The Evolution of the Project.

Besides the reception of minors and families in state-of-the-art structures, the City of Peace project intends to constitute a broad-range research campus based on three prime principals, as indicated in the feasibility study.

The first and fundamental principle, it is that of education.

An educational criterion that juxtaposes the paradigm of studied “data” and is aimed in every sense at the future of the world.   Utilising the international network of  Wccc International, the premises of the City of Peace are to host formation courses for both teachers and pupils that will deepen the themes of peace starting from ourselves as the source.  Additionally, an “educational package” for the schools will be produced, translated into more languages and published in Cd rom or videocassette as a formation tool for teachers and young people in other countries.

A cycle of lectures on the subjects of education, scientific research and eco-compatible energies, with guest speakers such as Nobel laureates and other illustrious personalities, will be arranged through the partnership with the University of Basilicata.

An “Observatory on Forgotten Wars” will also be activated. A laboratory that will focus on information about the myriad of “hidden” wars that the official press does not mention, with a proper formation course for young reporters that, commencing with the City of Peace for Children, can start off a professional journalist career with special focus on what is happening in the “South of the world”.

The 2° International Summit of Mothers of the Earth for World Peace is foreseen by October/November 2008, to be held at Matera.

On the  front of clean energy and medical research, the scouting work is still in progress.  Contacts are being made with corporate research bodies, institutes, universities and private organizations to plan an executive project.

The research that will be developed at the City of the Peace Research Campus, will delve into the topics of clean energy and medical investigation and can be related to all fields of these two disciplines.

The objective is to create small laboratories/workshops in order to form a generation of young people “experienced” in these themes. An example could be a small lab to test a determined medicine, a new technology for monitoring pollution, the creation of a small plastics recycling plant for the production of sporting accessories, or other hypotheses to be examined.

The Next Objectives 2008

On January 28th 2008 Betty will receive the Degree "Honoris Causae" from the University of Basilicata. In that occasion a visit has been organized to the sites of the City of Peace for Children together with a small delegation of possible partners.

Within June 2008 the new organism that will manage the project of the City will be constituted to which will adhere, besides Wccc International and Wccc-Italia-Onlus and the Region of Basilicata, the University of Basilicata and other public and private organisms.

By October 2008 the executive project will be prepared and  “The City of Peace for the Children in Basilcata Conference" will be organised.

At the same time the region will begin the task of restoration and readjustment of the structures of the City of Peace and the houses that will host the children and their families.

In the first six months of 2009 we anticipate to be able to welcome the first nucleus of 25 children with their families.