Founder of peaceful schools movement recognized by colleagues

    HALIFAX, May 16 /CNW/ - Peace educator Hetty van Gurp has been awarded
the first ever Public Education Advocacy Award by the Nova Scotia Teachers
Union. The award was presented to Ms. van Gurp at the opening session of the
NSTU Annual Council, Friday evening, in Halifax.
    "Hetty has served as a peace education consultant to schools across
Canada and internationally," NSTU President Mary-Lou Donnelly told the
400 delegates and guests attending the Union's annual meeting. "She is
credited with introducing the concept of peer mediation to schools in Nova
Scotia and, in 1998, became the co-founder and executive director of the
League of Peaceful Schools."
    It was the death of her son, Ben, as the result of a bullying incident in
1991 that spurred Hetty van Gurp to devote her time and energy towards
supporting schools that have declared a commitment to creating and maintaining
a culture of peace.
    "I have been on a personal campaign for the past 17 years to promote the
need to include peace education and conflict resolution in the daily life of
all of our schools," Ms. Van Gurp says, "and as long as I have the breath to
do so, I will continue in this campaign."
    Following a visit to Japan, Serbia and Macedonia in 2001, Hetty van Gurp
became the founding president of Peaceful Schools International. Peaceful
Schools International has over 200 member schools around the world. In these
schools, students, teachers and community members work together to ensure that
everyone feels safe, respected and valued.
    "I am hopeful that we will soon reach the tipping point" she says, "the
point at which teaching our children the attitudes, knowledge and skills they
need to prevent and resolve conflict is no longer considered to be an option,
left up to the initiative of dedicated teachers using resources funded by bake
sales."

For further information: Paul McCormick, (902) 430-2347 (cellular).