In March 2025, a significant pilot workshop brought together Christian, Muslim, and Hindu faith leaders from across Kenya for a transformative Training of Trainers (TOT) program on the ‘Parents’ Guide to Character and Leadership Development in the Home’ curriculum. Hosted at Methodist Guest House in Nairobi, this interfaith initiative equipped faith leaders with practical tools and culturally grounded strategies to empower parents as the first and most important educators of values in the home.
This milestone followed months of research, curriculum development, and collaborative engagement. The curriculum, developed by Global Peace Foundation (GPF), Global Peace Women (GPW), GPF Kenya, and in consultation with the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRC-K) is rooted in the shared conviction that strong families are the cornerstone of peaceful, ethical societies. It aims to revitalize family-based approaches to raising ethical, responsible, and compassionate children to counter challenges to children and families in today’s rapidly evolving world like economic pressures, shifting societal norms, and the breakdown of intergenerational connections.
In March, 35 faith leaders from Kenya’s major religious communities across two sessions were trained. Trainees affirmed that character education in the home is essential for healthy child development. They appreciated how the curriculum is a practical tools for communities and parents to address challenges facing families and youth like peer pressure, absentee parents, work and family balance. Through interactive sessions and shared reflections, the workshop helped participants reconnect with their vital role in shaping families as incubators of ethical leadership.
The curriculum is built on a understanding: the home is the first academy of character and leadership, parents are the first teachers and coaches. The training is designed to help religious and cultural communities leverage their traditions and teachings to empower parents in their important role in the family academy to cultivate their children’s character and leadership.
Trainees were inspired to use the curriculum within their communities. The training acknowledges the important role that religious and cultural communities play in supporting families, women and children. Religious leaders expressed their ready commitment to support parents in their communities to advance character and leadership development at the family level.
The curriculum provides age-specific strategies, scriptural foundations, and culturally relevant guidance for parents raising children from age 0 to 19 years and lessons samples that promote foundational values such as respect, responsibility, self-control, honesty, compassion, thankfulness, perseverance, humility, loyalty, and faith, while allowing for contextualization across different religious traditions.
Post-workshop evaluations showed a marked improvement in participants’ understanding of home-based character and leadership education and strengthened their confidence to guide parents within their faith communities. The faith leaders emphasized role modeling, intentional parenting, and linking values to scripture, family guidance, and the role of community in shaping children’s ethics.
As one trainee observed, “If we change the home, we change the nation.”
At Global Peace Foundation and Global Peace Women, we champion character and leadership development by advancing values-based approaches that begin in the home and extend to schools, communities, and institutions. Their excitement signals a hopeful path forward for nurturing future generations with love, purpose, and moral clarity, laying strong foundations for peaceful families and cohesive communities.
Through interfaith partnerships, family-centered programs, and leadership training, we nurture ethical global citizens equipped to lead with integrity and compassion. By recognizing the family as the seedbed of character and moral leadership, we work to build peaceful societies grounded in universal principles, shared values, and the vision of One Family under God.
If you are a parent, educator, or religious leader interested in implementing or supporting this initiative, visit Global Peace Women to learn more, access resources, or connect with the team.
