Children hold the keys to a non-violent tomorrow which is why it is important to teach children the values of tolerance and understanding, both for each other and for cultures they might not yet have been introduced to. 

Peace One Day, an organization dedicated to promoting a global day of ceasefire and non-violence on 21 September annually, understands that to reach this goal we must teach peace and tolerance year-round.   

With Skype’s support, Peace One Day created a Global Education Resource featuring 15 interactive lesson plans exploring issues such as anti-bullying, the United Nations, great peacemakers, intercultural-cooperation, and more.  Right now this curriculum is being used to teach students in over 197 countries, but Peace One Day needs your help to bring this resource to every classroom in the world! 

Skype for Peace from Startnext on Vimeo.

Betsy Sawyer, a middle school teacher in Groton, Massachusetts uses the Peace Education Resource to help guide the activities of the Bookmakers and Dreamers club in her school.  Using the resource and Skype, the club’s members had the opportunity to speak with a small group of boys in a mountainous village in Afghanistan.  Many said they have never known a peaceful time; their entire lives have been scarred by constant war.  A recent military raid killed 15 in their area.  The Afghan students asked Betsy’s students how they thought they would react if 15 people in their town were killed.  Something many of her students, many who come from wealthy families, had never considered. 

Please donate to Skype For Peace – a crowd-funding site launched specifically to raise money to bring this Global Education Resource to more classrooms around the world!  Skype has pledged to match every dollar of the first $100,000 donated to Skype for Peace. 

Click here to donate to Skype for Peace NOW!

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Skype

Skype is communications software whose purpose is to break down barriers to communication. With an Internet-connected device, families, friends and colleagues can get together for free with messaging, voice and video. At low cost, they can also call landlines or mobiles virtually anywhere in the world. Skype has recently introduced group video, allowing groups of more than two people to do things together whenever they're apart. Founded in 2003 and based in Luxembourg, Skype is a division of Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT). Skype can be downloaded onto computers, mobile phones and other connected devices for free at www.skype.com.

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