• Copy of the story "Peace Begins with Me"
• Optional: Copies of Heifer International's World Ark magazine or printouts of stories from World Ark online

• Read the story until you are comfortable presenting it.
• Optional: Make copies of the story for youth to share and read along.

Youth explore individual roles in creating peace.

Tell or read the story. Follow the story with a discussion.

• Did Raziq experience anything in Sierra Leone that you consider unjust?
• What spheres of influence did Raziq influence in this story?
• Did Raziq become an ally to anyone in this story? If so, how did he ally with them? Raziq refers to the seven Principles as a litmus test. What does that mean to you?
• Do you think Raziq understands some things by the end of his trip that he did not understand before? What might they be?
• What new understandings did the story bring to you?
• Have you ever read a true, first person account like this before that inspired you to act? (You might mention the stories that accompany the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee's Guest at Your Table Program, commercials for Save the Children, or show some of the stories from World Ark, the magazine for Heifer International.) Many organizations working for social justice use stories of true-life experiences to make their point. Why do you think this is effective in soliciting action?

Have enough copies of the story to share for youth who are visual learners.