PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES

“Schools and Kindergartens for Peace and Climate Justice”

A National Educational Initiative as Part of the Global Week of Action for Peace and Climate Justice

Campaign period: 21–27 September 2026

The Global Week of Action for Peace and Climate Justice is organised by the Arms, Militarism and Climate Justice Working Group, which includes the International Peace Bureau (IPB), Peace Boat, War Resisters’ International, Scientists for Global Responsibility, and other international organisations.

In Bulgaria, the initiative is promoted by the Transformation of the Essence Foundation, a member organisation of the International Peace Bureau.

1. Objectives of the Initiative

The initiative aims to:

• promote a culture of peace, dialogue, and non-violent conflict resolution;

• foster children’s and students’ sense of responsibility towards nature and their communities;

• demonstrate the connection between peace, human security, and climate justice;

• encourage the active participation of children and young people;

• promote volunteering, solidarity, and care for others;

• unite kindergartens, schools, families, and local communities around shared positive causes.

The initiative is educational and humanitarian in nature. Political campaigning, party-political slogans, hate speech, and images that may cause fear or distress among children are not permitted.

2. Who May Participate

Participation is open to:

• public, municipal, and private kindergartens;

• public, municipal, and private schools;

• centres for personal development support;

• centres for special educational support;

• student councils, clubs, and volunteer groups;

• individual groups, classes, or year groups;

• teachers, education professionals, and school psychologists;

• parents and representatives of local communities.

Participation is voluntary and free of charge.

3. Ways to Participate

Each institution may choose one or more of the suggested activities or organise its own initiative related to peace, human security, solidarity, and climate justice.

Strand 1: Messages and Creativity

• “One Message for Peace”;

• a Tree of Peace;

• a Wall of Kindness;

• a Planet of Peace;

• an exhibition entitled “Peace and the Planet Through My Eyes”;

• a drawing, poster, photograph, essay, poem, or short story;

• a short video of up to 60 seconds;

• a school podcast or digital project;

• a song, theatre performance, or dance dedicated to peace.

Strand 2: Education and Dialogue

• “One Lesson for Peace and the Planet”;

• a themed educational activity in kindergarten;

• an interdisciplinary lesson;

• a discussion on human security;

• a “Parliament of the Future”;

• a meeting with a volunteer, environmentalist, mediator, or representative of a civil society organisation;

• reading and discussing an age-appropriate story or literary work;

• a student conference or round-table discussion.

Strand 3: Acts of Kindness and Care for Nature

• planting a tree or flowers;

• creating a “Peace Garden”;

• cleaning a school, community, or natural area;

• organising a separate waste collection campaign;

• holding a plastic-free day;

• making birdhouses or bird feeders;

• exchanging books, toys, or educational materials;

• conducting a volunteer or charitable activity;

• supporting a child, family, or vulnerable group.

Strand 4: Participation of Children and Young People

• the “100 Ideas for Peace” challenge;

• “A Message to the Leaders of 2030”;

• a student declaration for peace and climate justice;

• “School Mediators for a Day”;

• proposals for creating a calmer, safer, and more sustainable educational environment;

• a student survey or questionnaire;

• an initiative led by the student council.

Strand 5: Sport and Community

• “A Kilometre for Peace”;

• a symbolic walk or run;

• a cycling event or hiking route;

• a school relay race;

• a group dance or sports celebration;

• a family environmental activity;

• a peace festival involving parents and the local community.

4. Activities Suitable for Kindergartens

Kindergartens may organise:

• a Tree of Kindness featuring drawings and children’s messages;

• a collaborative drawing entitled “Our Peaceful Planet”;

• the planting of a flower or tree;

• a Friendship Day;

• a story and discussion about kindness, sharing, and helping one another;

• cooperative games;

• an art exhibition;

• a symbolic walk for peace;

• a song or dance celebrating friendship;

• the creation of paper doves, hearts, leaves, or flowers.

When working with preschool children, the theme should be presented through positive concepts such as friendship, kindness, care, mutual support, and protecting nature, without images or stories depicting war or violence.

5. Stages of Participation

Stage One: Registration

Each institution should complete a short online registration form by 20 September 2026.

The registration form should include:

• the full name of the institution;

• town or city and administrative region;

• the name of the headteacher or director;

• the name and position of the institutional coordinator;

• a telephone number and email address;

• the selected activity or activities;

• the estimated number of participants;

• the participating age group;

• confirmation that the institution agrees to comply with these Participation Guidelines.

Registration may also be completed during the Global Week, but no later than 27 September 2026.

Stage Two: Implementation of Activities

Activities should take place between 21 and 27 September 2026.

Where necessary, a school or kindergarten may hold its activity on the nearest suitable school day, provided that the actual date is stated in the final report.

Stage Three: Submission of the Activity Report

Reports must be submitted by 5 October 2026 through an online reporting form or to the official email address announced by the Transformation of the Essence Foundation.

6. Required Content of the Activity Report

Each participating institution should provide:

1. The full name of the institution.

2. Town or city and administrative region.

3. The name of the headteacher or director.

4. The name and position of the institutional coordinator.

5. The title and a brief description of the activity — up to 1,500 characters.

6. The date and location of the activity.

7. The number of participating children, students, teachers, and parents.

8. Between one and five photographs.

9. Where applicable, a link to a video, publication, school website, or online photo album.

10. One brief outcome of the activity — a message, idea, commitment, declaration, or proposal created by the participants.

11. Consent for the submitted materials to be used to document and promote the initiative.

It is not necessary to submit every drawing or creative work produced by the children and students. Selected examples or a photograph of the complete exhibition are sufficient.

7. Technical Requirements

• Photographs must be submitted in JPG or PNG format.

• The recommended maximum size of each file is 10 MB.

• Written materials must be submitted in DOCX or PDF format.

• Videos should not be attached to emails; an accessible link should be provided instead.

• A maximum of five photographs may be submitted.

• All materials must be legible and clearly labelled.

Recommended file-naming format:

Town_Institution_Activity

Example:

Razgrad_Ivan-Turgenev-School_Tree-of-Peace.jpg

When submitting materials by email, the subject line should read:

Participation – Schools and Kindergartens for Peace – [Name of Institution]

8. Protection of Personal Data and Images of Children

Each participating educational institution is responsible for:

• obtaining the necessary informed consent from parents or legal guardians for children to be photographed and their images to be published;

• refraining from submitting children’s personal data, except for a first name and age where explicit consent has been obtained;

• ensuring that no sensitive information is published;

• refraining from submitting images of children for whom permission for public presentation has not been obtained.

Where consent to publish recognisable images of children has not been obtained, institutions may submit photographs:

• of the children’s creative work and displays;

• showing children from behind;

• showing only hands during an activity;

• of the shared activity space;

• of the activity without identifiable faces.

The Foundation may use the submitted materials solely to present, document, and promote the initiative.

9. Awards and Recognition

The initiative is non-competitive. Every institution that completes at least one eligible activity and submits a complete report within the specified deadline will receive formal recognition.

Recognition for Kindergartens and Schools

Every approved participating institution will receive:

• an official “School for Peace and Climate Justice 2026” or “Kindergarten for Peace and Climate Justice 2026” commemorative plaque;

• an official Certificate of Participation issued by the Transformation of the Essence Foundation;

• inclusion in the national list of participating educational institutions;

• the opportunity for its activity to be featured on the Foundation’s website and in a special edition of The Living Genesis.

Each institution will receive one official plaque, regardless of the number of activities it conducts.

Recognition for Headteachers, Directors, and Coordinators

• The headteacher or director will receive a personalised certificate recognising their institutional support.

• The officially designated coordinator will receive a personalised certificate recognising their contribution to education for peace and climate justice.

• If more than one coordinator is involved, the institution should provide their names in the final report.

Recognition for Teachers and Education Professionals

Every teacher or education professional directly involved in preparing and implementing an activity may receive a personalised digital certificate.

The names of eligible staff members must be submitted by the headteacher, director, or official institutional coordinator.

Recognition for Children and Students

Every participating class, kindergarten group, club, or student team will receive a digital Certificate of Participation.

Individual digital certificates may also be issued to participating children and students where their names have been provided by the institution in compliance with applicable personal-data protection requirements.

It is recommended that certificates for younger participants be printed and presented ceremonially by their kindergarten or school.

10. Eligibility for Plaques and Certificates

An institution will be eligible for recognition if it:

• has registered its participation;

• has conducted at least one relevant activity;

• has submitted its report by the specified deadline;

• has provided an accurate number of participants;

• has complied with personal-data protection requirements;

• has not used political campaigning, hate speech, or content unsuitable for children.

Registration alone, without the completion and reporting of an activity, does not entitle an institution to receive a plaque or certificate.

11. Special Recognition Awards

The organiser may present additional honorary awards in the following categories:

• “Most Inspiring Message for Peace”;

• “Most Active School Community”;

• “Outstanding Kindergarten Initiative”;

• “Outstanding Student-Led Initiative”;

• “Outstanding Environmental Activity”;

• “Outstanding Local Community Engagement”;

• “Innovation in Peace Education”;

• “Young Ambassador for Peace and Climate Justice”.

These special recognitions do not alter the non-competitive nature of the initiative and are not intended to create rivalry among participants. Their purpose is to highlight good practices that may be adopted by other educational institutions.

12. Presentation of Results

Following the conclusion of the initiative, the Transformation of the Essence Foundation will prepare a summary including:

• the number of participating kindergartens and schools;

• the number of participating children, students, teachers, and parents;

• a map of participating towns and cities;

• selected photographs and examples of good practice;

• messages and proposals created by children and students;

• a joint declaration for peace, human security, and climate justice.

The results may be presented to the International Peace Bureau and the partner organisations involved in the Global Week of Action for Peace and Climate Justice.

13. Important Dates

• By 20 September 2026 — recommended advance registration;

• 21–27 September 2026 — implementation of activities;

• By 5 October 2026 — submission of activity reports;

• By 31 October 2026 — publication of results and distribution of digital certificates;

• By 30 November 2026 — dispatch or presentation of commemorative plaques.

14. Contact Information

Transformation of the Essence Foundation
Member of the International Peace Bureau

Email: foundation.transformation24@gmail.com
Website: https://www.foundation-transformation.org/about-4-4