Last week, students across Ontario going into their final year of high school were invited to identify a need they see in their community. With a problem in mind, they were invited to find a mentor in their school and apply for Mennonite Savings and Credit Union’s (MSCU) 2016 Peace in Action Program.
The Peace in Action Program will replace the Peace in Action Awards which, in previous years, were given out to Grade 12 students upon graduation. Instead, the program will accompany and equip students throughout their Grade 12 year as they address a problem they see in their community.
This May, 25 students passionate about working for peace from across the province will be chosen to participate. The program includes a retreat, $250 in kick-start funds, a year of mentorship from an in-school mentor, peer-mentorship opportunities, an additional $250 scholarship upon successful completion of the program and, lastly, a celebration gala in the spring of 2017!
The MSCU Centre for Peace Advancement is thrilled about the Peace in Action Program for a variety of reasons. MSCU has partnered with one of our own Epp Peace Incubator participants, The Ripple Effect Education (TREE), to facilitate programming. TREE is a new peace education initiative in the region that develops and facilitates educational resources to create peace-literate citizens. Secondly, we have the opportunity engage our own participants – from members of established peacebuilding organizations to founders of local peace-focused start-ups – through their involvement on the adjudication committee. Our institutional home, Conrad Grebel University College, will be the role of host for some of TREE's programming, as well. Lastly, we are excited by the impact this program will have on young people across Ontario and the communities within their reach.
The application deadline is May 9, 2016.
In photo: Katie Gingerich, Founding Director of The Ripple Effect Education