Paddle for Peace: Introduction to Human Rights is a short course exploring five key concepts of peace. As part of the Piece Prize initiative, the course demonstrates how each person is an integral piece of society. Even though one person alone cannot solve all global peace problems, each person can work towards taking responsibility for one piece – a part of the whole. Participants in the course will be encouraged to consider ways in which to make their communities more peaceful places. Through understanding five key Human Rights and the impact of kindness and care, we can each contribute to creating a better world. The vision of the Piece Prize is to empower regular people to participate in their communities, putting the possibility of making positive changes for peace in their hands. The Paddle for Peace course is designed to accompany the Silent Heroes Tour—a 5,600 km kayaking journey taken by Mark Fuhrmann from Oslo, Norway to Athens, Greece. As he paddles, Fuhrmann will discover ways in which people are helping others, and in doing so, create bridges of peace one person at a time. Students who participate in Paddle for Peace: Introduction to Human Rights are encouraged to follow Fuhrmann’s journey of peace on his blog. In partnership with Eminus Academy it is the hope that Paddle for Peace and the kayak journey will inspire thinkers, activists and regular people in local communities to think of themselves as pieces to the puzzle of peace—moving each of us to do our part.
Paddle for Peace focuses on the importance of peace in relation to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Inspired by Mark Fuhrmann’s solo kayak tour, encompassing 5,600 km from Oslo, Norway to Athens, Greece, the course explores the message of peace. As he paddles, Fuhrmann will discover ways in which people help others, and in doing so, create bridges of peace one person at a time.