Empowering children as messengers of peace: time matters

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study explores the potential of empowering children as peace agents through education by using the case of the TEC4Schools program. The program is based on Allport’s Contact Theory and promotes prolonged exposure to the ‘other’ culture among culturally diverse groups of students. It is based on the hypothesis that extended contact periods encourage more positive attitudes towards different cultures. The study involved three groups of mainly 5th and 6th grade students: The first group participated in the program for the first time, and we call them first-year participants and some of them participated in the program for second year and we call them second-year program participants, and the control group who never participated. Surveys were distributed at the beginning and end of the year, exploring attitudes, proximity, and friendships with peers from the other group. The results showed that second-year participants improved their attitudes towards and willingness to be close to children from other cultures. These findings suggest that the TEC4Schools project and the TEC Model effectively improve attitudes towards children from other cultures among second-year participants. Further research is needed to understand these differences and refine the project to be more effective for all participants.