OLEANDER INITIATIVE UK PILOT PROJECT DESCRIPTION & APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Programme Objective and Activities: This pilot project is a new collaboration between Japan’s Peace Culture Village, the U.S based Oleander Initiative and UK social enterprise Hope in the Heart. It offers a highly-subsidised seven-day cultural, professional and educational immersion for a small group of UK higher-educators in the unique “Culture of Peace” of Hiroshima, Japan. Educators will have the opportunity to experience the remarkable peace culture that emerged within the city of Hiroshima after the atomic bombing of the city, as well as peace culture as expressed by citizens living in the Hiroshima countryside. This pilot program will take place from June 23rd to 29th June, 2019.
The project is partially funded by the Sasakawa Foundation, and all accommodations, meals and travel within Hiroshima, as well as expert instruction, testimonies and cultural visits are covered by a one-time payment of £800. Participants are also eligible for a travel reimbursement of up to £1100 to subsidize international travel from the UK to Hiroshima.
The Oleander Initiative "gathers educators from communities around the world to work together and transform the lessons of Hiroshima into relevant and impactful peace education activities for their students". This will be the first such opportunity for participants from Higher Education in the UK. It is hoped that this pilot will shape a programme that will subsequently be regularly available to UK educators, and that this first cohort will assist us in designing a strong programme for the coming years.
The qualities we are looking for in participants include:
Openness, flexibility, enthusiasm and curiosity for the project
An adventurous spirit and willingness/ability to connect well with others, creatively explore new information and ideas and participate fully in the programme, including venturing beyond their comfort zone if necessary.
A commitment, and the opportunity, to incorporate what they learn into their practice upon their return to the UK, and disseminate it as widely as possibly.
The objective of the programme is:
1 To gain a comprehensive understanding of the “lessons of Hiroshima,” ie what can be learned from the devastating atomic bombing of the city and its rise from the ashes of devastation to become a model community for peace and reconciliation.
2 To incorporate inspirational new elements of peace education into your teaching practice based on your learning, insights and experiences in Hiroshima.
To this end, the following activities are planned for this programme:
Presentations and discussion sessions led by relevant experts and academics
Personal meetings with and testimonies by hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors)
Visits to the Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Peace Museum and other inspirational historic sites
Visits to and meetings with teachers, students and organizations within Hiroshima
Regular check-ins and support for participants in how they might incorporate what they have learned in their professional practice/social activism
Significant cultural and culinary experiences
In this application, potential participants will be asked to explain why they would like to take part in the programme and how they envisage their professional practice will be inspired/affected/changed as a result.
If successful, participants will be asked to spend some time before the programme reading historic accounts, watching short videos etc. (links to be provided) to prepare and familiarise themselves with the basic history of Hisoshima
Please email your completed application to tam@hopeintheheart.org
Deadline: Applications must be received by 5th April, 2019.
Admissions: Participants selected to attend the Oleander Initiative will be informed of their status by mid April 2019.
APPLICANT PROFILE (where possible, please refer to information on your passport)
Name
Gender
Date of Birth
Month Day Year
Nationality
Address:
Telephone Number +44
Email
How did you hear about this programme?
II. DESCRIPTION OF YOUR CURRENT TEACHING POSITION
Name of Educational Institute/organisation
What are the ages of the students you teach?
Approx. how many students do you teach each year?
What subjects do you currently teach?
If you are not teaching in a classroom environment, please use the space below to briefly describe how your current work can be used to advance the goals of this program.
III. ACTIVITIES Please list any student activities you have designed, led or organised, activities you have been involved in (organisations, associations, social action, community service, etc) outside of the formal educational environment, starting with the most recent first. Please attach a separate document if additional space is needed.
IV. OTHER
Achievements: Please list what you consider to be your most significant professional and/or other accomplishments (200 words or less)
Personal Motivation: From a personal perspective, in 250 words or less, please outline why this programme appeals to you and what you hope to gain from it.
VI. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If there is anything else you would like us to know about you that you have not mentioned in your application or essays, please feel free to tell us in the space provided below.
VII. YOUR SIGNATURE
I certify that the information given in this application is complete and accurate.
Signature of applicant: _____________________ Date: ____________________