|
ridgs of Tolerance
Intolerance to nationalities has always had disastrous effects. It caused innumerable wars, purges and hundreds of millions of deaths throughout human history. The 21st century is an age of intensive intercultural contacts. Thus it becomes vital for everyone to be tolerant to different cultures. This is a key to successful intercultural cooperation.
In 1993 at the Vienna summit the EU Member States accepted the United Plan of Actions against intolerance. A European youth campaign under the motto "all are different, all are equal" is one of the effective pro-diversity programs. They were supported by a large number of European nongovernmental youth organizations.
Tolerance can be taught
Russia is the most multiethnic country in the world. However, according to social research 50-60% of Russians are intolerant to other cultures. Teaching diversity is a way to reduce the increasingly high level of xenophobia here.
"Free Resources" Social Foundation considers this the problem of intolerance as a matter of great importance.
In autumn 2004 FRSF launched the program "Tolerance can be taught". The project was aimed at developing tolerant thinking and behavior among young people of Samara region. It involved trainings and workshops for school teachers and school psychologists, school children and an art exhibition.
The project was funded by "Small Embassy Projects" program (MATRA/KAP) of Netherlands Embassy.
Project results:
The first presentation of the project took place in the House of National Friendship in Samara on December, 4th, 2004. Within the presentation:
presentation of Samara ethnic-cultural centers;
a round-table discussion;
psychological trainings;
the festival of the Samara region nationalities' cuisines.
exhibition childrens art on their tolerance comprehension;
a mobile exposition Bridges of tolerance;
educational lessons for teenagers under instructors supervision;
a concluding seminar Tolerance and human rights.
The methodical handout "Tolerance can be taught" was published. The handout provides educational materials of actual problems of tolerance:
definition of tolerance with the regard for numerous opinions on the term;
alternative terms used by our colleagues abroad;
the problem presentation to the masses, with regard for complication and multifactorial object of the term;
educational methods and forms;
students' practical works on the subject.
|
|
News
