Campaign for Peace-city Sadikabad

CAMPAIGN FOR PEACE-CITY SADIKABAD

No education system is complete without some form of component similar to peace education. It may take such forms as moral, value or citizenship, democratic or global education. The differentiating feature of peace education is the focus it has on the problem of human violence. In short, peace education can be defined as an educational response to the problem of human violence. It has the following basic features: It aims at protecting children’s minds from being imbued by violence in the society. It prepares them for building a peaceful world by empowering them with necessary knowledge, attitudes and skills. It humanizes the child, teaching and learning, and school.

Recognizing the role that education has to play in building defenses of peace in the minds of young people and the inter relationship between peace and sustainable development as critical to achieving the objectives of social cohesion and living together and to move away from a culture of war and violence in a world be set with strife to a culture of peace and non violence, Centre for Youth Development & Activities: CYDA (an NGO) in association with The New Horizons Public School initiated a ‘CAMPIAGN FOR PEACE-CITY SADIKABAD’. “Peace Clubs’ are formed in major educational institutions of Sadikabad, in which many Principals and teachers incharge of respective Schools and Colleges are dedicating their time and resources to the task of making these clubs vibrant and result oriented.

Education of the peace volunteers on the positive aspect of nonviolence through constructive activities, discussions, interactions and effective dialogue is the main focus of the initiative.

The major Objectives of this peace campaign are to;

Bring about a thorough social change for the establishment of a nonviolent social order as Jinnah dreamt.
Encourage students and teachers to experience the creative aspects of nonviolence in their daily life.
Promote interpersonal dialogue and human warmth.
Orient students, teachers and members of the family to be tolerant and respectful to each other.
Profess nonviolent dispute settling methods with friends, neighbors and colleagues.
Expose the evil intentions of the antisocial elements that prosper very often on violence, death and destruction.
Create effective propaganda to recognize violence and tension dangerous to progress and well being of the society.
Motivate students, teachers and members of families to explore and study the experiences, experiments and legacy of great souls like Mohammad (SAW), Jesus, Buddha, Jinnah, Iqbal, and others.

According to findings by UNESCO, through applying peace education and creating a peace culture, it has been observed that Schools can have the following benefits;

Develop a more humanistic management approach.
Improve human relations between, teacher- student, teacher-teacher, student-student etc.
Help develop good attitudes in students and teachers as well. Eg. Co-operation, mutual respect.
Help healthy emotional development in students.
Facilitate socialization through participation in interactive and Co-operative learning activities.
Improve students’ discipline and moral behaviour.
Develop creativity both in students and teachers.
Improve standard of quality of teaching and learning.
Better learning of cognitive material.
Heightened motivation and response to learning situations.
Greater appreciation of self, nature, others, feelings, etc.
Greater pupil’s responsibility.

The need of the hour is to train young minds for love, for service to others and for creative development all around them. If the child misses the value-based education in the school and in the home, no government or society can establish a transparent society or a society with integrity.

A Peace Club starts by enrolling 2-3 students from each section of the different classes of the School/College as initial members. And acknowledging the responsibility to the future of humanity and the critical role of education in discharging such responsibility Peace Clubs through regular, perhaps monthly, meetings and events can train our dear youth and junior youth to become real peace makers in life.

To focus the initiative the following themes can be adopted by a PEACE CLUB to work through out the year;

♥ We R One

(Activities on building Inter-faith trust & relationships)

The degree of similarity among the religions at the fundamental level provides evidence for the unity of religions. There is no religion in the world which negates values of Peace, equality, justice, truth, compassion, human dignity and love. Still in last 5000 years of recorded history, people from all religions of the world fought more than 15000 battles. So, for happier and harmonious relationships, programmes building Inter-faith trust and inter-personal dialogues should be organized.

Religion progresses from one age to the next, as conditions change and mankind’s spiritual capacity develops. In this sense all religions are one, in that they are all inspired by God and are part of His great plan for humanity. In the sense that they arise at different places and times they are of course quite distinct.

If we look carefully at the scriptures of each of the great world religions, we will find that the spiritual truths, such as the message of love, the need for honesty, truthfulness and purity, can be found in every religion. They may be developed from one age to the next, but they always remain true, and they are re-emphasised when the next religious cycle begins:

Today, the world is multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic. No country can be mono-cultural, mono-religious and mono-ethnic. Equal respect for all religions, all cultures, all languages, all races, all ethnic groups can ensure a society of permanence. Even if there is equal distribution of wealth but if one culture looks down on another there is going to be violence of one kind or other.

Here the role of volunteers of PEACE CLUBS becomes very important. They have to ensure that the message that ‘Life is sacred, whether it is animal life, plant life or a human life’ is inculcated and imbibed in their young friends. They can plan for such programmes and activities which gives message that;

We’re Human beings first than Shia, Sunni, Brahmin, Khatri, Protestant, Catholic, etc.

We’re Human beings first than Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Bahai etc.

We’re Human beings first than white, brown, black etc.

We’re Human beings first than Pakistani, Indian, British, etc.

♥ Join the ‘Peace Begins with Me’ program

It’s so easy for students to participate! The “Peace Begins with Me” program is built around the simple notion that lasting peace begins in the hearts and minds of us all. It is simple mathematics to realize that peace in our thoughts, prayers and meditations translates into peace in the world. While there is still anger and hate within and between us, then somewhere it will have to be vented, and so there is conflict & war.

Peace Club members should be trained to be practical and act upon what they say. For instance, when we talk of “peacefulness”, “love of mankind”, “generosity” and “hospitality” we must practice them. There should be faith and spirit in what we say and believe. Peace Clubs have to train youth to change their attitudes-the peace clubs can create confidence in the youths and can create great personalities in them.

♥ One minute’s SILENCE

Still the most potent method of reflecting upon peace is the simplest. A calming, silent peace meditation where students contemplate peace in their own lives and perhaps those of their ancestors remains a lasting experience of peace. Every Peace Club meeting can start with observance of one minute silence.

♥ Plant a “Peace Tree” or “Garden”

A simple gesture that lasts for years is to plant a tree for peace. Take any tree or garden that will suffice to encourage reflection on the noble goal of lasting peace.

♥ Get Creative for Peace

Write a poem or create some artwork for peace and display it at prominent places can also be sent to newspapers or magazines for publication.

♥ Volunteering (Magic potion that includes people and places)

Volunteering activities, camps, workshops can be organised at regular intervals. As peace is possible only in a world without hunger and with social justice. Volunteers and Volunteering across the globe, through individuals and organisations, enable this to happen in various ways, in various circumstances. Volunteering allows people to feel part of their community, and offers tremendous spiritual rewards for the individuals involved.

♥ Let’s be friends

The biggest ill of 21st century is missing warmth in human relationships. Peace Clubs members can take positive steps and become models in Inter-personnel dialogue between friends, Parents-children, children-relations, children-community, children of city-children in slums & villages.

Promotion of reading of books like Jinnah’s auto/biography and other national heroes amongst the students and excursions of students to places associated with great personalities should be given priority.
Peace Clubs can facilitate film shows, Street plays, debate competitions, painting competition etc on themes like ‘Peace, Nonviolence & Environmental issues’
On days like December 25 (birth anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah), special programmes can be organized to keep the flame of nonviolence alive.
Peace Clubs can develop mindfulness practice, meditation, reflection, self realization and self education amongst the students.

The journey continues...