The British Council has managed the Peacekeeping English Project (PEP) in over 35 countries worldwide since 1996.  The project is managed by the British Council on behalf of the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development and Ministry of Defence.  The aims of the programme are:

• To facilitate the short-term rapid build up of a specific number / target of English language users to meet a country’s multinational peace support obligations, or facilitate international contact for senior personnel.
• To promote the development of a long term-sustainable host nation English Language Teaching infrastructure to eventually enable a self-sufficient strategy to meet that country’s needs.
• To assist with the provision of short and long-term functional ELT for specific purposes e.g. conference participation, preparation for international assignments, preparation for international exchanges and training courses, career development and promotion.
• To promote greater co-operation, understanding, interoperability and dialogue between armed forces in the region.
• To contribute, through exposure to UK values and ethos, to the improvement of the professionalism, standards and capabilities of the Armed Forces and public security agencies, particularly with regard to their respect for human rights, the rule of law and the primacy of a democratically elected executive.

In Georgia, the project is funded by the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence together with the Ministry of Defence of Georgia.  It has been functioning since 1999 at the Ministry of Defence of Georgia and since 2002 at the Naval Headquarters in Poti.  It is an important element in the progress towards Georgia’s closer cooperation with NATO, as well as Georgian participation in international peacekeeping operations.  The main activities of PEP Georgia are:

• A range of specific courses in Military and Naval English for personnel of the Georgian Armed Forces and MOD
• Design and implementation of NATO-compliant STANAG 6001 tests
• Teacher training for Military English teachers
• Self-access centres open to all personnel of the Georgian Armed Forces and MOD

The PEP Newsletter tells the stories behind PEP in different countries.

The free website LearnEnglish Peacekeepers provides a wide range of activities to help learners and teachers of Military English.

For further information, please contact Phil Brabbs, Peacekeeping English Project Manager, Georgia.

Disclaimer: The British Council is not responsible for the contents of any external sites.