Peter Yarrow Brings Anti-Bullying Message to Ukrainian Schools
December 15, 2012
On December 13, 2012 the U.S. Ambassador’s Forum hosted Peter Yarrow, a singer and activist best known as a member of the folk trio “Peter Paul and Mary.” Ambassador John Tefft introduced Yarrow and called him an example of what is “good and kind” in the United States. Held at Kyiv’s House of Teachers, over 100 teachers, students and NGO activists attended. Yarrow performed several songs famous for their role in the American civil rights movement and other civic activism campaigns. He also performed and discussed his song “Don’t Laugh at Me,” an anti-bullying song which is the inspiration for the Operation Respect program he founded. The program was designed to foster social skills, peaceful conflict resolution and mutual respect among school students. Yarrow brought the Operation Respect program to Ukraine with assistance from local partners including the U.S. Peace Corps, Alternative V, and YMCA Ukraine.
While in Ukraine, Yarrow also helped swear in the 44th class of Peace Corps Volunteers, gave an interview on National Ukrainian Radio about Operation Respect, visited inclusive education School 168—a venue for the English Access Microscholarship Program, and visited with students and teachers at the English Teaching Resource Center.