International Fund for Animal Welfare on the move . Meet an organization that works to save individual animals , animal populations and habitats all over the world and foster awareness and new thinking around problems that must be resolved differently if we are to provide animals any protection from humans and human environmental transgressions . Their work connects animal welfare and conservation , demonstrating that healthy populations , naturally sustaining habitats and the welfare of individual animals are intertwined . For more information , visit www . ifaw . org .
Learning to overcome environmental challenges and move past conflict . Right to Play is a “ global organization using the transformative power of play to educate and empower children and youth ” who are experiencing the effects of poverty , conflict , and disease in disadvantaged communities . Right to Play helps over one million children around
the world through their programs in many countries . If you are interested in starting a Right to Play group in your area , please visit : www . righttoplay . com .
Underground safe schools for kids in Aleppo , Syria . Parents and activists have created an underground play area for children far from the impact of bombs and gunfire . It may look like any other place kids play , but this is Aleppo where war has raged for more than five years and aid groups say more than a third of the victims are children . Daily life is punctuated by deadly air strikes as buildings and streets are gutted , with no safe places for kids to play , until parents and activists came up with an underground play area in a building basement far from the impact of bombs and gunfire . More than 250 boys and girls come here to gather and play for four hours a day , six days a week . Across Syria , schools are targets . Save The Children estimates that one in four have been
attacked . To that end , the center also teaches reading , writing , and computer skills , a huge help for many who no longer can go to school .
Young leaders on the rise ! The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leadership Program and embodies President Obama ’ s commitment to invest in the future of Africa . Each year 500 students are chosen out of more than 50,000 applicants across Africa to come to the United States for six weeks of intensive leadership training . The purpose is to gain the skills and connections they need to make strong commitments to their communities and countries as entrepreneurs , activists , and public officials . While they are in the U . S ., they study at twenty top universities on topics such as civic leadership , public administration , and business and entrepreneurship .
The fellows are very passionate about the empowerment of youth , educating girls , human rights especially for women , and environmental sustainability . Even before being accepted into this program most of the fellows were already making positive , large-scale changes in their home communities and countries .
The Sedona International City of Peace was very fortunate to work with Arizona State University to bring Mandela Washington Fellowship students to Sedona for a cultural experience and workshop sessions on civic leadership and the foundational elements of creating cultures of peace .
Bravo co-partners in peace around the world ! The International Cities of Peace have reached 140 ! Should you want to have your community become a city of peace please contact the International Cities of Peace organization at www . internationalcitiesofpeace . org
Mandela Fellows visit with the Sedona International City of Peace Sedona , Arizona in June 2016 .
IMAGINE l FALL 2016 35