Across all cultures,

we find an essential

humanity that is

most visible

in early childhood,

a playful,

intelligent,

and creative

way of being.

Early experience
     lasts a lifetime.
  It shapes our self
      and how we see others

…it also shapes
our sense of
what’s possible.

Help us focus
the world’s attention
on the importance
of children’s early years.

Become A Friend.

Become A Friend
of the Centre

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The Global Cooling Song

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Raffi Renaissance

Imagine

Imagine a new idea as vital as democracy. Now imagine helping it spread quickly throughout the world! Child Honouring is one such idea, an idea whose time has come. We invite you to be a part of the global movement that views honouring children as the best way to create sustainable, peacemaking societies.
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Nelson Mandela, The Dalai Lama, Graca Machel are among the growing chorus of luminaries calling for a world fit for children.

The Centre for Child Honouring - on Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada - is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing Child Honouring as a universal ethic, an organizing principle for societal transformation.

Child Honouring is a unique social change revolution, one with the child at its heart. It is a positive vision that stresses “the primacy of early years” as key to activating the powerful potential of our species.

Supporting the Earth Charter and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, A Covenant for Honouring Children is a poetic declaration of our duty respect children, “to honour their caring ideals as the heart of being human”.

The Child Honouring principles offer a guide for living as conscious beings. They constitute the basis for a multi-faith consensus on societal renewal.

At this critical point in human history, we invite you to join the Centre’s work to co-create a vast change in the human paradigm.

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Raffi at TEDxVictoria - Respecting Earth & Child: Connecting the dots

Raffi's "must see" TEDx talk connects Earth and Child dots with wit and grace, bridging psychology, spirit, and ecology in a moving way. Many themes here for educators, parents, and yes, beluga grads! (Study guide to come). Oh, and he sings, too!

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My Drawing Our World Project - Launches video

Watch our video which portrays the Centre for Child Honouring program called "My Drawing Our World" - A children's art program and exhibit.

This educational program invites children ages 7 – 14 to artfully express the vision and principles of Child Honouring. This is done through art-making workshops and participation with supervision and parental consent.

Displaying the children’s art in a variety of settings will show people the Child Honouring vision through the innocence, delight and honesty of children’s art.

To learn more about this program and to view the children's art work from the schools who completed this project, please visit:
http://www.childhonouring.org/mydrawingourworld.html

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Documentary Film Event - I AM - with filmmaker Jennifer Abbott

Feb 1 2012

I AM

I AM is an utterly engaging and entertaining non-fiction film that poses two practical and provocative questions: what’s wrong with our world, and what can we do about it? The film shares the story of Tom Shadyac, Director of such Hollywood blockbusters as Ace Ventura, Liar Liar, Patch Adams, and Bruce Almighty, as he offers himself as a flawed character in the narrative of the film. With great wit, warmth, curiosity, and masterful storytelling, I AM recounts what happened to Tom after a cycling accident left him incapacitated, possibly for good. Though he ultimately recovered, he emerged with a new sense of purpose, determined to share his own revelations about his prior life of excess and greed, and to investigate how he as an individual, and we as a species, could improve the way we live and walk in the world.

A collaboration with documentary filmmaker Jennifer Abbott, who edited and acted as executive producer on I AM, the film reveals what science now tells us is one of the principal truths of the universe, a message that is as simple as it is significant: We are all connected – to each other and to everything around us.

Experience this remarkable journey about unity…that is I AM.

Featuring Desmond Tutu, Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky, Lynn McTaggart, Coleman Barks and Thom Hartman.

100% of I AM’s proceeds go to charities that contribute to a more loving, kind, compassionate and equitable world for all. Proceeds from this screening will go to the Centre for Child Honouring and Seven Ravens Farm’s Primary School Permaculture Garden Projects in Africa.

Trailer: http://www.iamthedoc.com/

Jennifer Abbott, who recently moved to Salt Spring, is best known as one of the Directors and the Editor of the internationally acclaimed film The Corporation. Sometimes billed as Canada’s most successful documentary, The Corporation was held over in theatres internationally, won 26 international awards, and is credited as one of the top ten films to inspire the Occupy Movement.

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Raffi's Blog on Hockey, Kids & Canada

What's Pro Hockey got to do with world peace?
Stand on guard for kids and the game we love

You might wonder - pro hockey & world peace - what's this about, is he nuts?... Read more

Raffi

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Layton's "Letter to a Nation" honoured in song by Raffi

For Immediate Release: October 27, 2011

Like so many Canadians across the country and across party lines, west coast singer/ songwriter Raffi was deeply saddened by the recent loss of NDP leader Jack Layton.

“In his last letter to Canadians, Jack Layton expressed a spirit of cooperation and positivity that resonated strongly with me and with many Canadians. This message was so widely shared immediately after his passing, I wanted to capture its wisdom in song to help us remember,” says Raffi, who in recent years has written songs inspired by the likes of Nelson Mandela, Jane Goodall, and the Dalai Lama.

“Layton’s last words gave Canada a historic moment. His message of love, hope, and optimism transcend politics—these are enduring values for young and old to embrace.”

Raffi recorded “Letter To A Nation” on Salt Spring Island where he lives, after sharing the song demo with Olivia Chow (Layton’s wife) who gave the song her blessing and expressed her support for its sharing.

"This song really touched me, as I'm sure it will touch countless people.
Jack believed so deeply in the ability of young people to change the world.
I hope today's children are as inspired by this song and by Jack's legacy."
Olivia Chow, MP

Click to download the song, and please Share!

Click for more information about the song

Words