for some you may find ways to contribute to the broader movement and be a part of creating and innovating for the future of the field.

Let’s get involved, be innovators, and create the future of PeaceEd one step at a time.

If you found this article helpful and want to find more blog posts like this mapping organizations that build peace across a wide array of themes be sure to check out our Resources page!

If there are any great PeaceEd organizations, networks or influencers that are missing on this list and you think it should be added, please submit it at the link HERE. I periodically update my resource posts and use these inputs to help me. Thanks in advance!

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