PEACE CURRICULUM

About The African Diaspora Foundation (ADF):

• Concept conceived & informally organized in 1991
• Incorporated in 2001
• A non-profit organization
• Multi-racial and multi-ethnic
• Primarily based in Los Angeles, CA
• Affiliates and members all over the world
• We stand for peace through education

Mission

The African Diaspora Foundation is dedicated to developing peace centers, peace curricula, teachers, and to supporting outreach programs that promote peace, nonviolence and reconciliation in Africa and other parts of the world. Ultimately we strive to empower individuals to have a choice to choose peace instead of violence to build stable communities and progressive nations.

Vision

The African Diaspora Foundation (ADF) is committed to developing a coalition of national and international leaders and organizations to address critical issues concerning peace, nonviolence, and reconciliation in Africa. As a non-profit organization, ADF has proposed in partnership with United States universities, to develop peace education centers in Los Angeles and in Africa offering a curriculum aimed at overcoming issues that threaten survival in countries affected by conflict. ADF’s plan is that this model program will become an international force in preparing educators for the key task of making peace, nonviolence and reconciliation a working reality.

PEACE EDUCATION DEFINED

Peace education, as defined by UNICEF and supported by ADF, is a process of promoting the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values needed to:

• bring about behavior changes that will enable children, youth and adults to prevent conflict and violence, both overt and structural;
• resolve conflict peacefully; and
• create the conditions conducive to peace, whether at an interpersonal, intergroup, national or international level.

It is UNICEF’s position and the position of ADF that peace education has a place in all societies — not only in countries undergoing armed conflict or emergencies. Lasting behavior change in children and adults primarily occurs over a span of time. Hence, effective peace education is a long-term process, not a short-term intervention. While often based in schools and other learning environments, peace education should ideally involve entire communities.

HISTORY

The ADF Peace Library and Research Center has its genesis with the proposed King-Luthuli Transformation Center Peace Library and Distance Learning Center based on a resolution at a June 22-29, 2003 peace conference in Johannesburg, South Africa sponsored by ADF, the King-Luthuli Transformation Center, and the South African Council of Churches. The purpose of the currently proposed library and research center is to facilitate a community library and multi-media resource center focused on print and electronic resources relevant to a respect for life, humanism, nonviolence, peace, conflict resolution, reconciliation, peace education, and the history and culture of Africa. Thus, the facility will serve as a multidisciplinary laboratory and distance learning center in association with community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, industry, government, and the academic community to assist in the sustainability and development of human resources. The present challenge and opportunity rest with building the facility,  equipping it with the most current print and electronic resources, and developing a staff to assist ADF and other research projects.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the library and distance learning center is to facilitate a community library and multi-media resource center focused on print and electronic resources relevant to Ubuntu (a respect for life, humanism), nonviolence, peace, conflict resolution, reconciliation, peace education, and the history and culture of Africa. Thus, the facility will serve as a multidisciplinary laboratory in association with community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, industry, government, and the academic community to assist in the sustainability and development of human resources.

PRESENT OPPORTUNITY

The present challenge and opportunity rest with equipping the facility with at least ten Internet accessible computers, 5,000 books focused on the above themes, periodicals, DVD or VHS viewing units, an official web-site (which can house a virtual library-reference center), staff, and a distance learning program (audio-video conferencing) that can train people for entry into library and information technology employment.

SERVICE

This effort is non-profit (501c3) and open to all, therefore we welcome contributions in the form of material and monetary resources to advance greater opportunities to the underserved in Johannesburg , and throughout South Africa .

Partners Regarding the ADF-KLTC PLDLC:  
Africa sub-committee of the ALA
International Relations Committee
Black Caucus of the ALA
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
African American Library and Information Science Association
African Foundation for the African Child Today
Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Los Angeles)
South African Consulate ( Los Angeles )
EarthCare International ( Encino , CA )  

Skill Development via Distance Learning:  
Computer Systems Repair
Networking
Graphics Design & Desktop Publishing
Microsoft Certification
Bookkeeping Accounting Systems
Administrative Assistant skills Database Management
Business Management
Library Services Technician
Multi-Media Technician