GRASS ROOTS PEACEMAKERS

Governments have come to realize that large financial grants for foreign aid between governments, and between governments and big business, have generally not worked satisfactorily. Young people can look forward to many active years of new and interesting work in a rapidly-expanding endeavor, quite different from the rigidity and red tape common to “big government” aid grants. A prime example is the career of Fridtjof Nansen of Norway, Peace Laureate of 1922, who was a “one man” initiator and leader in organizing large scale programs for the repatriation of prisoners of war after 1918, and the resettlement of refugees uprooted by wars, famine, and revolution. In 1922, he created the “Nansen Passport” which enabled many millions of refugees to be resettled legally, with documentation. He persuaded the League of Nations to support his work for refugees until his death in 1930. Today, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees carries on Nansen’s work, and is responsible for about twenty-one million refugees. Nansen showed that one man could organize to do a tremendous job, leading the way ahead of governments. As foreign aid expands to a major degree, so will the role of the individual helper, entrepreneur, organizer, and manager.

While foreign aid now covers a very wide range of specific projects and programs, the increasing need of more aid to the less developed regions is so great that deciding which program should be first for a start-up group should not be difficult, as long as a specific focus is agreed. As one example, the need for better children’s education in sub-Saharan Africa is one of the highest priorities to remove causes of future wars. Education is a vital need for all children—they will be the parents who train the children of tomorrow. There are many adults in Canada who have taught in African schools and could have an interest in supporting children’s education programs.

There are many successful world aid programs that could be considered, depending on the background and interests of group members, the need of the receiving nation, and the kind of education aid requested. Some examples of specific programs are well within the capability of any new group of peacemakers to provide, such as the following:

•Kindergarten leaders and services;
•Teachers for one or two years;
•Used school books, computers, laboratory equipment, dictionaries;
•Essential schoolroom supplies;
•Used audio and video projectors, tapes, radios, and CD players;
•Equipment and supplies needed by staff;
•Used equipment for extra-curricular activities such as music, athletics, art, plays, handicrafts, photography, and copying machines for staff;
•Used equipment could be provided to assist post-school students needing help to start cottage industries;
•Provide special child development needs, such as used eye glasses, and aids for handicapped children;
•Support school lunch programs;
•Suitable teacher housing and facilities;
•Field trips or awards for outstanding students;
•Provide supplies needed to encourage “pen pals” and communication outreach.