LGW completed another cycle of the Good Will Students for Peace program in Newark, New Jersey
Hundreds of students from Oliver Street School received the certificate of the LGW’s character building program, targeted at academic excellence and service learning.
Investing in the character of children and adolescents has always been one of the main objectives of the Legion of Good Will (LGW), which has spread this idea everywhere it goes for over 30 years. On the last day of the program, June 6th, around 150 students from Oliver Street School in Newark - NJ, received the certificate of "Good Will Students For Peace" - the LGW’s character education program in American public schools that aims to instill in students solidary leadership through service learning.
The theme of this semester "We May be Different, but We Swim Together" focused on the role of new generations to protect the environment while learning about the beauty of the different species in the ocean. Through the popular children’s story “Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister, the students internalized the importance about caring for each other and that having different colors and traits like the rainbow fish is a beautiful thing. The educator of the LGW, Sâmara Caruso, worked in partnership with the school teachers to integrate the topic in the academic curriculum, using various practical activities, arts and music. This cycle of the program was directed at kindergarten and first year students, ages 5-7 years old.
The ceremony was attended by the kids’ parents, who, proudly came to honor the presentation of their children. The highlight of the event was the song "SOS Mother Nature," (an English version of the song “SOS Terra”, recorded by the LBV’s children choir from Brazil), which was sung by the voice of nearly 150 students. Children also participated of the pin and oath ceremony "I am a Good Will Student for Peace".
"I learned that everyone should respect the planet and be thankful to Mother Nature," said Samantha, age 6, one of the students of Oliver Street School.
LGW's partnership with Oliver Street School has lasted over 10 years and since then, many programs have been implemented, including the distribution of school supplies and food baskets for low - income children.
Pedagogy of Affection
The LGW's programs are developed based on the Pedagogy of Affection (for children up to 10 years of age) and the Ecumenical Citizen Pedagogy (for ages above 11 years). This successful educational approach, created by educator and president of the LGW, José de Paiva Netto, enhances leaning performance and develops a culture of peace inside schools. It is applied in all schools of the LGW's educational network in seven countries, and is also, used as a curriculum approach in several private and public educational institutions.
The Legion of Good Will is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing social and educational programs to ensure better opportunities for low - income families. The organization survives through spontaneous donations and the workforce of many volunteers. To help, just visit the site www.lgw.org or contact by phone: (646) 398-7128.