Ethics Education for Children

About the Ethics Education for Children Initiative

The Ethics Education for Children Initiative is one of the initiatives of Arigatou International. Arigatou International is an international faith-based NGO working to secure Child Rights and foster children's well-being by advocating the full implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It seeks to maximize the potential of interfaith cooperation, and always strives to empower and involve children and youth. The other initiatives of Arigatou International are the Global Network of Religions for Children, the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children and Mobilizing Faith-based Resources to End Child Poverty. A brochure presenting the four initiatives can be downloaded on the bottom of the page.

Objectives

The Ethics Education Initiative promotes values and ethics for children and young people within the framework of the child's Right to education as stated in the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. It utilizes an innovate approach to interfaith and intercultural learning in a value-based and quality education program for children and young people. The aim of the ethics education initiative is to nurture values and ethics to empower children to help creating a world of greater justice, peace and dignity. It fosters children's spiritual development based on common ethical values and contributes to the realization of the right of the child to full and healthy physical, mental, spiritual,moral and social development and the right of the Child to education.

Background

Rev. Takeyasu Miyamoto, President of Arigatou International and Leader of Myochikai, announced the Ethics Education for Children Initiative in May 2002 during the Special Session on Children of the United Nations General Assembly. In his statement, he asked to transcend the differences among religions in order to help children to create a better environment for them. He announced the etablishment of a council which has to develop the spirituality of the Children as part of the quality education (read the full statement clicking here).

In 2004, the Interfaith Council on Ethics Education for Children was etablished and in May 2005, the members of the Interfaith Council affirmed that "an ethics education which intentionally and constructively fosters a multicultural and pluralistic society will empower children to help create a world of greater justice, peace and dignity" and the educational system should help to think critically and to build positive relationship with the others. That's why, they said that we need to implement the Ethics Education for Children Initiative (read the full message of May 2005 here).

What it is

The Interfaith Council on Ethics Education has as objetive to provide guidance on the development of materials and tools for ethics education through an interfaith learning. The main outcome of the Ethics Education Initiative is the manual and programme Learning To Live Together, An Intercultural and Interfaith Programme for Ethics Education. The aim of the resource is to to help children and youth to understand and respect people from other cultures and religions, to think critically and to use non-violent alternatives in order to live peacefully together. Through the program, children and youth from different religious and cultural backgrounds are involved in a learning journey that encourages collective responsibility and foster a spirit of reconciliation. The journey gived space to examine values, so children and youth can apply them in their daily lives.

Office and staff

The office of the Ethics Education Initiative is the Secretariat of the Interfaith Council based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Director:  Ms Agneta Ucko
Administrative Assistant:  Veronica Regis
GNRC Coordinator:  Vera Leal


Brochure about Arigatou International