In January a live introductory session was presented to project leaders of a volunteer organisation which supports offenders in the Truro and Plymouth Magistrates Courts. As a result they are now in discussions on the best way to use PEP in their work, and how they can progress with it to support their staff, volunteers and clients.
This will hopefully lead to us presenting a Peace Education Programme Taster/Sampler session followed by a full 10-week programme to the combined volunteer teams from Truro and Plymouth.
Last August, 2023, in the heart of rural Powys in Wales, a full Virtual 10-week PEP was completed for a group associated with those recovering from substance and alcohol abuse. Following the initial effort in Wales, the lead contact now wants this project involving PEP to continue in Cornwall, and is already in discussions with Cornwall County Council for more PEP courses to be delivered there.
A long-term supporter of TPRF is the parent of the CEO of a business in Cornwall who would like PEP to be a part of their well-being programme. They are currently inviting 40 of their staff to attend a taster/orientation session where a shortened PEP session will be presented to them. They can individually decide whether they would like to join the full 10-week programme.
Virtual PEPs in the UK:
In December, 2023, a second Virtual PEP for 19 supporters of TPRF was completed. They will be helping with Peace Education Programme outreach efforts around the U.K.. They have begun forming new teams in the communities where they live or have joined with existing teams, some of which were formed after the first Virtual PEP of this kind was completed last August.
A third Virtual PEP for 35 supporters of TPRF was started in February of this year. Again it is for those helping with the PEP outreach efforts around the UK.
On Tuesday 19th March a Virtual PEP began for Peace Partners volunteers and others who have asked to be participants in a PEP. This is aimed at people who will help bring PEP to other organisations and institutions.
We have been continuing our work with TPRF on the development of their educational version of PEP for schools, colleges and universities.
And we are excited to be collaborating with a Prooptiki PEP team in Greece (contact Pericles, perichristo@gmail.com), providing the online platform for the weekly virtual sessions of the Programme for a group of 12 participants.
Report by lead volunteers Ronnie Cray and Chrissie Waite.
The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) is Peace Partners' key partner, and our core aims for 2024 (see below) include supporting their global humanitarian work and their Peace Education Programme in the UK. At the end of last year the Foundation and its Founder received international recognition with an award from The BrandLaureate. Here is an excerpt from TPRF's press release about the award (published in collaboration with The BrandLaureate):
'On December 6, 2023, The BrandLaureate honoured Prem Rawat and The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) with a distinguished award for outstanding peace initiatives and excellence in branding:
The World Brands Foundation formed The BrandLaureate to acknowledge trailblazers and visionaries, honouring Prem Rawat and TPRF with the Book of World Records Award. The new 2023 award from The BrandLaureate followed Prem Rawat’s induction into the renowned organisation’s Hall of Fame in 2012. He received the The BrandLaureate Lifetime Achievement Award that year, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame along with Nelson Mandela ...'
Wallee McDonnell from our partner Celebrate Life has sent us this exciting update:
Celebrate Life CIC continues where we left off in 2023 with renewed vigour in bringing attention to the possibility of personal peace and well being to London in 2024, in a world desperately seeking exactly this, but not knowing where to look.
Following on from many successful screenings of Power to Change film around the UK and Ireland over the past two years, we're putting energy and resources with a focus on facilitating the Peace Education workshops in London. More opportunities for showing Power to Change are in the pipeline. At the same we want to move on to the next phase, connecting with communities who've seen the film and want to experience the Peace Education workshops. The film was mainly set in the borough of Lambeth in London, now it's time to take the next steps and engage with those who've expressed their readiness to attend the course.
Examples of this are;
Circle of Life Ignite organisation - a bereaved mothers group seeking help dealing with the trauma they've experienced after losing a child in such a brutal way
Working with a Police Superintendent with connections to youth organisations for a special Peace Education series tailored specifically for them
A Peace Education Series for the police officers
We are also working on a separate series of film-based on interviews with Londoners on topics like; love, choice, self-awareness, appreciation and other themes. And with animators we are creating a number of animations based on stories that Prem Rawat has shared in his talks, conveying gems of wisdom and lessons for life.
Here is the film we did on 'Hope - what does hope mean to you?':
What is Hope?
The Netherlands is hosting the 6th World Congress on Probation and Parole, from 16- 18th April 2024, in the city of The Hague. The central theme of the congress is ‘The Future of Probation and Parole’. We've been invited to show 'Power To Change' on the final day of the conference, and we're delighted to get this opportunity. A huge thank you to Peace Partners for funding support for our travel there and back, and for accommodation in The Hague.
At the turn of the year Peace Partners' trustees collaborated with the regular volunteer team to identify the Charity’s main objectives in 2024.
It was agreed that the three underlying aims of the charity this year would be to:
Support TPRF’s global humanitarian work
Promote, support and encourage individuals, groups and organisations in the UK to run The Peace Education Programme
Work with like-minded organisations in the UK
And most importantly, to continue the commitment from last year to build teams in which every volunteer can work in a peaceful, stress-free environment.
Work on the implementation of the strategy and establishing realistic and measurable targets was then carried out by the area teams. These teams include: Governance (the trustees), the Peace Education Programme team, Partnerships, Communications and Media, Finance and Funding, Volunteer recruitment and support, the Clean Water and Nutritious Food initiative, IT Support, and the Events team.
We have a number of current volunteering vacancies, and as we continue to build our teams during the year we envisage further vacancies will become available. If you have an enthusiasm for the work we do, and have some skills and time which you feel could contribute to positive outcomes in any of the above areas, please do get in touch with us for an initial chat. Our contact details can be found in the Volunteering section below.
A Fundraising and Finance report for the first quarter by Chris Pease, Peace Partners’ Treasurer
2023 finished on a high with the terrific response to the The Prem Rawat Foundation Transforming Lives appeal.
The first quarter of 2024 has been as busy as ever. We are fortunate to have a core of loyal supporters; and despite the economic challenges facing us all our contributions have increased a little through some additions to this base.
We have committed funds to assisting our partner Celebrate Life show the film "Power to Change" more widely. Alongside this we have set up a working group to improve the software of our accounting system, and also our ability to communicate with our supporters more readily.
There is also a new working group with Victor Ebiloma, looking to follow up our application to the Lottery Fund for the promotion and financial support of The Peace Education Programme.
Finally, we will be putting some money into getting our volunteers together for the first time since before the pandemic. A lot has changed since then, and we have many new faces who have only met so far on Zoom. This promises to be a very welcome event!
We are looking to expand our team of volunteers, who provide invaluable and essential support for the initiatives supported by Peace Partners. We would welcome expressions of interest in the following area:
TRUSTEE
ABOUT US Peace Partners is a dynamic volunteer-led charity that aims to bring together and work with individuals, groups and organisations who share our vision of a world where all people have access to sufficient clean water, nutritious food and personal peace. We support global humanitarian programmes primarily through our partner the Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) and its Food for People initiatives.
TRUSTEE ROLE Trustees are the individuals responsible for leading the charity and determining its operational direction. They manage the organisation and are responsible for ensuring its objectives are met. Although we encourage applications from anyone who feels they would make a good Trustee, we prioritise qualities such as passion, empathy, and good judgement. Previous board or Trustee experience is not obligatory; we value life experiences, volunteer work, community engagement, and enthusiasm as much as professional expertise and skills.
We are delighted to share this celebratory post which was featured on our website and social media platforms on March 8th.
🌸✨ Celebrating Women's Day with Peace Partners ✨🌸
Today, on International Women's Day, we honour the incredible strength, resilience, and compassion of women worldwide. At Peace Partners, we believe that empowering women is essential for building a more peaceful and harmonious world.
🕊️ Commitment to Peace: We recognise the vital role women play in nurturing peace within their families, communities, and beyond. Through our Peace Education initiatives, we strive to empower women with the tools and knowledge to cultivate inner peace and foster positive change in their surroundings.
🤝 Humanitarian Outreach: Women are often at the forefront of humanitarian efforts, offering support, care, and hope in times of crisis. Today, we salute their unwavering dedication and compassion. As part of our commitment to humanitarian outreach, we stand with women around the globe, providing resources, training, and assistance to those in need.
🌍 Partnerships: We believe in the power of collaboration and solidarity. Today, we celebrate our partnerships with organisations that champion women's rights and gender equality. Together, we work towards a future where every woman can thrive, contribute, and lead.
On this International Women’s Day let's honour the achievements of women everywhere and reaffirm our commitment to building a more inclusive, equitable, and peaceful world. Join us in celebrating the strength and resilience of women today and every day. 💖
Each year 21st March is International Poetry Day. It was founded in 1999 by UNESCO with the intention of inspiring the celebration of poetry from all over the world. This year the theme is “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants”, looking to remember poets whose work has had a lasting influence throughout the generation.
Geri Andrews writes aboutMatsuo Basho and Haiku.
Matsuo Basho
Matsuo Basho (1644-94) born in Edo (modern day Tokyo) Japan, is considered to be the great master of the Haiku. Haiku is a short, unrhyming poem of three lines and traditionally not more than 17 syllables. Dating back to as long ago as the 10th and 11th centuries, its form came into being as an introductory verse for the long poems of 100 verses or more that were read at poetry gatherings. It was always intended to be a complete statement in itself, whilst alluding to the poem that it preceded. These short poems came to be seen as an expression in their own right, a way of communicating a feeling, an experience, a way to evoke the atmosphere of what was being described.
Central to this is the understanding in Japanese culture of what is called Ma (pronounced ‘maah’). Ma is awareness of the space, rather than paying attention only to the form of an object. Ma is filled with nothing, with emptiness, silence rather than sound, less rather than more, space rather than form. It is the pause in speech, the silence between notes in music, the blank space in painting. In this space is stillness, is peace.
Haiku relies on the reader being able to feel and imagine what is being expressed with the minimum of words possible. It is what is not put into words, the feeling, that is important. Ma is more eloquent than words. There is a painterly quality, the poem happens now, in the present, and is focused on the simple beauty of nature, the changing of the seasons, sentiments experienced in the moment.
The Narrow Road to the Interior, written by Basho around 1690, is widely held to be one of the masterpieces of Asian literature. It is a travelogue of a journey he made with a companion in his later years. Part fiction and part fact, the haiku are so expressive as to serve almost as illustrations of his feelings and observations within the story of the diary. He conveys an essential yet tender quality that charms the reader.
Basho wrote many books, elevating the haiku from a genre that was uniquely Japanese to a level that was accessible for international appreciation. He is still the foremost poet first time readers of haiku come across, and his works have greatly influenced many writers of the 20th century.
It is difficult to translate some of the subtleties within the original Japanese script as haiku are written in one line, without any punctuation. In English this doesn't work well, so minimal punctuation is sometimes needed. Not starting with a capital letter or ending with a full stop helps suggest the feeling of being in the continuity of a space, the Ma, neither beginning nor ending.
