![Teacher-and-students-from-Preschool-are-happy-to-visit-the-library-during-the-rest-time-3-700x441 Muslim children and teacher with peace library books](https://i0.wp.com/quakerrecollaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Teacher-and-students-from-Preschool-are-happy-to-visit-the-library-during-the-rest-time-3-700x441-1.jpg?resize=700%2C441&ssl=1)
Children’s Peace Libraries:
What if Children Learned to Read by Reading about Peace?
Conversation Circles: May 21 & 23, 2024
Born of the transformational Alternatives to Violence (AVP) work in Rwanda, Friends Peace Teams is establishing Children’s Peace Libraries in communities around the world. The libraries are small collections of printed and electronic books that teach children to read while instilling concepts and skills needed for a just society.
One of the core ideas of the Children’s Peace Libraries is to provide a community gathering place, not only to access peace-oriented children’s literature, but also to bring people together through Read Aloud story sessions, AVP training, and other activities to build caring communities.
The English language Children’s Peace Library collection can be viewed on the website. In addition to their value in teaching peace and justice, the stories also help children learn English, which is used for communication across cultures. Providing examples by reading level is intended to help librarians, teachers and parents select appropriate books in their home language.
QUERIES:
- What are the Children’s Peace Libraries?
- Why were they started? How did they get started?
- What principles and practices apply to reading and to a peaceful, just society?
- How would Children’s Peace Library principles and practices apply in North America?
- How can we, as religious educators, use criteria that Children’s Peace Library working group has developed to curate libraries in our meetings?
- How can we use these collections to highlight books on peace themes in our public libraries?
Join these conversations to learn from Friends who are collaborating with the Rwanda Peace Libraries and other organizations to improve English language learning, critical thinking, and social skills.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
Conversation Starters:
-
Erika Mittag, Austin Friends Meeting, SCYM
-
Sally Farneth, Portland Friends Meeting, NEYM
- Anne Collins, Saratoga Friends Meeting, NYYM
Facilitators:
- Elizabeth Freyman, Albuquerque Friends Meeting, IMYM
- Sita Diehl, Madison Friends Meeting, NYM
RESOURCES:
-
Children’s Peace Libraries, Friends Peace Teams,
-
Articles on Children’s Peace Libraries around the world
-
Literacy for Peace and Justice, Friends Peace Teams
Learn more: Visit the QREC Resource Library and subscribe to our announcements
An Introduction
The Quaker Religious Education Collaborative (QREC) is an international, cross-branch, grassroots network of Friends sharing a stewardship for lifelong Quaker faith formation through religious education. We formed in April 2014 and now serve more than 300 Friends in our network. We actively engage and support each other across languages and continents. We gather for regional and annual conferences and offer monthly Conversation Circles via an online conferencing platform.
Steering Circle
![HandIcons-BlueYellow-100px](https://i0.wp.com/quakerrecollaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/HandIcons-BlueYellow-100px.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1)
We share leadership as part of our collaborative mission, making decisions using the Quaker ‘sense of the meeting’ process, sitting in expectant, worshipful waiting for the emergence of shared truth. Read more…
Working Circles
![GreenBrownHand Hand Icon](https://i0.wp.com/quakerrecollaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GreenBrownHand.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1)
Our work takes place in ‘circles’ or small groups of Friends who labor on a common task, usually meeting by video conference due to the geographic diversity of the membership. Read more…
The Resource Library
Finders Guide, a sampling of the collection
The QREC Resource Library is a place to share lessons and other educational information in support of our work as Quaker religious educators. This library is a forum for curricula, articles, videos and other educational materials on Quaker themes. You will also find principles, policies and procedures to strengthen operation of your child, youth and adult religious education programs.
Children's Education
Adult Education
Family
African Quaker Library
Youth Education
Small Meetings
Young Adult Friends
Biblioteca QREC
Events
Find renewal, companionship, and help for nitty gritty issues in Quaker religious education, all the while opening spaces for Spirit to work and listening together for God’s way forward.
QREC holds an annual conference and retreat. In addition we hold online Conversation Circles and post other religious education events as we learn about them.
Conversation Circles
![GreenBlueHand](https://i0.wp.com/quakerrecollaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GreenBlueHand.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1)
Online conferences for Quaker religious educators to share about their work. Conversations are scheduled for two sessions per topic to encourage international participation. Join the conversation…
Other Events
![RedBlueHand-100px Hand Icon](https://i0.wp.com/quakerrecollaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/RedBlueHand-100px.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1)
Religious education events of interest to Quakers from all parts of the world. Please let us know about upcoming online or in-person events happening in your area. See the list of upcoming events…
Love at the Heart
Spiritual Practices
Discernment
Active Caring
Quaker Family Culture
Finding the Light
Faith at Home
Home is the heart of faith formation for all families. This is especially true for Friends. As an experiential religion, Quakerism is best learned through living in loving community. Indeed, the vast majority of faith formation for our young Friends happens at home in the busy swirl of daily life.
Become a Member
Submit Resources
Get Announcements
Donate
Attend an Event
Contact Us
Get Involved
QREC depends on all of us sharing our gifts and skills as religious educators. Here are some of the ways you can get involved…