The Tolerance Project aims to inspire conscience, pluralism, religious freedom, and celebration of difference. Using an array of educational materials in Arabic, Persian, and English, The Tolerance Project emphasizes the capacity of each and every individual to counter hate, and imparts the benefits of living in tolerant, open societies. The Tolerance Project educates to prevent persecution and genocide, cultivating the basis for vibrant and stable societies in the broader Middle East.
The project features theories, histories, actions, pedagogies, and more that celebrate difference and underscore the importance of tolerance in sustaining free and open societies. Empathy, compassion, and respect for the equality and dignity of others are essential safeguards of human rights and human development. Through outreach and civic engagement to the Arabic and Persian speaking worlds, The Tolerance Project aspires for free, just, and peaceful societies in the broader Middle East.
Core Values
- Everyone has equal, inherent human dignity
- Humanity is diverse and all societies hold great diversity within themselves
- Diversity makes us strong and is reason for pride and celebration
- Tolerance is nurtured through freedom of thought, speech, conscience, and religion
- Tolerance safeguards human rights
- Individual actions and choices matter – one person can make a difference
- Everyone has a moral obligation to prevent hatred, discrimination, persecution, and genocide
- Minds can be opened to tolerance through dialogue, education, and empathy
The Tolerance Project is an initiative of the E-Collaborative for Civic Education (ECCE). ECCE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission of providing civic education to promote democracy and human rights internationally. The Tolerance Project is ECCE’s newest initiative to safeguard and support universal human rights. ECCE’s other projects, Tavaana: E-Learning Institute for Iranian Civil Society and TavaanaTech, support active citizenship and civic leadership in Iran through variety of educational opportunities on subjects forbidden by the Iranian government, including democracy, human rights, religious freedom, the separation of religion and state, and the empowerment of those marginalized. ECCE’s work is supported by the US Department of State, USAID, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Endowment for Democracy, Google and generous individuals.