International Day Of Peace 2018
2018 Theme: “The Right to Peace - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70”
The International Day of Peace provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to undertake in acts of peace and kindness. People across the globe engage in diverse and meaningful ways from moments of silence, attending peace education events and writing peace poetry to attending peace matches, yoga and meditation.
“It is time all nations and all people live up to the words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human race. This year marks the 70th anniversary of that landmark document.” UN Secretary General António Guterres. Lutheran World Federation – Kenya, the lead implementing agency for UNHCR in basic education in Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps supports learners to nurture their leadership, negotiation and arbitration skills.
Peace education in schools has played an integral role in nurturing children to be peace ambassadors both in schools and in their respective communities. The sessions cover a range of issues on the conflict continuum in line with the UN Peace education manual
On weekly basis, the club members apply the knowledge and skills to solve conflict cases that occur in schools and report to their facilitators and patrons; action is then taken monthly. Participants share and sensitize others through the knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and behaviours that they gained from the sessions through skits, songs and poems to educate
other learners about promoting peace and conflict resolution processes within the schools as well as their communities.
During this year’s International Day of Peace celebrations held on the 21st of September 2018, LWF with the support of DCA (Dan Church Aid) organized a Peace Concert at Youth Centre
3 in Kakuma - 2 and provided an open forum for the learners to showcase their talents. The event attracted various participants in competition and the best three performing clubs in each category were awarded with gadgets as an incentive to motivate their performance in educational programs. Presentations revolved around peaceful coexistence guided by the theme of the day The Right to Peace marking the milestones of peaceful co-existence between the refugee and the host community.
Inclusion and meaningful participation form part of LWF’s core values: We are committed to being inclusive and enabling the full and equitable participation of men, women, children, people of all ages and persons with disabilities. We understand power dynamics, cultural norms,
access to resources and other factors creating barriers to participation and we work to overcome these.
“Children are the leaders of tomorrow. It is expected that the skills they get will be transferred to their peers, siblings as well as their parents and guardians.” Said Roseline Nthenge Projects Coordinator – LWF Kakuma Area Program
We can all support Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Number 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions by seeking peaceful resolutions to conflicts when disagreements arise round us. We can be part of the solution by taking small steps, prevent injustice in schools or in our communities by adopting and non-violent approach to problem solving and reporting potential crimes
#TheRightToPeace
#Inclusion
#WeAreOne
