More than 200 Texas high school students will learn the ways of peace as they gather at the University of Houston for the 2010 Greater Texas PeaceJam. The annual youth conference brings students together with a Nobel laureate to talk about real projects that promote conflict resolution, dialogue and peace.
This year, students from the Yes Prep school, YMCA Houston and Dallas, Houston Academy of International Studies, International School of the Americas, The Kinkaid School, Clemens High School in San Antonio, Star of Hope, Pasadena High School and the Girl Scouts will participate.
"We are honored and excited to have Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi join us this year," said Theresa Kelleher, PeaceJam coordinator. "Students will learn about compassionate communication, peer mediation, teen dating violence and women of Islam, among the many workshops they can attend."
Shirin Ebadi, the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner, will speak to students about "Rights for Women and Children, and their Roles as Leaders." Ebadi was honored for her pioneering work in human rights, specifically the rights of women, children and political prisoners in Iran. Ebadi was the first Muslim woman to receive the peace prize.
The Youth Conference is the culmination of students' yearlong study of the PeaceJam curriculum. The weekend also will include service projects and presentations.
Young people interested in participating may call the PeaceJam office at 713-743-8039 or pjam@central.uh.edu. There is a $75 fee for each participant, which includes an event T-shirt and all meals.
PeaceJam is a global project that began in 1996 in Denver as a way to connect youth with Nobel Peace Laureates and to pass on the spirit, skills and wisdom they embody. The goal of PeaceJam is to create a new generation of young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities and the world.
The Greater Texas Peace Jam is a project of the UH Graduate College of Social Work.
Laureate Shirin Ebadi is available for interviews. Please contact Marisa Ramirez to schedule a time.
For more information, visit www.peacejam.org.
WHAT: 2010 Greater Texas PeaceJam Youth Conference
WHEN: March 27-28
WHERE: University Center, Houston Room
For directions, visit http://www.uh.edu/campus_map/buildings/UC.php
For more information about UH visit the university's Newsroom at www.uh.edu/newsroom
###