Dear Friends of reGeneration,
When I helped launch reGeneration Education 14 years ago, I was inspired by two critically important understandings.
- The first understanding is that altruism is the basis of all three Abrahamic faiths. As people of faith, we can serve as a model for peace by working together to benefit all young children in crisis zones, regardless of religion or nationality.
- The second understanding is that the education of young children sets the trajectory for a more peaceful civilization and a healthy planet.
Leading experts in public health and global peace agree. In 2015, the United Nations announced its blueprint for peace and prosperity. Named the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, it has seven goals— including poverty reduction, health and nutrition, women and girls’ equality, and ending violence. In a landmark move, the United Nations cited early childhood development as an essential prerequisite for reaching these goals and achieving world peace.
Since then, science has confirmed this perspective. The CDC made mitigating childhood toxic stress a core part of its mission. And researchers at Harvard University, New York University and other institutions around the world have created centers to further the study of the impact of toxic stress.
Toxic stress and the intergenerational transmission of trauma are significant obstacles for peace. How we nurture and care for, teach, and protect all our children matters, from generation to generation.
Early and elementary education must address toxic stress and trauma. That’s why reGeneration advances peacebuilding through innovative approaches to the education, development, and resilience of young children in crisis zones, so they can imagine and create a better future.
We address childhood toxic stress for Jewish, Christian, and Muslim children by:
- Partnering with and co-sponsoring trauma-informed schools for children in Israel and the West Bank
- Hosting conferences and trainings focused on educating children in crisis zones for Western and Middle Eastern kindergarten and elementary school teachers
- Initiating and building interfaith networks in the U.S. that model healing in the Middle East
Since our inception, reGeneration has made an indisputable impact on the lives of thousands of children- and helped put peace within closer reach. This is not hyperbole- check out reGeneration’s accomplishments:
- 500 refugee children fleeing war were taught by reGeneration trained trauma-informed teachers
- 1,105 Palestinian and Jewish Israeli childhoods were nurtured with trauma-informed early education
- 2,708 Jews, Christians, and Muslims participated in U.S. Interfaith Peace Groups
- 1215 teachers were enriched with trauma-informed education training throughout the Middle East
- 33 Southern California Interfaith Groups were united by reGeneration-initiated organizing
But reGeneration is not resting on its laurels. We have exciting plans for the future that I look forward to sharing with you here in my monthly blog. Topics will range from peacebuilding to trauma-informed education to child development.
I am grateful to all of you who have believed in this work and have supported it. reGeneration’s tagline is “Imagine the Potential.” Thank you for seeing the potential of reGeneration. Your support makes it possible for us to help children of all faiths in crisis zones maximize their potential as productive global citizens.
In peace,
Shepha
President and Founder, reGeneration Education
