vancouver 2010

Make Your Peace:

an olympic Truce Guide for educators
Version 1.0 | September 28, 2009
PART ONE: EDUCATION AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES 5
Background 6
The olympic Truce 7
Make Your Peace — an Invitation to Participate 8

PART TWO: CHALLENGE PAGES 10

Work with Songs 11
Work with Stories 12
Work with Symbols 15
Work with Dance 16
Work with Sport 18
Work from role Models 20
Work through Global action 23

PART THREE: MAKE YOUR PEACE PROJECT 24

Get Personal 25
Process overview 27
assess Your Progress 28

PART FOUR: USEFUL LINKS AND RESOURCES 30

2 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

 Message from John Furlong
chIeF execuTIve oFFIcer, vancouver orGanIzInG coMMITTee
For The 2010 olYMPIc anD ParalYMPIc WInTer GaMeS (vanoc)
When vancouver won the bid to host the 2010 olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,
we at vanoc set out to touch the soul of the nation and inspire the world by delivering
an extraordinary olympic and Paralympic experience with lasting legacies. Beyond the
physical and economic legacies of the Games, we wanted to ensure a lasting legacy for
future generations of canadians, embracing sport and the values learned and practiced
on the playing field — respect, fair play, diversity and inclusivity — as a catalyst for good.

For canadians, the messages of peace, equality, inclusion and friendship are intrinsic
to local and global citizenship. Building on canada’s long history of peace at home,
and our international reputation as peacemakers abroad, the vancouver 2010 olympic
Truce aims to extend the truce ideals through an open invitation to act on creating and
promoting everyday peace at home, in schools, in the workplace, in communities and
around the globe. Further to previous truce initiatives, which have traditionally called
upon countries to lay down instruments of conflict, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Truce
invites individuals to make and celebrate peace in their own way.

Given her steadfast reputation for upholding and promoting the values of respect and
tolerance — core values of the olympic Truce — along with her work galvanizing youth
to action in order to benefit and improve their communities, we are extremely pleased
that her excellency, the right honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of canada,
has accepted our invitation to be the Patron of the vancouver 2010 olympic Truce.
her excellency’s involvement will focus particularly on the program’s national youth
engagement focus, which includes this Make Your Peace educational guide.

our goal with this Make Your Peace educational guide is to engage canadian youth in
the vancouver 2010 olympic Truce by learning about the value of sport and inspiring
them to act on the principles of olympism in their everyday lives. In other words, to live
olympic!

By fostering awareness of the olympic Truce and values in canadian classrooms and
communities, we will have achieved a success with these Games that we believe will
have a lasting impact beyond 2010.

John Furlong

3 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

 Foreword to the
Make Your Peace Guide
Sometimes a dream is all it takes to change our world in the most unexpected, unforeseen
and wonderful ways. Make Your Peace is exactly that: an invitation to dream big, to get
involved in any way possible, to be creative, and to channel your tremendous energy by
expressing yourselves through sports and the arts.

Since the very beginning of my mandate, I have made every effort to live by my motto,
“breaking down solitudes,” and to encourage young canadians to do the same. Make
Your Peace challenges all of you to break down the barriers of indifference and to take
an active role all around you: in your school, at home, in your neighbourhood and your
community. This means believing in your ability to expand the circle of peace, dialogue
and solidarity. and you will succeed if you use your imagination and give the very best of
yourselves.

This guide provides a golden opportunity to learn from one another and to make your
community a more harmonious place. I wish all of you a stimulating and rewarding
experience as you make this commitment to build peace and promote the spirit of
solidarity. It starts with You!

Michaëlle Jean

4 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

 PART ONE:
EDUCATION AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Welcome to the Make Your Peace guide
Make Your Peace supports the goal of the olympic Movement to promote peace among
the 205 nations of the world that send their athletes to participate in the olympic Games.

Background
The modern revival of the olympic Games was started by Pierre de coubertin in the
19th century as an educational movement. De coubertin believed that young people
could learn important things about themselves and other people when they challenged
themselves in sport and physical activity. he thought that an international olympic
Games, with friendly competition from great athletes, would motivate young people to
participate and encourage peace throughout the world.

olympism
De Coubertin’s educational mission appears in the Olympic Charter of
the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the following fundamental
principles:
• Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole
the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education,
olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the
educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental
ethical principles (Fundamental Principle #2).
• The goal of Olympism is to place everywhere sport at the service of the
harmonious development of man, with a view to encouraging the establishment
of a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity
(Fundamental Principle #3).

6 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

The olympic Truce1
The New Oxford English Dictionary defines a truce as “an agreement between enemies
or opponents to stop fighting or arguing for a certain time.”2 The word is derived from the
same root as the word “true.” It has a special meaning for the olympic Games because a
truce was declared prior to every ancient olympic Games.

ancient history of the olympic Truce

The tradition of the olympic Truce, or ekecheiria, was established in ancient Greece in
9th century Bc by the signature of a treaty between three kings in the Greek city
state called elis. Despite ongoing warfare, during the truce period the athletes, other
competitors and their families, as well as ordinary pilgrims, could travel in total safety to
attend the olympic Games and return afterwards to their respective countries. as the
opening of the Games approached, the sacred truce was proclaimed and announced by
citizens of elis, who travelled throughout Greece to pass on the message. For more
than a thousand years, the Greeks travelled in safety to participate in the Games.

The modern-day International Olympic Committee revived the

ancient concept of the Olympic Truce with the following goals:
• Protecting, as much as possible, the interests of the athletes and sport.
• Offering the opportunity to people at war with each other to stop their conflict
during the two weeks their athletes were competing in the olympic Games.
hopefully, this created windows of opportunity for dialogue and reconciliation.
• Using sport to establish contacts and find common ground among communities
in conflict.

The Olympic Truce is symbolized by a dove of peace flying over the Olympic
rings. The dove holds an olive branch, another symbol of peace. The sacred
flame of the Olympic Games appears in the background.

1
Adapted from International Olympic Committee. 2009. olympic.org/en/content/The-IOC/Commissions/International-relations-/
Olympic-Truce/. Retrieved September 8, 2009.
2
The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford University Press, 1988.

7 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

Make Your Peace — an Invitation to Participate

our vision
all young canadians are inspired by the olympic Spirit to make peace at home
and in their communities.

Our purposes are:

• To create opportunities for young people to learn and practice
peaceful behaviour.
• To encourage young people to plan and organize peace projects.

We want you to use this guide if you are:

• A school administrator, a teacher, a community youth group leader
or a youth sport leader.
• Anyone who wants to promote peace.

outcomes
Use this Make Your Peace guide to help young people with the following:
• Respond to and create messages of peace through song, story
and performance.
• Understand and respond to the peace messages of symbols and ceremonies.
• Research and appreciate the challenges of being a role model for peace.
• Identify and celebrate peace heroes in their own families and communities.
• Become informed, inspired and involved through the work of global peace
action groups.
• Explore reasons for conflict, and identify and practice strategies
for resolving conflicts.
• Collaborate to develop safe and caring schools, sport clubs, homes
and communities.
• Plan, organize, implement and celebrate a peace initiative in their families,
schools, sport clubs or communities.
• Share dreams and peace initiatives with other Canadians and with the world.
• Understand that peace begins at home.

8 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

contents
Make Your Peace:
• Offers suggestions for integrating Make Your Peace activities into your
existing programs.
• Includes activities for young people 8–18 years of age.
• Provides suggestions for helping young people create projects on themes
of peace, acceptance and respect for others.
• Includes resources and materials to help you get started now.

a Word about Methodology

The activities of this guide are based on the following principles
of learning:
• Learning is an active process.
• Learning takes place individually and cooperatively in groups.
• Learners have different styles and ways of learning.

The guide includes activities for learners aged 8–18 years. Since we know
that young people love a challenge, the learning activities are written as
Challenge Pages. The challenges are intended to:
• engage learners through written, oral, visual and creative activities
• encourage group as well as individual activity
• be adapted as appropriate for various age levels and abilities
• appeal to a variety of learning styles

Helping young people to develop positive values is a complex process.

Therefore Make Your Peace engages young people in activities that:
• appeal to their emotions
• stimulate their creative and imaginative participation
• encourage discussion and critical thinking
• offer opportunities for them to practice and rehearse positive behaviour

enJoY!

9 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

 PART TWO:
CHALLENGE PAGES
a. Work with Songs
Songs combine music with words (known as lyrics), which often address our emotions.
Songs are also thought provoking. They present questions, ideas or topics to reflect upon
and talk about.

Your challenges
- listen to a song of your choice that promotes peace (for example, Let There Be Peace
On Earth3).
• What do you think about when you listen to the music and lyrics? What colours
would you use to describe the music of the song? What images come to mind
as you listen? What feelings do the music and lyrics of the song present? How
do you feel when you listen to the song? Discuss the aspect of the song that
makes you feel that way, for example, the rhythm, the instruments used, the
voice, the meaning in the lyrics.
• Share your reasons for choosing a particular song and explain how it makes
you think about peace when you listen to it.
• Create a piece of visual artwork (for example, collage, painting, sculpture, mobile)
to represent the message of a song of peace of your choice. Interpret your
creation for others.
• Present your thoughts and feelings about a song of peace in another art form,
such as a photograph, painting, sculpture, drama, role play, mural, quilt or
video/movie.
• Read, recite or memorize the lyrics of a song of peace. Choose a different piece
of music to play in the background while you read the words. What are the
important messages? How does changing the music alter the message
or feelings of the song?
• Find song lyrics or instrumental music with positive messages of peace by other
composers or from different cultural traditions. research and explain the history
of the lyrics and/or music.

- compose the music and write lyrics for your own song with a message promoting peace.

- Find or write a poem with a message of peace, and select music to accompany the
poem. explain the message of the poem and your reasons for the choice of music
to accompany the words/message.

- Stage a peace concert or a Canadian Idol-type competition featuring songs, dances

or musical performances.

3
For one version of the song go to the following website: blueyze.net/peaceonearth.html. Retrieved September 8, 2009.

11 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

B. Work with Stories
Storytelling is a powerful way to communicate values and messages to the people of
a culture. Most cultural traditions tell stories about events that ended war or conflict
and promoted peace. These stories inspire us all to find ways to end conflict in our own
countries and communities.

Your challenges
- read the side story about the founding of the olympic Games and the olympic Truce.
• Find other stories about the founding of the ancient Olympic Games.
Share them.
• Make a peace treaty in your group or class. Then make a big disc out of clay
(or other material) like the Disk of Ifitos. Inscribe the important messages
of your treaty on the disk.

- read other stories or legends about peace-making events. examples might include:
The Great Peacemaker: Deganawida and The Great Law of Peace4
or The Dove Bird of Peace from Azerbaijan.5
• Tell one of these stories in your own words.
• Retell the story in sign language or print it in Braille.
• Write a peace story with your own characters.

4
The Great Peacemaker, wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Peacemaker, Retrieved September 9, 2009

5
Sadnik Pirsultanli, Legends from Azerbaijan, The Dove Bird of Peace,
azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/ai131_folder/131_articles/131_legend_dove.html, Retrieved September 9, 2009.

12 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

The Story of the olympic Truce6
The ancient Olympic Games were closely connected to the worship of the gods,
goddesses and heroes. As the most famous of the national festivals of the ancient
Greeks, they were celebrated in the summer every four years.

The word for truce in ancient Greek is ekecheiria, which literally means “holding hands.”
According to mythology, at the beginning of the 8th century BC, Ifitos, king of Elis,
was deeply concerned about the warring state of affairs in Greece, which had been
devastated by wars and plagues. He turned to the god Apollo at Delphi for advice and
guidance on what he should do to save the country. Apollo suggested that Ifitos and
the people of Elis should restore the sport contests and establish the Olympic Games as
a celebration of peace.

In 776 BC, King Ifitos met with other Greek leaders to sign an agreement. The text of the
agreement was written on a disk and kept in the most ancient temple on the Olympic site.
According to the agreement, there was to be a cessation of any hostility for a period of
one month (later three months) to allow for the safe, peaceful travel of athletes, artists
(musicians, poets, actors) and spectators to and from Olympia, and for their participation
in the Games. Neither armies nor armed individuals were allowed to enter the sacred
sanctuary, and no death penalties were to be carried out during the period of the truce.
This sacred truce,or ekecheiria, lasted 12 centuries and was rarely violated.

- read a book or a story in which peacemaking is a theme (see the list

of canadian stories on the next page that deal with the theme of peace).
• Describe the conflict situation(s). How is the conflict solved?
• Who is the “peacemaker” in the story? How do other characters contribute to
making peace?
• Ceremonies and symbols help people to remember and celebrate their
commitments to peace. What are the symbols and/or ceremonies that celebrate
or represent the peacemaking event in the story?
• With a small group, dramatize an important peacemaking scene from the story.

- Write a story about a peacemaking event that has taken place in your family, school or
community. create a role play, puppet show or mini-drama about a peaceful resolution of
a problem at school or on the playground.

6
Adapted from Guo, Y and Binder, D. 2004. The Truce Story: Teacher’s Guide. Athens: International Olympic Truce Centre, p.2.

13 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

canadian Stories on the Theme of Peace
Below is a list of titles suggested by the canada council for the arts on the theme of
peace building and conflict resolution. These works were all finalists or recipients of a
Governor General's literary award in the category of children’s literature.

English:
* Deborah ellis: Parvana's Journey (the story of a young afghan girl who embarks
on a voyage to find her family), for 10–14 years (2002).

* Stéphane Jorisch: Jabberwocky (based on the classic poem by lewis carroll, this story
explores the effects of war on each generation and the influence of propaganda on
the collective mind), for 9 years and older (2004).

* Karen levine, Hana's Suitcase (the true story of some young Japanese children
exploring the mystery of an old suitcase with the name of a young czechoslovakian
girl who was sent to Auschwitz during World War II), for 9–12 years (2002).

* Sharon e. McKay,: Charlie Wilcox (a book about a young boy from newfoundland who
mistakenly finds himself at the front lines of World War I), for 12 years and older (2000).

* Kit Pearson, The Sky is Falling (a story of a young girl and her brother living in southern
england during World War II who are sent overseas to protect them from bombs and
possible invasion from Hitler’s army) for 9–12 years (1989).

* ange zhang: Red Land, Yellow River: A Story from the Cultural Revolution (a book
describing the author’s efforts to join the red Guards, a youth group enforcing the laws
of Mao in China during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s), for 8–12 years (2004).

En français :
* laurent Grimon, Le chevalier des Arbres (un roman qui jette un regard inusité sur
la Seconde Guerre Mondiale), pour les13 ans et plus (2003).

* luc Melanson, Le grand voyage de Monsieur (texte de Gilles Tibo) (une histoire d'amitié
entre un homme qui a perdu son enfant et un autre enfant victime de la guerre), pour
les 4 à 7 ans (2002).

* Janice nadeau, Nul poisson où aller (texte de Marie-France hébert) (raconte la cruauté
de la guerre et évoque l'incompréhensible), pour les 12 ans et plus (2004).

* Bruce roberts, Fidèles éléphants (texte d'Yukio Tschiya traduit par Michèle Marineau)
(parle de guerre et de ses aberrations), pour les 8 ans et plus (2001).

* hélène vachon, L'oiseau de passage (un récit sur la pauvreté ainsi que la guerre
et leurs séquelles sur la vie des gens), pour les 10 ans et plus (2002).

14 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

c. Work with Symbols
A symbol is defined as a shape or sign that represents an organization or idea.7
Sometimes a symbol sends a stronger message than words. a heart shape, for example,
sends the message of love on valentine’s Day. around the world there are many different
symbols for the idea of peace.

Your Challenges
- Look at the symbol for the Olympic Truce. How many different ideas are represented?

- use the internet or other sources to explore the origins and stories of other symbols of
peace. Discuss the messages of these symbols.
• Talk about why these symbols have become an important way to represent
the idea of peace.
• Which peace symbols are most meaningful for you? Why?

- Bring a symbol from home and talk about its importance to you or your family.

- Make a “coat of arms” for yourself or your family, school or organization.

Include a symbol that represents your vision for peace in your family or organization.
explain why you chose the symbols on your coat of arms.

- Make posters showing the following:

• Symbols of peace from different cultures and different parts of the world.
• One symbol of peace and its meaning or significance to you or to the world.

- create a symbol of peace to represent your family, your school or your

community organization.

- Watch a video of the opening ceremony of an olympic Games. What symbols

of peace can you identify?

- Resolve a conflict situation and create a symbol of peace to celebrate

the peacemaking.

- Take war toys and turn them into peace art (go to wartoystopeaceart.com
for ideas and a curriculum guide).

7
The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford University Press, 1988.

Photo credit: 1. tseringdhondupacho k, 2. Valerie Everett, 3. Mourner.

15 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

D. Work with Dance
Since early times, dances, song and ceremony have brought people together for
celebration. Dance transforms images, ideas and feelings into meaningful movement.
Participation in and appreciation of dance helps us understand and express ourselves
and others, and participate in the heritage of the many different cultural traditions
in the world.

Your Challenges
- Watch movies, music videos or taped segments from Tv showing different
styles of dances.
• For each dance describe your first impression.
• Examine how the components (for example, movements, performers, music,
stagecraft) worked together to achieve the emotions or messages that are
communicated.
• Identify evidence of particular cultures, styles or time periods represented
in the work.
• Think about and discuss what the work means to you, and then analyze
how your responses are influenced by your own experiences and perceptions
of the world.

- create or observe a series of movements to represent different emotions or ideas

(for example, peace, joy, conflict, friendship, togetherness, confusion, resolution).
• Use the elements of movement — body, space, time, dynamics, relationship —
to analyze these movements.
• Find a piece of music that would be appropriate for each of these series
of movements.
• Practice the series of movements to the music that you have chosen.
Perform your dance.
• In a small group, discuss your feelings as you participated in these movements.

16 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

- Learn and practice the basic steps of figure skating, and improvise a figure skating
routine to music with a message of peace.

- learn and perform dances from different cultural traditions. Make costumes
and props and stage a multicultural dance festival.

- Improvise a dance to a particular style of music (for example, line, hip-hop, jive, waltz,
latin american), then create movements to that style in a variety of different groupings
using strategies such as mirroring, shadowing or flocking
with others.

- Drumming to accompany dancing and singing is a tradition in many cultures. Invite

a drum group or drummer to come to your group to conduct a drumming workshop.
Describe your experiences during this workshop.
• Investigate the drumming and dancing traditions of different parts of the world
(for example, african, Japanese, chinese, First nations of north america, Ireland).
• Create your own drumming and dancing group.

17 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

e. Work with Sport
according to the olympic charter, the goal of the olympic Movement is to contribute to
building a peaceful world by educating youth through sport practiced in accordance with
olympism and its values.

Your Challenges
- People say that sport builds character. Do you agree with this statement? Why? Discuss
the ways that participation in sport has the potential to contribute to your physical,
moral and intellectual development. Make a poster illustrating the positive values of
sport.

- Some people say that competition and the pressure to win prevents sport from
contributing to the development of positive values. Do you agree? Why? Discuss
examples of situations in which a sporting event or situation did not contribute to a
peaceful or positive outcome. Participate in a debate or a panel discussion on the topic.
Turn your panel discussion into a videotaped documentary.

- Sports have rules. Why do they have rules? What would happen to a sport that had no
rules? What happens in sport if someone breaks the rules? Make up a game and the rules
that go with it. What happens if someone breaks the rules?

- role play the following situations and develop two positive problem solving strategies
for each situation:
• Improv #1 – Two boys and two girls are playing a game of floor hockey
and one of them gets very angry when an opponent scores a goal.
• Improv #2 – Three people are participating in a game of baseball.
one of them argues with the umpire when she or he makes a bad call.
• Improv #3 – Five people are participating in a school track meet.
one of the team members is caught cheating.

18 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

- Many athletes are wonderful ambassadors for the positive and peaceful messages
of sport: joy of effort, fair play, respect for others, pursuit of excellence and friendship.
Invite an athlete from your community who represents these values to speak to
your group.
• Research the careers and values of Canadian Olympic and Paralympic role
models such as Jeff adams (wheelchair racing), Stephanie Dixon (Paralympic
swimming), Cindy Klassen (speed skating), Jeff Buttle (figure skating), Hayley
Wickenheiser (hockey) and Beckie Scott (cross-country skiing).

- Evaluate the influence of the media on sport. List some of the ways that the media
communicates peaceful and positive messages about the values of sport. list some of
the ways that the media communicates negative messages about the values of sport.
create an advertisement or event announcement communicating positive values about
a sport.

- Participate in a sport or physical activity of your choice. record in a diary

the events that created peaceful or joyful feelings and the events that
created conflict. Analyze your record.

- how do major sport events like the olympic and Paralympic Games
promote peace?

19 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

F. Work from role Models
You will meet some wonderful men and women when you read stories about heroes of
peace. Their experiences will challenge you to take action for peace in your own families,
schools and communities.

Your Challenges
- Former prime minister of canada lester B. Pearson was the only canadian to win a nobel
Peace Prize. Mr. Pearson was skilled at helping people who were enemies talk to each
other and make the world a better place.
• Find out more about the work of Lester B. Pearson.
• Find out more about the missions of the United Nations (UN) or the
north atlantic Treaty organization (naTo).
• Create a newspaper or magazine that tells stories about Canadian peacekeeping
missions in other parts of the world.
• Interpret the symbols of the UN and the UN Peacekeeping Forces.

- read the real-life stories Pink Shirt Day and Not Without Azzy appearing below.
• What is the problem in each of the events? How did the young people help
to resolve conflict and create peace and harmony in their communities?
• Pretend you are interviewing one of the people in these real-life stories. Record
your interview.
• Discover how other youths across Canada have made changes through the
Youth Dialogue hosted by her excellency the right honourable Michaëlle
Jean, Governor General of canada (see citizenvoices.gg.ca/en/themes/youth_
dialogues).

20 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

 - research heroes of peace in your community (see the “heroes live here”
resources for teachers at 2010legaciesnow.com/heroes_live_here/).
• Describe what makes someone a hero.
• Produce a documentary on the life and work of a local hero of your choice.
• Interview someone in your community who has worked to resolve conflicts
and promote peaceful living. or think of someone who is a role model for you.
Describe the qualities of the person that you admire. research your family
history and identify a family member whom you admire. Why do you admire
that person?

- Discuss the following topic: After a conflict or war, there must be some way
to ensure that peace is carried on. how can families, friends or teammates keep
a peaceful environment after they have resolved a conflict?

- create a mural or a poster celebrating the work of one or more heroes of peace.

21 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

Pink Shirt Day8
“David Shepherd, Travis Price and their teenage friends organized a high-school protest to
wear pink in sympathy with a Grade 9 boy who was being bullied . . . [They] took a stand
against bullying when they protested against the harassment of a new Grade 9 student
by distributing pink T-shirts to all the boys in their school.

‘I learned that two people can come up with an idea, run with it, and it can do wonders,’
says Mr. Price, 17, who organized the pink protest. ‘Finally, someone stood up for a
weaker kid.’

So Mr. Shepherd and some others headed off to a discount store and bought 50 pink
tank tops. They sent out message to schoolmates that night, and the next morning they
hauled the shirts to school in a plastic bag.

As they stood in the foyer handing out the shirts, the bullied boy walked in. His face spoke
volumes. ‘It looked like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders,’ Mr. Price recalled.

The bullies were never heard from again.”

not Without azzy9

Sarah osborne, alicia Stainton and other preteen girls on a soccer team in nepean, ontario
boycotted a tournament because one of their teammates wasn't allowed to play in her
Muslim headscarf.

It was Sunday, and the second string of their team was heading onto the field. Suddenly,
the referee made a call: 11-year-old asmahan Mansour, known as azzy, wouldn't be
allowed to play in her hijab.

The nepean girls had trained hard and were eager to play the national-level match. But
there was no way they'd play without azzy. They decided to walk out of the tournament,
forfeiting their game rather than dividing their team. (Three other ottawa-area teams
followed suit). In the world of grownups, the flare-up on the field was all about culture
clashes and religious accommodation.

To the 11-year-olds in knee socks, it was about playing fair and playing as one. To them,
azzy was a teammate, not a religious symbol . . . ultimately, the team's unity proved to
be its strength. The nepean hotspurs Select went undefeated this season, winning the
league championship.

8
Globe and Mail. 2007. Quoted in Pink Shirt Day. Online at http://www.pinkshirtday.ca/about/. Retrieved September 9, 2009.

9
Peritz. I. 2007. Students give world a lesson in courage. Globeandmail.com, December 26, 2007. Online at
theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071226.wnationbuild27/BNStory/National, Retrieved September 9, 2009.

22 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

G. Work through Global action
Young people around the world are taking action to promote peace. They use modern
communication tools to share their passions and concerns. They talk with groups of
friends around the world online or through their cell phones. They create websites and
organize projects devoted to peace.

Your Challenges
- use the TakingITGlobal (tigweb.org/), united nations association in canada
(unac) (unac.org) and Youcan (youcan.ca) websites for more resources and to
find out how organizations use the internet to promote peace activities.
• A vision is a dream or a hope for the future. What is the vision of TakingITGlobal?
Of the UNAC? Of YOUCAN?
• How do the websites make you feel? Are you inspired to participate? Why or
why not?
• What is the symbol of each organization? What do you think each means? How
does the symbol represent the work of the organization?
• What is the content of each the website? Make a table of contents of the main
topics or headings. Make a poster of your own showing the contents of one of
the websites.
• You have been given the job of improving the websites. What suggestions would
you make to help make the message of the organization more clear, focused or
attention-grabbing?

- Check out the websites of other global action groups. What are their missions?
What are their projects? How are their projects organized? Examples:
• Citizen Voices (citizenvoices.gg.ca)
• Apathy Is Boring (apathyisboring.com/)
• Youth Action for Peace (yap.org/)
• Youth Action International (youthactioninternational.org)

- Summarize five features that you like best from all of the websites.
Discuss the reasons for your choices.

- apply what you learned in a peace project for your own family, school,
sport club or community (see project guidelines on the following pages).

23 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

 PART THREE:
MAKE YOUR PEACE PROJECT
Get inspired. Get involved. Take action.

Get Personal
Global issues of peace have their roots in the same kinds of conflicts that we all
experience in our own communities and in our relationships with others. It is sometimes
easier for us to make suggestions for others than to bring peace into our own lives.

Think about the emotional or relationship issues and concerns in your own families,
among your friends, at school, in your community organization or sport club or in the
community in which you live.

- Discuss the reason(s) for conflict among your family, friends and teammates or in your
community? What happens when people are in conflict? How can this be prevented?

- Identify one action that you could take today that would help to create peace between
you and someone in your family, or between you and a friend.

- Peaceful behaviour has to be learned. Discuss the ways that people learn
peaceful behaviour.

- Discuss the role of rules in preventing conflict. What happens when someone
breaks the rules?

- The olympic Games bring the best athletes in the world together for friendly
competition in sport? But sometimes what goes on in sport is not very friendly. Share
examples of friendly and unfriendly action in a sport that you know about. explain why
there seems to be unfriendly action? Suggest ways to end unfriendly and unfair play in
the sport.

- Sometimes it is easier to focus on the problems than to be thankful for what we have.
Make a list or draw a poster of all of the things that you are thankful for in your life.

- Write a journal or keep a record of your journey to achieve personal peace.

25 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

- Make a film about peace (check out the racism. Stop It! national video competition
at march21.gc.ca/).

- Design a simple peace action website for a group of friends, your family, your school or
your community organization. Share your website with others. here are some questions
to get you started:
• What is the vision or mission of your peace action website?
• What activities will help your group or organization achieve its mission?
• What topics will you include on your website? Make it simple; pick three or four.

- Design your website.

• What is your symbol? What colours will you use on your website?
Why will you use these colours?
• How will you organize your topics?
• What photos or graphics will you use?

26 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

Process overview10
use the steps outlined below to help you plan and implement your peace project. These
steps are taken from the work of the TakingITGlobal Guide to action. The website address
for the Guide to action is tigweb.org/action/guide/online.html.

remember to keep a record of the development of your project through video, photos,
scrapbooking and narratives, so you can share your experiences with others at the end
of the project.

1 Reflect and Get Inspired

Think about the changes you would like to see happen, whether they are in yourself, your
school, your community, your country, or even the world. Who or what inspires you to take
action? Seeking out sources of inspiration can give you great ideas and help you to find
the strength to turn your vision into a reality.

2 Identify and Get Informed

What issues are you most passionate about? Learn more by gathering information about
the things that interest you. By informing yourself you will be more prepared to tackle the
challenges that lie ahead.

3 Lead and Get Others Involved

Being a good leader is about building on the skills you have and knowing how to leverage
the strengths of others. Write down the skills that you and your team members have and
see how each member of your team can use their strengths to lead in different ways.
remember that good leadership includes good teamwork!

4 Get Connected
networking can give you ideas, access to knowledge and experience, and help in gaining
support for your project. create a map of your networks and track your contacts.

5 Plan and Get Moving

now that you are equipped to take action, it’s time to begin planning. Start with identifying
the issue you are most interested in taking action on and one goal you can work towards.
When you have your plan, stay positive and focused. encountering obstacles is normal. You
often learn more from things that are difficult than those that are easy!

6 Have a Lasting Impact

Monitoring and evaluation are important parts of project management. During and at the
end of your project you’ll want to identify the obstacles you face and the lessons you are
learning. encouraging other youth to get involved in the issue you care about is a great
way to sustain your efforts. remember, even if you don’t achieve all of your expectations,
you likely influenced others and experienced personal growth!

10
tigweb.org/action/guide/online.html, Retrieved September 9, 2009.

27 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

assess Your Progress
criteria for Scoring

5 Outstanding
our work on this phase of our project was outstanding. We were enthusiastic, well
organized and worked well together. our work in this phase provided an excellent
foundation for the next phases.

4 Good
our work on this phase of our project was good. We understood our responsibilities and
were able to work together. As a result, we were able to move confidently to the next
phase.

3 Satisfactory
our work on this phase of our project was satisfactory. We had a few problems, but were
able to complete our tasks in this phase and move on to the next phase.

2 Weak
our work on this phase of our project was rather weak. We had problems understanding
our task, getting ourselves motivated and/or accomplishing our responsibilities. as a
result, we were not well prepared for the next phase.

1 Incomplete
our work on this phase of our project was not completed or was not well done. We did not
work well together and therefore it will be difficult for us to move to the next phase.

28 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

 Phase Questions to Think About Our Comments Our Score

1. Reflect and - What inspired you to take action?

get inspired - Were there any surprises?

2. Identify and - What were your most useful resources?

get informed - In what ways have your efforts helped
you to gain more in-depth knowledge?

3. Lead and get - What skills have you developed by taking action?
others involved - What skills do you and your team need to improve?

4. Get connected - What contacts did you make as you

planned and organized your project?
- What support did your contacts provide?

5. Plan and - What goals did you achieve?

get moving What goals did you not achieve?
- What were your main obstacles? How could you
overcome these obstacles in the future?

6. Have a lasting - What outcome are you most proud of?

impact - What would you do differently next time?

29 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

 PART FOUR:
USEFUL LINKS AND RESOURCES
The following websites provide information and support
when organizing your Make Your Peace olympic Truce
activities.

Canadian school portal for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic
Winter Games
vancouver2010.com/edu

Official website of the Olympic Movement

olympic.org

Official website of the International Olympic Truce Centre

olympictruce.org

United Nations and the Olympic Truce

un.org/events/olympictruce/appeal.shtml

Provides background on the olympic Truce and describes the role of the united nations
with regard to the solemn appeal for the observance of a truce during each olympic/
Paralympic Games.

Governor General’s Youth Dialogues

citizenvoices.gg.ca

The Governor General’s Youth Dialogues 2009, can We Talk, series will focus on
galvanizing canadians in every part of the country to become catalysts of hope, creativity
and social transformation in their neighbourhoods, villages, reserves, communities and the
wider society.

Heroes Live Here

2010legaciesnow.com/heroes_live_here/

heroes live here™ encourages children and youth to discover what makes a hero heroic,
to celebrate the everyday heroes in their own lives, and to act heroically themselves
through projects that reach out to their community.

Apathy Is Boring
apathyisboring.com

apathy is Boring is a national non-partisan project that uses art, media and technology to
encourage active citizenry, outreaching to a broad demographic of youth about how to be
more involved in their communities and the democratic process.

31 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

Right to Play
righttoplay.com

right to Play is an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play
programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and
communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world.

TakingITGlobal
tigweb.org/

a collaborative learning community providing youth with access to global opportunities,

cross-cultural connections and meaningful participation in decision making.

UNESCO: Peace Is In Our Hands

http://ww3.unesco.org/iycp/

Provides links to un peace initiatives, including the culture of Peace.

United Nations Association in Canada (UNAC)

unac.org

The united nations association in canada works with educational communities in every
province and territory to build their capacity to educate young people from a global
perspective.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

un.org/disabilities/

The convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities and its optional Protocol came
into force on May 3, 2008. The convention aims to ensure that persons with disabilities
enjoy all human rights on an equal basis with others.

YOUCAN
youcan.ca

YOUCAN is an national, non-profit organization focused on youth-led initiatives in non-

violent conflict resolution and violence prevention, both nationally and internationally.

Youth Action for Peace (YAP)

yap.org

Youth action for Peace is an international peace movement which aims for societies of
peace, justice and self determination.

32 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS

Youth Action International
youthactioninternational.org

Youth action International is a non-governmental organization that uses grassroots

techniques to develop and implement programs that help alleviate the suffering of
children affected by war or living in difficult circumstances, empower them to reach their
full potential and break cycles of violence and poverty.

War Toys to Peace Art

wartoystopeaceart.com

acts of Transformation: War Toys to Peace art asks children and youth to surrender their
war toys so that they may be transformed into works of art.

SHINE A SPOTLIGHT
ON YOUR STUDENTS
and inspire someone with just
a click of your mouse!
At vancouver~.com/edu, we’re looking
for great school projects that have the power
to inspire and engage young people in the
Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic
Winter Games.
Share your students’ art, poetry, photos
and even music with others across Canada
and the world, and find lots of great
curriculum–linked resources on fun activities
surrounding Canada’s Games.
Receive stickers and pins just for submitting
your classroom project and be entered to
win a special grand prize to share with
find your dream. your entire school.
tell your story.
inspire someone.

13 09 2009 1115 Printed @ 100% V4 VANOC

FILE NAME DESCRIPTION Voice Half Page
ADV-1345_EDU_Voice_HalfPageAd.ai COLOURS C M Y K
DOCKET ADV-1345
TRIM 7” x 4.65” SF/jp
PIC INFO HiRes
designer
BLEED Insertion Date
Project
LIVE
Manager DW OUTPUT GD revised & uploaded
AD#
33 MAKE YOUR PEACE: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS
MAKE YOUR PEACE: An Olympic Truce Guide for Educators

© 2009, The vancouver organizing committee

for the 2010 olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (vanoc)

contents of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part provided the intended
use is for non-commercial educational purposes and full acknowledgement is given to the
vancouver organizing committee for the 2010 olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

cataloguing-in-Publication Data

author: Deanna l. Binder (Ph.D)