The Rasur Foundation
The Rasur Foundation was founded by Rita Marie Johnson, an American who came to Costa Rica in 1993 to help strengthen its national model of peace. Its mission is to inspire, educate and facilitate toward a worldwide culture of peace, beginning with the creation of a countrywide model in Costa Rica. In 2002, Rita Marie was joined by CALI member, Alexandra Kissling, who became a Board member and moved the foundation to a new level of national influence. The foundation works in three arenas:
Arena 1: Advocacy for governmental infrastructure for peace
Current project: The Rasur Foundation wrote an initiative in 2006 for a Ministry of Justice and Peace in Costa Rica. It was embraced by the Arias administration and, through collaboration with the Ministry for Justice; the initiative is now a bill that will soon be passed by the Legislative Assembly. The bill has no opposition.
Arena 2: Building citizens’ social and emotional intelligence for peace
Current project: The Peace Army of Costa Rica, which has been working in public schools since 2004, aims for every child to learn how to pass peace skills to the next generation. Peace Army trainers teach the skill of “feeling peace” with a method called HeartMath and the skill of “speaking peace” through Nonviolent Communication. The combination of these two proven methods for building social and emotional intelligence is called the Peace Army Way. Evaluations each year have indicated a reduction of violence in the classrooms.
By the end of 2007, the Peace Army will have impacted over 9000 students by training:
- 287 teachers with 40-80 hours of training plus follow up in classrooms
- 258 students in Peace Army Way mediation
- 50 parents in practice groups
Now other countries in Central America are requesting help to start Peace Armies in their countries and a plan is being developed to meet this need.
Arena 3: Peace promotion that reinforces the national identity with peace
Current projects in collaboration with others:
- Radio Upe!, is produced with children and youth by founding director, Eva Ulmer, and is heard on national radio each week. Its mission is to provide a platform for young people to speak and learn about important issues of today’s world while promoting a dynamic culture of peace based on dialogue, participation, respect and learning.
- The Rasur Foundation initiated and participated in the first national celebration of the International Day of Peace on September 21, 2006. This special day, intended as a worldwide cease fire, was established by the United Nations as a result of two resolutions, the first sponsored by Costa Rica and the second sponsored by Costa Rica and the UK.
The UN-sanctioned Season for Nonviolence was introduced to Costa Rica by Rita Marie Johnson and her husband, Juan Enrique Toro. Now government agencies sponsor its celebration each year, supported by the participation of the Rasur Foundation.