[Peace Story of Korean Man Hee Lee│Peace Education - Sri Lanka]

“What we need to do now is to plant peace in the world and

implement peace education.”

▎ Desperate for peace after 26 years of civil war… Bombings broke out in 2019 

▎ 8 teachers from 4 schools participated in peace education activities, schools also built a ‘peace monument’

Chairman Man Hee Lee, founder of HWPL and a Korean War veteran, said, “Let’s create a world of peace without war and pass it on to future generations as a legacy” and traveled around the world 31 times to provide peace education so that all students around the world could develop the power to create and maintain peace. Above all, peace education of HWPL does not just call for peace in words. This education is built on peace activities of HWPL realized by Chairman Lee. A representative example is the peaceful resolution of the 50-year religious armed conflict on Mindanao Island in the Philippines, which was achieved through mediation by Chairman Lee. The 'step for peace' shown by a private organization, not an international organization nor a government agency, is attracting attention because it presents a clear answer to prevent innocent sacrifices due to war.

In particular, countries that have suffered from civil war are keenly aware of the importance of HWPL's peace education. Sri Lanka is a country that experienced a civil war for 26 years from July 23, 1983 to May 18, 2009. It was a civil war between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a Tamil rebel group. The 26-year civil war came to an end when Sri Lankan government forces suppressed areas controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The civil war has ended, but the wounds are still not healed, and the desire for peace is that much earnest. This story is about peace education in Sri Lanka.

◆“Peace education must be practiced not only by students but also by teachers.”

On September 17, 2018, HWPL signed an MOA after holding a forum of global peace education development at the Ramada Hotel in Incheon with education ministers and vice ministers from four countries who visited Korea to attend the 4th commemorative ceremony of Peace Summit. At that time, the four countries that signed the MOA were Sri Lanka, Iraq, Guatemala, and Cambodia.

However, peace education did not take place in Sri Lanka immediately afterward. This is because exchanges were temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic that hit the world in 2019. Then, Neil Subasinghe, the principal of the International Republican School in Sri Lanka, was connected with HWPL and attended an online seminar during the COVID-19 period, thereby peace education was introduced in earnest. Principal Subasinghe attended the peace teacher training held in October 2022 and led the teachers through the training as well. Currently, he is actively participating in peace education projects by applying peace education to the school's official curriculum and building a peace monument on campus.

In particular, on May 25 last year, the '10th Commemorative Ceremony of Declaration of Peace, Peace Monument Unveiling and MOU Signing Ceremony' were held at the International Republican School located in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. On this day, 1,100 students signed up as HWPL members, and there was a peace education MOU signing ceremony for two schools belonging to the International Republican School. Principal Subasinghe introduced peace education to the mayor of Nuwara Eliya, who attended the event, and the mayor connected a person in charge of peace education to the school.

In Sri Lanka, peace education is being implemented in 4 schools (International Republican School, Bismi Koran School, Mount Kalbarri School, Kurugala and St. Thomas School), and 8 peace teachers are active. Except for Kurugala and St. Thomas School, the remaining three schools signed a peace education MOU with HWPL.

Principal Subasinghe, who attended the peace teacher training in March 2022, said, “Thank you for teaching us peace education training. We learned what peace is, and also learned how to live in harmony with others. This is an attitude that not only students but also teachers should have. Peace can be learned not only from people, but also from nature, such as birds. As I always said, let’s work together for the children. We must do something for this planet because we are one.”

A teacher from Ifam Republican International School also said “We plan to start classes in April 2022. Through the class, I want my students to understand the original state of all things in the universe. I will have my students draw the most impressive part of the class for homework.”

He also expressed that he was very impressed with the peace education training.

Teacher Ifam said, “This peace education training is truly special. What we can do for the world now is to instill peace. The peace education training gave us the motivation and strength to do good things for the world. All 45 teachers from our school will come together to implement peace education first in our school, then in the community, and then around the world. So the whole world can live in harmony.”.

◆“Providing many excellent educations that enable children to become peaceful citizens.”

Teachers at Mount Kalbarri School are just as passionate about peace education as the teachers at the International Republican School. These schools each have four peace teachers officially appointed by HWPL.

Sheila Anna Schmidt, a teacher at Mount Calvary School who participated in the peace teacher training in February 2022, said, “It is an excellent education that can provide a lot of education that will help children become peaceful citizens, and it is a curriculum that can be practically implemented in our schools. It is the teacher’s responsibility to teach today’s children, who will one day become our leaders, how to love, care for, and respect each other, as learned through the peace teacher training. Teachers have the responsibility to make children good people in our society.”.

In a class titled ‘The Cause of the Breaking of Peace in the Human World’ held in December 2022, Teacher Schmidt said, “Peace education classes are very important not only for students but also for adults. I’m really happy to have the opportunity to teach these lessons to students.”.

Kia Kitsumi, a student who attended the class that day, said, “Order is important. Where there is order, it is clean, neat, and there is peace. On the other hand, greed destroys love and can make our lives difficult. You can lose your family, friends, and home because of greed.”.

◆ Religious conflict exists despite the end of the Sri Lankan civil war

Meanwhile, on May 26, 2019, HWPL and IPYG held the '6th commemorative ceremony of Declaration of World Peace and Peace Walk' in Sri Lanka. In particular, about a month had passed since the 'Easter bombings' occurred simultaneously in eight locations in Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019, killing 290 citizens and foreigners. Although the civil war that lasted 26 years has ended, it showed that the seeds of conflict in Sri Lanka still exist.

Even though a national emergency was declared at that time, 22 citizens voluntarily attended the event. Attendees at the event publicized the need for DPCW to achieve sustainable peace at home and abroad, and shared the results of the 'Peace Letter' campaign activities calling for DPCW conducted from all over the world and at home.

This is to encourage responses to letters sent to presidents of each country. This event was held at the Ganga Amaya Temple, a landmark in Sri Lanka, to commemorate the victims of the bombing and to pray for peace by touring the entire temple to prevent such heartbreaking incidents from happening again.

Peace education that instilled the importance of peace

in children's mind in the Balkan Peninsula

Reference : https://bit.ly/3UXzbQ4 

[HWPL] 11th Peace Walk

▎ The 11th commemoration of the declaration of world peace restoration of light of HWPL, uniting citizens of 50 countries in peace

▎ Being held in over 50 countries around the world, including Seoul, Korea, during the month of May.

As global conflict threatens global security and coexistence, peace events initiated by citizens have been held in more than 50 countries around the world, including Korea, and have become a hot topic.

Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Liberation (Chairman Man Hee Lee, hereinafter referred to as HWPL), a non-governmental organization under the UN, held the 11th commemorative ceremony of the declaration of world peace restoration of light in May in major cities across the country, including Seoul, and will sequentially be held in over 50 countries around the world.

This event was held under the theme of ‘Intercultural communication for a civic spirit of reconciliation and embrace.’ The goal is to foster and share a global culture of peace, and was held in Seoul, South Korea from 10 am on the 25th.

At the 10th commemorative ceremony last year, Chairman Man Hee Lee said, “Peace must be taught starting from home and school. Everyone must become a messenger of peace. Everyone must work together in the title of peace to create a better world and to make it a legacy for future generations. This is what we must do in the times we live in”

Accordingly, this commemorative ceremony focused on citizen participation and experience. In addition to the Veterans booth, a booth was set up to introduce projects in the Philippines, where the peace movement is actively taking place, and a booth to introduce peace projects in Ukraine, which is suffering from war. Many citizens participated in the booth where they wrote messages on guardian angel-shaped notes hoping peace in Ukraine.

In addition, a booth for making peace bracelets, a media experience booth to reflect on the importance of peace by indirectly experiencing war from the perspective of soldiers, pregnant women, and students, and a VR booth were set up to provide attendees with a variety of experiences.

In particular, at the Veterans booth, from 2 p.m., there was a time to listen to a lecture by Yoo Byeong-chu, president of Friendship Association of the Allied Powers in the Korean War and a Korean War veteran. The crowds outside the booths lined up to listen to the lecture, showing that there are many citizens who wish for peace.

President Yoo said, "I overcame the risk of death as a student soldier. One unit was even exterminated. I can still vividly hear the voices of the soldiers filled with pain. There is nothing more important than life. After overcoming a crucial moment, we must pass on this peaceful world that we are experiencing now to the future generations. For the sake of our descendants, time for peace and patriotism for our country is essential.”.

Meanwhile, this event is an annual commemorative ceremony in which the declaration of world peace restoration of light was announced at the Peace Gate at Seoul Olympic Park in 2013, when 30,000 young people from around the world called for peace together. This declaration briefly explains the role of individuals from all walks of life in achieving peace and calls for a united global effort.

“Students who learned about peace

not only comply with regulation

but also improve their academic performance”

Afghanistan, a Middle Eastern country bordering Iran, is a country with many citizens who desperately want peace socially. There are people here who passionately work for peace and education with the global private peace organization Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of light  (HWPL, Chairman Man Hee Lee). Even though it is difficult to run schools due to the Taliban's suppression of women's education, educational figures are taking the lead in educating about peace.

The Taliban, an Islamic militant group in Afghanistan, regained power in August 2021 during the withdrawal of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) troops, including U.S. troops. After that, the Taliban renamed the country from 'Islamic Republic of Afghanistan' to 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan' and restricted women's education, based on Islamic law.

However, despite this situation, HWPL and educators who love peace showed dedication to growing children to educate peace. Peace education has changed children’s minds peacefully, and the teachers have been greatly rewarded by the changes in their students. The results of peace education activities have been shown.

◆Local principal actively introduces peace education

Through HWPL's peace education curriculum, students learned about peace, human values, the importance of family, and etiquette. Since then, they have seen significant improvements in classroom discipline as well as academic performance.

Mohammad Nadir Azedfana, principal of Mukhtar School in Afghanistan, explained the results of introducing HWPL peace education to his school.

Principal Mohammad Nadir Azedfana heard the news that peace had been realized through HWPL in Mindanao, Philippines, which was an area of conflict between Catholics and Muslims. Afterwards, he became actively involved in implementing peace education and attending HWPL events in the hope that such peace would be achieved in Afghanistan as well. He was appointed as a honorary ambassador of HWPL on August 22, 2022.

Principal Mohammad Nadir Azedfana, who is convinced that peace can come through HWPL peace education, gave a presentation at the 52nd side event of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on March 31 last year under the theme of 'Afghanistan people's right to education'.

Principal Mohammad Nadir Azedfana said, “(Through HWPL peace education), students became more polite, more confident, and their grades were improved. We plan to continue and extend peace education classes.”

◆“Thank you for providing the opportunity for peace activities.”

On September 20, 2022, an offline event commemorating the Peace Summit was held at Mukhtar School. The Peace Summit was an event held by HWPL in Seoul, Korea in September 2014. It was a large-scale international conference attended by over 4,000 people of former and current presidents, Supreme Court justices, political and religious leaders, youth and women leaders, and over 200,000 general members from around the world.

At this event, current and former presidents, Supreme Court justices, and political leaders promised to make an international law for cessation of war, world peace and introduce it to the United Nations. Religious people pledged to unite religions and achieve peace with the most reliable scriptures. HWPL holds a commemorative ceremony every year, except the corona period.

HWPL holds a commemorative ceremony every year to ensure that the promises made at the first meeting do not remain mere formalities, and to specify what activities have been carried out so far and what will be done in the future to achieve peace through section meetings in each field, such as politics, religion, youth, women, and the media. Efforts are being made to achieve actual peace.

Mursal Sattari, a teacher who attended the commemorative ceremony of Peace Summit held at Mukhta School, said, “I am grateful to be able to provide students the opportunity, engaging in peace activities. I feel proud when I see students participating eagerly.” .

◆HWPL, MOU with local educational institutions

Peace education activities in Afghanistan were not limited to Mukhtar School. Since 2020, education to train peace teachers who will teach peace to children has been conducted steadily at Mukhtar School, New Alfalah High School 2, Mediothek Afghanistan, Asr-e-Fadidaha High School, and Faryab University. A total of 67 people participated in this program.

Teachers from Firoza Muradi American Lyceum International School also participated in the peace teacher training.

After watching a video to explain the textbook of HWPL Peace Education Lesson 12, ‘The Completion of the Peace that Humanity Longs for’, he said, “It was good to be able to learn about the finer details of the textbook. Students ask a lot about the topic during class. I was able to learn clearly enough to be able to answer.”.

Regarding peace education, he said, “It was also good to be able to interact with educators from all over Afghanistan.”

Avi, a student at Mukhtar School who took the class on lesson 12 peace education, said, “I learned that greed brings worry to people’s hearts. I also learned that greed brings conflict in society and becomes the source of sin.”.

HWPL signed peace education MOUs with a total of three educational institutions, including Mukhtar School, New Alfalah second Private High School, and Amazon English Academy, and is gradually expanding the conditions for teaching peace to students.

Since October 2021, a total of 47 peace education activities have been conducted at four schools, including New Alfalah High School 2, Mukhtar School, Amazon English Academy, and Asr-e-Fadidaha High School.

On August 13 last year, eco-plogging (jogging and picking up trash) was held at an offline pre-event in Afghanistan commemorating the 9th anniversary of the Peace Summit. Students who received HWPL peace education participated in this event and carried out activities to create a peaceful world by picking up trash and improving the environment.

Reference : https://bit.ly/4c3UK7C