SMOs can expect to:

• • Discover innovative practices, including feminist, intersectional, and decolonial approaches;
  • Discuss the role or contribution of small and medium-sized Canadian organizations peace efforts here, and internationally;
  • Share knowledge, good practices and resources on building a world of peace;
  • Identify potential synergies and establish partnerships and/or alliances;
  • Share experiences and knowledge about existing training, awareness, research, mobilization, and advocacy activities;
  • Collaborate in the exploration of solutions and avenues of action for building a world of peace in the face of the challenges identified;
  • Collaborate with teachers and school communities to explore partnerships to better engage young people as global citizens.

Teachers can expect to:

• • Share and discover tools for education for peace, non-violence, and ways to act in solidarity with groups and communities fighting for peace;
  • Participate in specific workshops to put educational tools into practice to encourage young people to engage in building a world of peace;
  • Facilitate relations and dialogue between civil society organizations willing to learn and to work with schools and teachers;
  • Discover the latest thoughts and responses to global issues related to peace from industry leaders, guests from the South, as well as civil society organizations;
  • Share experiences and knowledge about existing training, awareness, research, mobilization and advocacy activities to engage young people;
  • Collaborate with and help civil society organizations to create relevant resources for schools to better engage young people as global citizens.

Youth can expect to:

• • Testify on behalf of Canadian youth regarding actions and activities for peace (what are the possible links with other urgent crises of the 21st century?) and how to amplify youth voices in them;
  • Share and discover tools for education for peace, non-violence and ways to act in solidarity with groups and communities fighting for peace;
  • Participate in a training day on decolonization and critical approaches to international cooperation;
  • Collaborate and help civil society organizations and teachers with creating relevant resources for schools to better engage young people as global citizens.

Understanding Obstacles to Peace and the Causes and Effects of War

• Dynamics of repression and violence (colonialism, racism, patriarchy, gender identity-related issues)
• Systemic issues (climate crisis, natural resource exploitation, impunity of businesses in the Global North and the quest for economic growth)
• Responsibilities of Western nations (ever-expanding military budgets, modernization of nuclear arsenals and increased militarism)
• Consequences of armed conflicts (population displacement, forced migration, sexual exploitation, civilian casualties)
• Specific effects on women and girls
• Role of Western media and its representation of populations experiencing armed conflicts
• Parallels between the lived experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada and realities elsewhere in the world
• Criminalization of land defenders
• Canada’s specific role in countries like Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Venezuela, and Yemen

Exploring Solutions for Peace: From the Local to the International

• • What training, research, mobilization, advocacy, and awareness-raising activities already exist that could inspire us to take action in the future―both in schools and in the general public?
  • How can SMOs work within coalitions or alliances using a decolonial framework to support struggles and movements that are fighting against war and building peace?
  • How can Indigenous and marginalized voices be amplified and empowered within calls of action and activities for peace?
  • On the individual or interpersonal levels (tools to support education for peace and non-violence and solutions that can help both youth and adults work in solidarity with groups and communities fighting for peace, non-violence, justice, and reparations.
  • On the structural level (ratification of international treaties, implementation of UN Resolution 1325 on the role of women in peace processes, necessary divestments from the military industry, the end of impunity and support for justice and reparation mechanisms.

This conference is organized by Spur Change with funding from Global Affairs Canada.

90 subsidized places are available for SMOs (45) and for teachers (45)*

• • A maximum of 2 representatives per organization can be subsidized;
  • Interested individuals must show an interest in the theme of the conference and a desire to contribute to the program;
  • A selection committee will analyze the registrations and announce the selected candidates in early February 2022. Please note that priority will be given to those who have not previously been subsidized for a Spur Change conference.
  • *The subsidization will cover the cost of round-trip transportation to Montreal, accommodation at Le Bonaventure Hotel during the conference, as well as meals (per diem according to Spur Change policies). For teachers, the subsidization will also cover the cost of a substitute teacher. A detailed guide to our travel policy will be sent to those selected.

10 grants are available for former participants of the Youth Champions Program*

• • Available for young Canadians who participated in the 2020 and 2021 cohorts of the Youth Champions Program;
  • Youth Champions 2022 will be invited to register following their selection;
  • *The grant will cover the costs of round-trip transportation to Montreal, accommodation at Le Bonaventure Hotel during the conference, as well as meals (per diem according to Spur Change policies). A detailed guide to our travel policy will be sent to those selected.

The deadline to submit an application is January 28, 2022.