News & Events
WCCC-US is seeking a Professional Fundraiser
WCCC-US is in the process of seeking Professional Fundraisers in the US. Please review the attached job description.
By bkalsi | November 1, 2009
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Nobel Laureates in dialogue - Vancouver Peace Summit September 2009
The following video clip is from the 2009 Vancouver Peace Summit with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in dialogue with Nobel Peace Laureates, Betty Williams, Jody Williams, Mairead Maguire, and Mpho Tutu (daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu), and Mary Robinson (first female President of Ireland).
The clip is approximately 64 minutes long but TRULY WORTH WATCHING. It has amazing conversations and great insights with honest responses like that from His Holiness when he responded with “I don’t know” to a question posed by the moderator Mary Robinson.
CTV coverage of the Vancouver Peace Summit
Our apologies, but the clip starts with an advertisement and then a short wait as the video clip is loaded.
By bkalsi | October 18, 2009
Topics: Updates from News and Events | No Comments »
News coverage from the Vancouver Peace Summit
Why a Peace Summit? Here are its three key goals
Nobel Laureates’ talk turns personal
‘Social change is possible’ 16,000 learn at We Day
Beyond the ‘circus,’ some serious intentions
Education paves the road to women’s equality
Generation Fix meets its mentors
Peace Summit with the Dalai Lama, Eckhart Tolle, and Nobel Laureates
Dalai Lama’s message fits busy, liberal society
Dalai Lama promotes compassion
Dalai Lama in Vancouver: Pursuit of peace and compassion a complex path
Be aggressive in the cause of peace
By bkalsi | October 2, 2009
Topics: Updates from News and Events | No Comments »
26th – 29th September, 2009 – Vancouver Peace Summit
The Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education is honored to host His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Vancouver, September 26-29, 2009 for the Vancouver Peace Summit: Nobel Laureates in Dialogue. Joining the Dalai Lama will be Nobel Laureates: Jody Williams, Mairead Maguire, Betty Williams and Murray Gell-Mann, as well as a number of respected international leaders from the realms of education, the arts, business, politics and social transformation.
The Summit will be built on dialogues held at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and the Orpheum Theatre. The focus of these dialogues will include the themes of peace, education and women and peace-building.
DignityRocks!
Stephanie Heuer, author of the children’s book DignityRocks! (http://www.somebodybook.com) will be donating 50% of all royalties from the sale of her book for the next year starting October 2009 to World Centers of Compassion for Children International (WCCCI).
This generous and welcomed donation resulted from her being inspired by a passionate speech given by Betty Williams at a Peace Conference held in Denver, Colorado last year. Betty Williams spoke about the impact of war and conflict on a child’s consciousness and how important it was to create a safe-haven to protect them from harm and to give children a voice rather than silencing them as unimportant factors.
The message resonated with Stephanie Heuer who has been an instructor to multi-cultural students for a number of years. They both recognize how the building blocks of a child’s development can be affected by what they see and how they are treated which can negatively impact their future, regardless of environment.
Stephanie Heuer’s book is based on the preservation of human dignity which starts by teaching children how to acknowledge when they’ve been mistreated and how to recognize when they mistreat others. DignityRocks! is based on elementary school students responding to the statement “I Feel Like Nobody When… I Feel Like Somebody When… “.
The statements resulted in DignityRocks! becoming a catalyst on opening change among children, parents and educators alike. It addresses the emotional and physical effects of issues such as bullying and other negative topics. The success has seen the book popping up in classrooms across the US, and teachers are using it as an example to create their own book scenarios, addressing issues upfront and first hand, giving a voice to the voiceless, and making a difference by creating changes in the school environment for the better.
Gunderson High School (California, USA) helping refugee children
Together with the students at San Jose’s Gunderson High School, Stephanie Heuer and the Students In Action organization (sponsored by the Jefferson Awards) have put together 30 school tote bags for the opening of the first WCCCI City of Peace for Children, in Basilicata, Italy. The City will provide a nurturing environment for refugee children where they will be housed, educated, have access to medical health and opportunities to grow with potential.
The school totes will be a welcome package for the initial children arriving at the City of Peace. Each one is signed by the students with a welcome message from their school. Together with the principal, Cary Catching, Stephanie Heuer is hoping this provides students with an opportunity to exchange ideas and create friendships care from one country to another, reaching out, and connecting in positive and peaceful ways.
Stephanie Heuer and Cary Catching of Gunderson High School
Full Press Release:
By bkalsi | September 21, 2009
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23rd July, 2009 – Visions for a Sustainable World (Vienna, Austria)
Betty Williams will be taking part in the first awards ceremony to honor individuals and organizations chartered to promote a sustainable world in Vienna on Thursday 23rd July and Friday 24th July, 2009.
The World Awards (founded and headed by the wonderful Georg Kindel) are organizing the awards ceremony to bring this critical cause to the world’s attention. The expected media coverage will be seen by millions of people, and the greatest reward will be that the world listens and takes note of this crucial topic.
Prior to the awards ceremony, the Sustainable World Congress will hold a number of sessions covering topics such as:
- Climate and Environment
- Economy and Development
- Health and Society
- Politics and Human Rights
- Concluding Panel Discussion – Yes We Can? Visions for a Sustainable World
Betty Williams has been invited to speak with Georg Kindel and Erwin Proll (Governor, Lower Austria) at the Welcoming and Official Opening to the two day event.
By bkalsi | July 22, 2009
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9th July, 2009 – L’Aquila, Italy
Betty Williams went to San Demetrio Camp which is near L’Aquila, Italy with George Clooney and Bill Murray to highlight the plight of the people dealing with life after the April 6, 2009 earthquake which left thousands homeless and killed nearly 300 people. They were invited to the region to open the Nobel for Peace Hall, and also to highlight how the world had not forgotten their tragedy.
Away from the press, Betty met with the children and asked them what they needed. Their simple response was Books. With their schools destroyed, WCCCI would like to ask you, your friends, co-workers, neighbors, and family members to make a difference for these children and show them that the world does still care. Donations, however small, can be sent through the following website: http://www.sandemetrionv.com/Donazioni/donazioni.htm
By bkalsi | July 21, 2009
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30th June, 2009 - Israel Authorities Detain Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Corrigan-Maguire
The Nobel Women’s Initiative is deeply concerned by the detention of Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Corrigan-Maguire and other human rights activists on the Free Gaza Movement mission to deliver aid to the people of Gaza by boat. Israeli Naval Forces forcibly boarded the Free Gaza boat and detained the human rights workers late this afternoon, 23 miles off the coast of Gaza. Earlier in the day, the Israeli Naval Forces ordered the boat—at gun-point—to turn back.
Maguire is traveling on the Free Gaza fishing boat, accompanied by a sister boat called the Spirit of Humanity. The boats are carrying construction materials, three tons of medical supplies, and suitcases full of children’s toyss—all items banned by the Israeli government.
The approximately 30 activists on board include a former Congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney, as well as envoys from Gulf nations. This is the eighth mission of the Free Gaza Movement, an international human rights group formed in 2006 to bring attention to the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Past mission participants have included parliamentarians, human rights workers, and other dignitaries.
Before embarking on the journey, Maguire said: “We sail to Gaza to break this cruel siege of Gaza by the Israeli Government, and to show the people of Gaza that the world does care what is happening to them.”
“It is appalling that in this the 2lst century, the Israeli government is allowed to carry out its policy of collective punishment of an entire people [by continuing] to keep borders closed and refuse the people of Gaza basic necessities for living - food, medicines, cement, and building materials.”
Mairhead and Betty (December 2008) Paris: Nobel Peace Conference
Note to reader: Mairead Corrigan-Maguire and Betty Williams were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976 for their peace work in Northern Ireland. Mairead was the aunt of the three children who died as a result of being hit by an Irish Republican Army getaway car after its driver was shot by a British soldier. Mairead responded to the violence facing her family and community by organizing, with Betty Williams, massive peace demonstrations appealing for an end to the bloodshed.
By bkalsi | June 30, 2009
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5th June, 2009 - History was made today
Betty William’s has always had a dream …. a dream to help refugee children seeking shelter in safe zones countries to be housed, nurtured and educated. Through the Cities of Peace for Children, the main focus of WCCCI has been to find a country where we could build a city and give children hope. Hope to believe that there is a possibility to live a life and feel accepted by humanity. Understanding that these children have no home, Betty has fought for over 30 years to see each child has their right to be considered a valued human being.
And her dream has come true.
Through the compassion of the Italian people, the first city is about to open its doors to refugee children in the region of Basilicata. With the strength and determination of Betty Williams, Rusti Findley, Laura Kiss and Enzo Curzo, WCCCI has created history with the first charity to also have a working foundation run the first City of Peace for Children.
On 5th June, 2009, Betty was in Basilicata with the wonderful Vito de Filippo (President of Basilicata), Salvatore Iacobellis (Mayor of Scanzano Jonico), Domenico Esposito (Mayor of Sant’Arcangelo), and other notable guests to sign the papers and official create a foundation that would run the City of Peace for Children in Basilicata.
Known as Città della Pace Basilicata ONLUS Foundation (CDP ONLUS), the foundation is now legally operational, and ready to run the daily activities in Basilicata.
To all who have been involved with creating this historic moment, we thank you with all our hearts. Humanity will look to this event, and will see the amazing people who took one small step forward in changing the lives of children who reached out their hands for help, and found the love of the Italian people.
(Please check out the photo gallery for pictures from the signing ceremony.)
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Betty Williams with Vito de Fillippo
Betty William’s has always had a dream …. a dream to help refugee children seeking shelter in safe zones countries to be housed, nurtured and educated. Through the Cities of Peace for Children, the main focus of WCCCI has been to find a country where we could build a city and give children hope. Hope to believe that there is a possibility to live a life and feel accepted by humanity. Understanding that these children have no home, Betty has fought for over 30 years to see each child has their right to be considered a valued human being.
And her dream has come true.
Through the compassion of the Italian people, the first city is about to open its doors to refugee children in the region of Basilicata. With the strength and determination of Betty Williams, Rusti Findley, Laura Kiss and Enzo Curzo, WCCCI has created history with the first charity to also have a working foundation run the first City of Peace for Children.
On 5th June, 2009, Betty was in Basilicata with the wonderful Vito de Filippo (President of Basilicata), Salvatore Iacobellis (Mayor of Scanzano Jonico), Domenico Esposito (Mayor of Sant’Arcangelo), and other notable guests to sign the papers and official create a foundation that would run the City of Peace for Children in Basilicata.
Known as Città della Pace Basilicata ONLUS Foundation (CDP ONLUS), the foundation is now legally operational, and ready to run the daily activities in Basilicata.
To all who have been involved with creating this historic moment, we thank you with all our hearts. Humanity will look to this event, and will see the amazing people who took one small step forward in changing the lives of children who reached out their hands for help, and found the love of the Italian people.
(Please check out the photo gallery for pictures from the signing ceremony.)
By bkalsi | June 7, 2009
Topics: News and Events | 1 Comment »
“Probonafide” the web designers for WCCCI were featured in an article by Fullbleed – the web magazine by Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington.
In an interview by John Clemmer, Nguyet M. Vuong commented on the power of communication and how important it is in the success of any business or organization. Read the full article at: Fullbleed: Pro-bono Design Series
Nguyet M. Vuong and Crystal Curtis were involved with designing the new WCCCI website that went live in August 2008.
“WCCCI was given a boost to the work we were doing by the participation of two wonderful women who gave us a professional website that became an outstanding vehicle for Betty Williams and her organization,” commented Tony Dunkel, President of WCCC-US. “When we look at how much we have achieved within a year, we are truly astonished by the impact and positive response generated by people interacting with the website. Nguyet and Crystal have allowed WCCCI an opportunity to voice the plight of refugee children around the world and the need for Peace. Their exceptional creativity and dynamic personalities were a given match for this organization, and their ongoing contribution to our work is priceless.”
By bkalsi | June 1, 2009
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1st June, 2009 - XIII Games of the Small States of Europe (Nicosia, Cyprus)
Mario Frangoulis will sing at the opening ceremony of the XIII Games of the Small States of Europe on Monday 1st June, 2009 in Nicosia, Cyprus.
The Ambassador of Peace for WCCCI will sing the official anthem of the Games which was originally written by Cypriot composer Vasos Argyrides and the lyrics were by Bampis Anayiotos.
Mario was honored to be chosen to sing at the opening ceremony, and expressed his enthusiasm at being part of such an amazing event. Understanding how sport has a positive impact in creating national unity and fostering goodwill, Mario felt that this was a great opportunity to also drive the message through to children on how sport and peace are so critical in creating a better world.
From Betty Williams and her WCCCI team, we wish all the contestants a wonderful games, and we pray that the Small States of Europe join together and share a greater understanding of how together, we can show the rest of the world that we can also live in Peace.
By bkalsi | May 30, 2009
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