In 2016 Colombia signed a Peace Agreement that ended the armed conflict ongoing for over 34 years. In order to support national peace bulding objectives, RuralTIC was created by Computadores para Educar with support of the Education and ICT Ministries. This education initiative was specifically desiged for teachers and school directives in territories of reconciliation.

The basis of this training is a diploma course that seeks to strengthen pedagogical practices using ICT through 3 innovative methodologies, also it transfers knowledge to teachers on how to teach education for peace (chair of peace) and finally it teaches school directives how to incorporate both the methodologies and the chair to its Educational Plan. The aim is to improve students learning processes and contribute to an adequate transicion to the peace scenario.

In 2018 the project managed to train 2,838 teachers and school directives (14% of the entire population targeted teachers), exceeding the initial goal of training 2,500 people. This program managed to reach 16 departments of the country (half of the departments in the entire national territory), it also managed to benefit 61 municipalities, all belonging to the areas most affected by the armed conflict. Thus, around 200,000 children are expected to benefit indirectly.

http://computadoresparaeducar.gov.co/es/node/563

• Colombia

• Youth
• Indigenous and nomadic peoples
• The poor
• Refugees and internally displaced people
• Remote and rural communities

This teacher training project for peace can be replicated in any country or territory that is in need of building effective education strategies that allow to foster reconciliation. The content of -RuralTIC was designed to contribute to the nation's objective on ICT and peace, and is taught through innovative methodologies. It seeks to impact teachers, school directives and with them children and adolescents under their care, so they can broaden the perception of the world they live in, share experiences with other countries and discover stories that give them hope and increase their motivation towards learning at shcool.

There are two ways in which RuralTIC could be replicated, (i) trough its contents and curricular structure (methodology) so that it is set aside to the conditions and context where it is desired to be implement; or (ii) making use of the MOOC that was designed for areas with difficult access conditions, physical infrastructure and technology and low or no connectivity, with the idea that all trained teachers have the opportunity to have all the educational content within their reach.

Computadores para Educar is willing to transfer all this know-how to any non-profit organization or country that desires to replicate this program. It is necessary to always keep in mind that it should be adapted to the specific local context.

Within the social frame, this project is sustainable because it manages to generate skills in children and adolescents so that a peaceful coexistence is generated in those territories most affected by the armed conflict. These skills, as well as the ICT skills that are developed, last over time and enhance the welfare and economic conditions of the regions.

At the economic level, the design has costs that are not significant in comparison to the benefits they represent for society and education. Therefore, this initiative is cost effective.

This Project promotes WSIS values trough the Peace Chair. The contents of the chair taught through RuralTIC were guided by the Ministry of Education of Colombia and they seek to build skills that allow to solve conflicts in non-violent ways, also they promote respect, equity, solidarity, tolerance and freedom. The main objective is to train human beings with the ability to care for themselves, for others and for the environment. A citizen with the necessary skills for the recovery of historical memory as a key element to generate processes of forgiveness and reconciliation, with attitudes to strengthen democracy, participation and respect for differences. Given the duration of the diploma course (80 hours), and the quality and depth incorporated in the program, the categories of education for peace that were developed are: Peaceful coexistence, Sustainable development and Diversity & identity; The reconciliation component is transversal to all modules. Peaceful Coexistence: It is based on learning how to relate in a peaceful way and avoid different types of violence. Citizen participation: Democratic practices are fostered in order to learn the principles and values of citizen participation. Diversity and identity: Colombia is a multi-ethnic and multicultural country. Therefore, students are helped to recognize their own identities and respect those of others. Historical Memory and Reconciliation: understanding of history, focused on the present. In this section judgement regarding what is good or bad is never made, but the facts are reviewed and incentives are created to abide by the right and to not repeat the wrong. Sustainable development: with the premise that education can make a substantial contribution teachers are taight about food security, water, energy, consumption and responsible production, climate change, peace, justice and inequality reduction. Ethics, care and decisions: Students are prepared to make informed, responsible, careful and ethical decisions,