By Estelle Chatenoud
Grade 4 students at St Anthony’s are discovering how to play for peace. Gathering children together to have fun is the first step of the Play for Peace action.
Play for Peace is an international movement that tries to stop racism by getting kids from all backgrounds to play together.
Michael Terrien and Craig Dobkin foundedthe idea in Chicago in 1996. The movement is rooted in education and community development and focuses on cultural, religious and ethnic tension to bring divided communities together.
Play for Peace is now in eight countries around the world.
It emerged in Canada in 2000. So far it only takes place in Ottawa but plans to be extended to 10 other cities in Canada.
“Ottawa is a very multicultural city,” says Stephanie Estabrook, Canadian lead representative for Play for Peace. “Our goal is to bring together multiracial children and to teach them young that you can cooperate and communicate. We intend to build relationships by teaching them earlier to be a friend wherever you come from.”
Last year, two Play for Peace meetings were organized at St Anthony’s, but this year, the action will last all year.
On Nov. 22, 30 Grade 4 children at St Anthony’s gathered in the gym to practice teamwork in cooperative and non-competitive games.
For example, standing in a circle children imitated their leader, clapping their hands and singing.
They were having so much fun that they preferred to play with their new friends than sit still for an interview.
The same children will meet once a month until June with high school leaders.
During their community hours, the leaders organize games and guide the children’s relationship building. They become peacemakers.
Many of the students at St Anthony’s come from diverse backgrounds. Seventy per cent of these students speak English as a second language.
“The children don’t only come from different ethnic backgrounds, but also from different religious backgrounds,” explains John Dorner, principal at St Anthony’s. “If children are growing up with other children of a different background, that’s a part of their appreciation”.
“Our school motto is ‘we help each other’ and Play for Peace developed the same idea to promote an experience and the opportunity for children to build relationships. I’m expecting the children will be developing an ethno-culture and friendships.”
Play is where children meet and act as catalysts. School is an ideal place to educate children against conflicts and racism.
“The idea is not only to play,” explains John Dorner. “After they play, meetings with the lead representative are organized to discuss how children found the session. We expect them to explain their experience and to develop sensibility and awareness in humanity. We want to help children with conflict resolution, with listening to other children.”
Similar plays session are organized in two others local elementary schools in Ottawa, including Cambridge School. There are also sessions organized at a family shelter in Ottawa, where 70 children are living, to decrease fighting, violence and to help children build friendships.
A double cooperative play session with St Anthony’s and Cambridge schools is planned for January.