What is Pedagogy of Ahimsa?

I see a world being slowly transformed into a wilderness; I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too. I feel the suffering of millions. And yet when I look up at the sky I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more.

ANNE FRANK
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This 3-day workshop will provide educators an opportunity to learn about Gandhian approaches to education. It will be centred on engaging with other educators who have developed and implemented their own approaches to education for peace. Workshop participants will also have the opportunity to develop their own projects and submit these proposals to a mentorship program. Successful mentorship applicants will receive seed money and a mentor for up to 18 months to help them implement their own projects.

How much does it cost?

We believe that the workshop is worth $1,000.00, but we ask participants to give what they can afford. All money collected will go toward funding mentorships.

Participants may be eligible to apply for scholarships, which are generously supported by the Gandhi Foundation. Priority will be given to those who are travelling from outside Edmonton.

Where is the workshop?

Barnett House
11010 – 142 Street NW
​Edmonton, Alberta

The workshop is for in-person participation only. While scholarships are available to offset some travel costs for those coming from outside Edmonton, the amounts are unlikely to be sufficient for those travelling from afar. 

What makes this workshop special?

We combine lecture-type talks with in-depth discussions and lots of hands-on, arts-based activities to enhance learning and to connect between ideas and actions. After the workshop, we run a mentorship program where participants submit project proposals to take what they have learned in the workshop into the real world. The mentorship program pairs each participant whose proposal is accepted with a mentor and offers $500 unrestricted seed money to get the project off the ground.

Who runs this workshop?

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We have two facilitators for the workshop. Reva Joshee (right) is Associate Professor Emerita from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education  (OISE) at the University of Toronto and author of many articles on peace, diversity and policy. Annie Luk (left) is an adult educator, a lecturer at OISE at the University of Toronto, and author of many articles on education for social justice.

Is there a cap to the number of participants?

In order to maintain a highly interactive nature of the workshop, enrollment is capped at 15. Be sure to register early to secure your spot.

What people have said about Pedagogy of Ahimsa...

So much of this is different from any workshop I've done in the past. The most profound thing is learning from others about taking small ideas, connecting with other people, creating new communities and organizations. The way this workshop started with understanding small acts in classrooms was beautiful. ~Salima
I was expecting a more formal workshop with speakers and lectures, but this is full of creativity and open dialogues which I find very nourishing. ~Lorena
It feels so profound to be here with everybody. I hope this profound feeling doesn't end. This experience reminds me what Gandhi says that it all starts with the heart, with love. ~kathrin
One of the big differences with this workshop is the idea of creating this journal with a built-in opportunity to reflect, to engage in dialogues, to have time to get to know each other on a more personal level. Often in a workshop, we just run and run from topic to topic. This workshop recognizes the importance of slowing down and listening to each other to reflect so that we can carry our learnings with us. ~Simone 
SPONSORS: 
  • International Gandhian Institute for Nonviolence and Peace Canada
  • Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace
  • Alberta Teachers Association
To view brochure in full screen, click HERE.
If you have any question about the program, please email us at [email protected].  
THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS AND GUEST SPEAKERS AT THE 2025 EDITION!

The 2025 edition of Pedagogy of Ahimsa took place in Edmonton, Alberta on July 2-4, 2025. We thank the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace and the Alberta Teachers Association for being wonderful partners in this important initiative.
[photo credit: Jeff Day]
THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS AND GUEST SPEAKERS AT THE 2024 EDITION!

The 2024 edition of Pedagogy of Ahimsa took place in Edmonton, Alberta on July 3-6, 2024. We thank the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace and the Alberta Teachers Association for being wonderful partners in this important initiative.
We'd love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected].