Éva B. Nagy

I started my activities in the middle of 1990s. I participated in a summer university course in 1994 in Geneva organized by E.I.P (École Instrument de la Paix / Link ). It was a turning point in my personal and professional life. Later, I became a workshop leader in Geneva. Afterwards, I set up the Foundation for Human Rights and Peace Education in Hungary (EJBO Foundation-1996). At first, we worked with civil and ethnic minority (Roma) organizations and with schools on Human Rights topics. During the next years, our focus was on Intercultural and Peace Education activities. We turned mostly to teachers and schools as target partners. Our activities mostly included teacher in service training programs, organizing conferences and workshops (for Hungarians and international participants), and some publications. In the 1990s, my connection started with the IIPE community. I am really glad to be part of these international HR and Peace Families (E.I.P. and IIPE).

The deepest and most serious challenge in the social and political situation in my country is that the HR and Peace Education is not able to became a valuable part of the public education system, or the collective consciousness. I had to close the Foundation, and continue my activities as a retired freelancer. I kept my connections with some schools, and I participate as an adviser and supervisor in a few projects.

I started my activities because I was deeply touched by my experience at Geneva Summer University as a teacher. It was a great experience for me to participate in different workshops, and learn new methodology and  pedagogical approaches. They had strong effects on me. I became motivated to be involved and active in this field. The new topics, teaching strategies and approaches were challenging and gave me the opportunity to develop myself. It gives me good feelings to see my younger colleagues how they continue my work.

1. It is an honor to be a partner and somehow a member of the two international organizations mentioned above. I am also honored to have achieved the following:
2. Setting up the Foundation of HR and Peace Education (EJBO Alapítvány) in Hungary (1996).
3. Publishing EJBO Booklets – on intercultural HR and Peace education topics; and the First Steps for the HR Education (Amnesty International) in Hungarian.
4. Becoming a participant and in some occasions workshop leader at international events.
5. Being a member of the International Expert Group – developing the European Peace Education Curriculum (EURED)
6. Implementing the Complex Instruction Program (CI) developed by professors: Rachel A. Lotan and Elisabeth Cohen (Stanford University Teacher College) with their students and teachers in the practice, in Hungarian schools. During the past twenty years I trained four groups of teachers in Hungary who have continued my initiative and share their experiments and knowledge with new teachers and the teaching communities. CI is "Achieving Equity in the Classroom”. Complex Instruction evolved from over 20 years of research by Elizabeth Cohen, Rachel Lotan, and their colleagues at the Stanford School of Education. The goal of this instruction is to provide academic access and success for all students in heterogeneous classrooms.” I am convinced CI is a great tool for Peace Education in the hands of educators and teachers.

I am not really active in this work right now but I keep in touch with my fellow teacher who are active in this field.