WISE-ED’s Community Model for Learning Across Every Age and Stage Learning is life and Life is learning. Lifelong learning is the belief that education does not begin and end inside a classroom. It begins in early childhood, continues through school, expands through youth leadership, grows through work and community life, and remains essential through adulthood. For WISE-ED, lifelong learning is not only an education concept. It is a community development strategy. In many un

How IDOP, Bridge of Hope Clubs, and Little Bridges SEL Strengthen WISE-ED’s Peace and Learning Model Play is not a break from learning. Play is one of the deepest ways children learn. For WISE-ED, play is more than recreation. It is a pathway to social emotional learning, peacebuilding, confidence, teamwork, creativity, communication, problem-solving, and belonging. Through the International Day of Play, Bridge of Hope Clubs, and the Little Bridges play-based SEL curriculum,

PRESENTED AT CIES 2026 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Introduction – the Problem There have been many efforts to create peace in modern times, but our world remains a place of conflict, tensions, and wars declared and undeclared, disguised, unconventional, unrestricted. When one situation seems to be settled, several new situations arise, like weeds in a garden. These have the common roots of ambition for power and wealth, greed, fear, vengeance, desperation, and frustra

Growing Love to Create Peace The Bridge of Hope (BOH) Clubs use schools as community anchors where young people can learn, play, lead, serve, and grow together. Through football, STEM, social-emotional learning, art, culture, environmental action, financial literacy, and global citizenship, BOH gives learners practical ways to build confidence, discipline, empathy, teamwork, and hope. The model recognizes that peace is not created only through speeches or policies; peace is b