On May 20, the Landau Democracy Festival will take place under the banner of participation, diversity and cohesion. The Peace Academy Rhineland-Palatinate will once again be involved this year with a stand on the town hall square. The Peace Academy is also offering three workshops aimed at schoolchildren and teachers. Once again, the nuclear weapons policy simulation game will be held with pupils from the Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium. The other two workshops will take place at Max-Slevogt-Gymnasium under the titles "Injustices and border violations in everyday life" and "Conflicts - civil courage - staying in conversation".

In addition, Landau student and mediator and trainer in non-violent
communication, Tom Schönborn, is offering the workshop "Democracy begins within you - understanding feelings, thinking clearly, deciding freely", which can be booked as a group by a
teacher.

Further information on the Landau Democracy Festival can be found here.

The Peace Academy workshops:

Injustices and boundary violations in everyday life: Between courage, solidarity and scope for action
We all know situations in which something is unfair or boundaries are crossed and we are unsure how to react. How can we develop the courage to address different forms of violence, strengthen each other and stand in solidarity with those affected? A brief input on peace education approaches opens up new perspectives and shows: Nobody has to face these challenges alone - and it's also about taking good care of yourself.

Conflicts - civil courage - staying in the conversation
Political conflicts affect learners of all ages - in families, circles of friends, institutions and in the digital space. How can we discuss polarizing topics, not tacitly normalize violence(s) and at the same time remain in an appreciative dialogue? With the help of peace education methods, we gain orientation in this field of tension and try out transformative steps based on our own experiences of conflict.

Nuclear weapons policy simulation game

The game introduces fundamental elements of the problems surrounding peace and security policy (in Germany, Europe and worldwide) and in particular the topics of "nuclear weapons", "nuclear deterrence", "nuclear non-proliferation" and related fields.

Additional workshop for the lower school (grades 5-7):

"Democracy begins within you - understanding feelings, thinking clearly,deciding freely
"

What do our feelings have to do with democracy? More than we think. In
this interactive workshop for pupils from Year 5 onwards
, participants go on a journey of discovery into their own inner world: they
experience that every feeling carries a message and learn what lies behind anger,
fear or sadness. In a playful way and with lots of movement, they feel how
strong emotions make it difficult to think clearly - and practise the first tools for
emotion regulation.

The workshop makes it possible to experience why stirring up fear is a well-known
method of undermining free thinking and free decisions. Anyone who
understands what is going on inside them can take a self-determined stand
- in the school playground and later as a responsible citizen.