On February 6th, Heavenly Culture World Peace, Restoration of Light(HWPL) hosted an HWPL Peace Education Development Forum in Africa. 500 people from 24 countries in the sectors of African national education ministries, UNESCO national committee, MOU-signed schools, and organizations participated to discuss ‘the Roles and Cooperation of Educations in the Post-COVID-19 Era.’
The host organization, HWPL, is promoting international projects in 25 countries to develop long-term peacebuilding in Africa based on the initiative ‘Spreading a Culture of Peace’ also proposed by the United Nations resolution.
The forum highlighted the necessity of developing and applying a new educational policy to stop the disparities in education and human rights violations such as sexual exploitation of children and women rampant in Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, speakers shared the examples of implementing HWPL Peace education curricula in their classrooms and reaffirmed the solidarity in promoting peace as educators in Africa.
A member of the University of Zambia Youths of United Nations Association(UNZAYUNA) as well as the case presenter of HWPL Peace Education, Grace Mutale highlighted the importance of HWPL Peace Education, “Through HWPL Peace Education, I realized that I am the answer to realizing peace and determined to take part in peace work.”
Deputy Director of Ministry of Education Kenya, Science and Technology, Bartholomew Lumbasi Wanikina said “Peace Education is important since through the teachers, children able to build and sustain peace in their respective families, friends, community, workplace, and country. Therefore, as educators, we must disseminate the message of peace so that children can have peace and have a sustainable peace,” emphasizing the responsibility and the role of educators in building sustainable peace.
General Secretary, Cote d’Ivoire National Commission for UNESCO, SORO N’golo Aboudo said, “We would like to have an associated school so that this culture of peace program is taught in these schools, and that the children are really aware of the issue of peace and especially the issue of nonviolence.”
During the forum, HWPL signed an MOA(‘Memorandum of Agreement’) with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Kenya, and signed Peace Academy MOUs(‘Memorandum of Understanding) with 13 schools. The department of peace education will work closely with peace academies to appoint and train on-and offline peace educators and conduct pilot classes on the value of peace.
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