Liberian Peace Educator will visit PEC Friday and Saturday

Mr. Ebenezer Mainlehwon Vonhm Benda, a Liberian peace educator, will speak at Michigan State University on Friday, October 23, 2009, at 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. in Room 303 of the MSU International Center and will appear the next day at Everybody Reads book store, 2019 E. Michigan Avenue in Lansing on Saturday, October 24, 2009, at 11 a.m. These events are free and open to the public. Mainlehwon’s visit to mid-Michigan is organized by the Peace Education Center and co-sponsored by Michigan State University’s Center for African Studies and the Peace and Justice Studies Program

Mainlehwon is a true Peace Educator. He found his way to the United States after fleeing the Liberi an Civil War many years ago, and has since earned several degrees including an MA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University in Washington D.C. Now Mainlehwon is working to bring peace education and conflict resolution practices to children in his home country of Liberia.

Mainlehwon writes: “In March – April 2009, the Center for Peace Education, which I established, conducted survey among Liberian youth to determine the causes of violence in grade schools. Results were analyzed and priorities were reviewed and discussed with individual participating schools. During July and August 2009, a Vacation Peace Education Program was developed and implemented. Over 400 grade school and university students, community leaders, and educators benefited from a six-week intensive training program in peer mediation, conflict resolution, and job skills development. ”

For the first time in Liberia’s history, peace education is being taught as a subject in various schools across the Bushrod Island community in Montroserrado County by educators who completed this training. Mainlehwon’s Center for Peace Education will be sharing:

• A 30 minute video documentary about the Liberian history
• A short discussion on the results of the survey taken in post-conflict reconstruction to assess the causes of conflict on campus and students’ involvement in Peace Education projects
• An exhibit that demonstrates the students’ work which will include:
  Visual and written artistic expressions of the war, conflict, and symbols of peace (e.g., shell casings that have been transformed into artwork)

Liberian Peace Educator to visit PEC

Biography:
Ebenezer Mainlehwon Vonhm Benda is a Liberian national and a resident of Washington D.C. His journey to the United States began when he fled his home country amidst the sound of gun shells at the height of the Liberian civil war. Ebenezer found shelter as a refugee in several bordering West African countries. With the help of some American educators, Ebenezer managed to leave the refugee camp and move to the USA to pursue higher education. He holds an A.A. degree in Political Science from Edison Community College in Florida, a B.A. in International Affairs from Florida State University and completed a successful thesis, earning his M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from the School of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C. in 2004. Between August 2005 to April 2007; Ebenezer was in Liberia, where he worked for the World Bank as a Coordinator for local community development and later served as the Acting Country Manager for Kwaplah International, an international development and procurement company. Ebenezer returned to Washington in April 2007 where he worked with Catholic Charities Refugee Center. In March 2009, Ebenezer moved to Liberia and established the Center for Peace Education with its mission of introducing, developing and teaching peace education as a subject in grade schools. Today, for the first time in Liberian history, peace education is being taught as a subject in various grades located in Bushrod Island. He said, “I am happy, because in order to reach Peace – We Must Teach Peace!”