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, [email protected]), providing the online platform for the weekly virtual sessions of the Programme for a group of 12 participants.

​A report on the themes of this virtual conference, by Geri Andrews 

The aim of the annual Femina Vox Women’s Rights Day Conference is to raise awareness of the necessity of gender equality, and to celebrate the positive changes that have been made so far. This year’s theme was “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”. 

The keynote speakers were His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Mata Amritanandamayi, also known as Amma.

The three core issues that were discussed were: 

• the need for the economic empowerment of women 
• ​the mothering nature of women gives them an inherent strength and compassion and this needs to be much more widely appreciated
• and thirdly, efforts towards gender equality must never be confrontational in any way, otherwise this causes resistance.

The key to women being able to earn a good income is education. When women can financially contribute to their family and community their confidence and sense of self-worth increases. To this end, high quality, affordable child-care gives women the freedom to earn. It is child-care responsibilities that in part cause the unfair disparity in wages, because women so often have to work as well as look after the children. This needs to be addressed. 

All over the world women are striving for social, economic and political equality, often in very difficult circumstances, none more so than in countries where there is dictatorship. Here it is exceptionally difficult, and great courage and fortitude areis needed. The inherent nature of women as the mother can create a tendency to slip into passive compliance, as with “it is a women’s place”, but peace education reminds everyone, men and women, for the need to practise empathy. Self-education is very important, to enjoy learning and gaining knowledge from experience, for which there is no age limit. The female nature is naturally compassionate and caring, and this means there is greater willingness to listen and bring a conciliatory tone in peace dialogue which is vital in war and conflict situations.

Historically, social narratives tend to be more about strong men, and women are often portrayed as weaker and less able. In addressing equal gender rights there needs to be an effort to engage leaders to skill up women, for women to be included more in decision making. This must always be positive and constructive so as not to cause any backlash. It is not a gender war, but a natural path towards peace and understanding within humanity.

Mata Amma began the conference by saying, “Just like two wings of a bird, men and women have an equal role to play. Only when this truth is accepted will society become harmonious. Women only need to awaken their inherent strength to find their self-confidence.” A conscious effort from both men and women is needed to bring about a peaceful and compassionate society. Women’s rights are human rights, and in honouring the role of the mother everyone benefits from the freedom to prosper and grow in peace.