also attended briefings by the UN and by the ICOIC, focusing on issues within the three priorities chosen for attention by the Augustinian NGO -- education, development and human rights.
The Augustinian NGO has been involved in three specific areas of the education issue. First, a course on the topic of UN-Church collaboration was again offered.
It is regularly available twice a year (in May and September) as a two-week intensive program.
Second, the Augustinian NGO has with Pax Christi (
http://www.paxchristi.net/ ) facilitated the enrolment and a pastoral enrichment of a student participating in the UN certificate course of Long Island University, New York.
This work is recognised and funded by the US bishops committee to implement the pastoral letter on peace that was produced by the US bishops conference in the year 1983.
Third, the Augustinian NGO has made initial visits to Augustinian schools (Canada, England and Scotland, Latin America, Philippines, United States, Australia and Japan) to promote the UNESCO associated schools project (
http://www.unesco.org/education/asp/).
This is a long-range process by which schools on any level can enrich student learning on human rights, environment, diversity and international issues.
The Augustinian NGO was itself enriched by an arrangement with the volunteer program of the Villanova Province (United States of America).
For the past two years the services of one of these volunteers has been given to the work of the Augustinian NGO. This has been of great assistance.
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