Breaking the Silence
Understanding our Connected Past in order to Build a United Future
September 2004 – September 2005


"Appreciation of the Culture and Traditions in the Promotion of a Culture of Peace while helping students from different parts of the world understand their common bond and linkages."

Our participation in this project is our contribution to the United Nations International Year of The Abolition of Slavery 2004. Many countries are coming together from the international community, the academic world, civil society, women, men and students to promote a “culture of peace “ while exchanging indigenous knowledge. Students are encouraged to research the history of the people who came to their country, the legacy they left and the impact on their population today.

Many students from Africa, the Caribbean, USA, Europe or India, for example, may not know of their connection to people in other parts of the world, Participants can share information about personalities, familylife, heroes, nationals, nations, communities, islands, cities, dressing customs, religion, food, customs, language spoken, trade, games, etc., and links with those countries today. By discovering their personal connections to other parts of the world they can gain a sense of their global citizenship and enhance and develop their sense of self-esteem.

All age groups are invited to participate between

Initial participating groups: TIPS iEARN, Senegal iEARN, Suriname iEARN and Trinidad and Tobago iEARN

Curriculum area: Social Studies, Science: Language Arts, History, Fine Arts, Cultural Arts, Culinary Arts, Geography

Suggested projects and classroom activities:
Genealogy research
Creation of an autobiography
Geography research
Storytelling
Drama
Drawings
E ssays
M usic
Foods
Tracing the origin of children games
Cultural activities
Sports
Clothes that represent the different cultures and regions.

The project languages: English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish

We expect participants to accumulate a greater understanding of history, cultures, geography and the world, as it relates to them and to learn to respect all nations for what they have done for peace.

This project is meant to promote peace and cultural understanding while building personal global connections that promote appreciation of cultural differences..

Elizabeth Burgos: eliza@teacher.com or bettyburgos@hotmail.com
Khadeeja Sherrel-Morse: khsherrell@aol.com
Rea George: trinshrink@msn.com
Linda Dick: lLucindapd@msn.com
Gia Gaspard-Taylor, Trinidad and Tobago: iearntnt@hotmail.com

Related Links:
http://www.unesco.org/education
http://www.antislavery.org
UNESCO Children's 'Breaking the Silence' Art Gallery
http://www.yale.edu/glc
http://www.antislavery.org/breakingthesilence/
http://psu.edu/ur/2002/slavetrade.html
http://www.unesco.org/education/asp/flagship/tst.shtml

"Appreciation of the Culture and Traditions of Developing Countries"

Following the iEARNTnT Workshop held on our sister Isle Tobago, the teachers got together to produce the following Social Science Project:

Students are invited to research the history of the people who came early to their country/island, the legacy they left and the impact it has on the population today. Participants can share information about the persons/nations that came to colonize their country/island, as well as the customs, way of dress, dances, foods, culture and language spoken. Links with the countries today, e.g travel and commerce.

Ages: All
Duration: Ongoing
Language: English
Forum: Culture. acp.iearn.culture
Website: http://www.iearntandt.interconnection.org
Contact: Lidia Dick, Jacqueline Springer Dillon, Patricia Mitchell.
Email: ilucindapd@msn.com or iearntnt@hotmail.com

Note: 2004 UN Slavery Abolition Year, aimed at mobilizing the international community, the academic world, civil society and promote a culture of peace while exchanging indegenious knowledge, in that context this is a very important project in this year 2004 and beyond.