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IWPG Spreads Peace Education to Everyone
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IWPG Spreads Peace Education to Everyone,
from Parents to Children
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Philippine Branch’s Peace Project using the IWPG Coloring Book
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On Dec 9th, Philippine Branch held the “Personality-Building Project to Achieve Peace” at Hinukay Elementary School with 254 Philippine children who are longing for peace using the IWPG Coloring Book for the purpose of raising awareness of the importance and value of peace.
One participant said, “It was a very valuable project because I received the beautiful IWPG Coloring Book and learned why a peaceful world is needed.”
Ms. Myrisa Balondo, the acting principal of Hinukay Elementary School and currently a PLTE student, said, “I’m grateful to be able to give this coloring book to children who are longing for peace so that they can gain hope. I will continue to work with IWPG with love and teach children with the heart of a mother.”
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Hong Kong Branch holds a Peace Workshop
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IWPG Hong Kong Branch held the “Peace Workshop for Emotion Control and Non-violent Communication” for 180 primary and middle school students at the HAN Academy on Nov 28th, Dec 2nd, Dec 9th.
Volunteers in IWPG Hong Kong branch requested to collaborate with HAN Academy to have peace workshops for their students. Feeling the need to help children who were lacking F2F interaction with their peers due to the COVID-19 pandemic and going through stressful circumstances, the teachers suggested that IWPG make a program to teach these children proper character and interpersonal relationship skills. Through various programs including role play, discussions, and games, children learned various interpersonal relationship skills, such as how to openly express their thoughts and emotions while understanding and relating to the thoughts and emotions of others.
One 5th grade student who participated in the Workshop said, "I think the emotion control and non-violence education provided today is very important because everything that we learn and practice can be the start of the change to a peaceful world.”
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Global Region 2, Interview with Tanzania PLTE Staff
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On Dec 18th, Global Region 2 conducted a PLTE group interview with 17 Tanzanian women. It was an opportunity for everyone to share each other’s resolution and determination for the upcoming peace education.
Verena Holo Busanda (peace educator) said, “Many Tanzanian women are the victims of violence. I hope that through peace education these women gain knowledge that is helpful for the society.”
MonarMosi Theobald Chitanda (architect) said, “Peace has power. I will participate actively in the education because I believe if I have peace, more women will gain the power to work.”
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Global Region 4, Holds the Completion Ceremony of PLTE Class 3 in Myanmar
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Global Region 4 Myanmar Branch held the Completion Ceremony of PLTE Class 3 online on Dec 10th. A total of 37 students graduated with excellent results. After the three instructors shared their thoughts of completing the education, everyone watched a video of the students’ peace education activities. Then, one graduate gave a speech as a representative. Lastly, the 10 most excellent graduates gave a PLTE lecture, which was good practice for becoming future peace lecturers.
Khin Thida Han, doctor of the Myanmar Medical Association and one of the PLTE instructors, said, “Unlike other peace education programs, PLTE is special because it gathers people of different religions, race, and backgrounds and bonds them together. I am proud to have learned the depth and value of PLTE and become a lecturer. I was moved to see students try their best despite unfavorable conditions such as electricity cut-offs, unstable Internet connections, and turbulent national circumstances. I hope all the graduates become influential peace lecturers in their communities.”
Ei Hnin Khaing, an engineer of the Yangon-Mandalay Railway Improvement Project, shared her thoughts in her graduate representative speech. “PLTE is very systematic and effective. It is a good education program for humanity and changes us for the better. Through PLTE, I learned of HWPL and DPCW, and I enjoyed learning of amazing peace activities. DPCW is essential to all nations because its goal is to stop war on earth and build a peaceful world. Myanmar’s peace culture will thrive thanks to IWPG.”
In her Completion Speech, Htet Htet Aung, program director of ProAct Myanmar, described her action plans by saying, “PLTE is very practical and holds a new concept of peace that we can apply to our daily lives. I am proud to be part of IWPG’s peace family. I will educate PLTE to women from various classes.”
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Global Region 12, Holds PLTE Completion Ceremony online in Kenya and Cambodia
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On Dec 25th, IWPG Global Region 12 (Regional Director Mi Hyun Yeo) held an online PLTE Completion Ceremony online with Kenyan and Cambodian members. Ten people participated, including three graduates, the Cambodia Branch Manager, and the staff of Global Region 12.
Drusilla Josephine Kerubo Kuindwa, member of Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children (KAAC), and Kesia Nundu Dibo, ticket manager of Nairobi Expressway, received a certificate and instructor ID, and Ek Sophanna, executive director of Christina Salon Beauty and School received a certificate.
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Global Region 6, Chuncheon Branch Provides Parent Education on the Topic of “Peace of the Mother, Peace for the Child”
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On Dec 7th, Chuncheon branch held a lecture session in the branch office titled “Peace of the Mother, Peace for the Child.”
Sung Suk Min, Research Director of Future Education of Gangwon, who completed PLTE, said, “We ourselves must be the actors of peace. I combined parent education and peace education because I wanted more people to receive peace education.” She also emphasized that mothers must realize the value of peace first to educate their children of the value of peace.
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Peace Movements that Create Peace
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Melbourne Branch Holds Award Ceremony and Exhibition of the 4th International Loving-Peace Art Competition
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On Dec 3rd, Melbourne Branch of Australia held the award ceremony and exhibition of the 4th International Loving-Peace Art Competition at the Saltwater Community Center in cooperation with Shreelkha Jain, the director of Shreelkha Art Foundation. Under the theme of “Peace and Friendship,” 45 children participated, and excellent drawings from India, Germany, and U.S.A. were displayed. This exhibition was held to plant the seed of peace in the hearts of children and send a message of hope for peace to people living in war and conflict. Director Shreelkha Jain said that she will work with the local community to support the DPCW and spread a culture of peace.
Jasmine Hill, the councilor for the city of Wyndham, said, “In order to build a peaceful and happy world, all families and members of the community must come together, and peace starts from within us. The DPCW is amazing.”
Awardee Trisha Mehta expressed her thoughts and said, “Because we are all one, peace means stopping war and loving everyone in the world.”
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Global Region 5, India Mumbai Peace Committee Holds “Peace Slogan Contest”
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On Dec 19th, the India Mumbai Peace Committee held the “Peace Slogan Contest” at St. Matthew’s High School. This contest was an opportunity for students to think of the value and objective of peace and go one step further to promote peace in their communities. A total of 54 people participated, and the participating students could share their creative thoughts and opinions.
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Global Region 10, Donated Funds to the IWPG Peace Committee in the Democratic Republic of Congo
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On Dec 24th, Global Region 10 held a ceremony to donate funds to the Peace Committee in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Part of the 3rd Heart The Heart Love for Neighbors event, this ceremony was an opportunity to express IWPG’s gratitude to Josephine Malimukono, representative director of La Solidarite de Congolese (LSC), for her continuous cooperation and strong partnership in the past year. Through this event, the two organizations promised to maintain and strengthen their partnership. The donations will be given to refugees in the Goma, where the Peace Committee representative mainly conducts her activities.
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Global Region 11, Opens “Hangeul Village School”
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Global Region 11 (Regional Director Hae Hyeon Yoo) opened the “Hanguel Village School” on Dec 10th. The Hangeul Village School was made to teach Hangeul to Fiji people. It has an 8-week curriculum that includes learning the Korean alphabet to watching Korean dramas. Regional Director Hae Hyeon Yoo was the lecturer, and the overall class was organized by the Dept of International Affairs. The Fiji students were very enthusiastic to learn Korean.
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MOA/MOU Signing to Realize Peace Projects
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Global Region 4, Signs MOA with Innovation for Educational Life of Myanmar
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On Dec 29th, Global Region 4 (Regional Director Si Hyeon Kang) signed an MOA with Innovation for Educational Life (founder Myat Thu Thu Aung) of Myanmar.
Representative Myat Thu Thu Aung expressed her thoughts on the MOA, saying, “I am happy to have signed an MOA with IWPG. IWPG is an organization that transitions individual peace into world peace. I hope to do much for the community with IWPG.”
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Global Region 12, Signs MOA with TND News from Uganda and Lend a Voice Africa from Kenya
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On Dec 21st, Global Region 12 (Regional Director Mi Hyun Yeo) signed MOAs with Kenya organization Lend a Voice Africa (representative Maureen Atieno Magak) and Uganda media TND News (representative Milton Emmy Akwam) in order to build substantial partnerships for peace projects and promotion.
Regional Director Mi Hyun Yeo said, “It is heartbreaking that many people are suffering from war and conflict. A world of peace, not war, must be achieved. I am grateful to be able to work with Lend a Voice Africa and TND News to spread peace culture and build a world of peace.”
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Changwon Branch Signs MOA with Love Practice Volunteer Group
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On Dec 23rd, Changwon Branch (Branch Manager Hye Jung Heo) signed an MOA with Love Practice Volunteer Group (representative Hae Young Son).
IWPG’s value of motherly love, sacrifice and volunteer spirit to hand down a world of peace as a legacy to the future generation and Love Practice Volunteer Group’s vision to spread a good influence on society through sacrifice and volunteer work came together to sign this MOA. The two organizations promised to cooperate in peace work and volunteer work.
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Cooperation and Interaction Among Women
All Over the World for Peace
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Global Region 4, Joint Year-End Meeting with 8 Countries
On Dec 17th, Global Region 4 held a joint year-end gathering with 75 participants from 8 countries: Korea, Myanmar, Thailand, East Timor, South Sudan, Rwanda, Cameroon, and Burundi. The event started by watching a video on the IWPG activities from each country, followed by a report of Global Region 4’s activities in 2022. Next, Aya Benjamin Libo Warille, the Minister of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare in South Sudan, gave a congratulatory speech. After that, there was a briefing on IWPG’s plans for 2023.
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Congratulatory speech by Minister of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare in South Sudan, Aya Benjamin Libo Warille.
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Minister Aya Benjamin Libo Warille said, “The world is suffering from the pandemic, but IWPG demonstrated true devotion and continuous effort for sustainable peace. IWPG clearly has the momentum and potential to bring stable peace. I want to thank everyone for supporting all women who are working to achieve peace despite difficult circumstances.”
In the 2nd part of the event, participants were broken up into smaller group to share each country’s traditions and have an open discussion on the 6 peace topics.
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In the 3rd part, there was the establishment ceremony of the new branches and new peace committee, and each of the representatives gave a speech. Crystal Po Gyaw, board member of the National Young Women’s Christian Association and Branch Manager of Yangon Branch of Myanmar, said, “I’m very happy to be here at this year-end gathering. It was enlightening and fun to break up into smaller groups and share the traditions of each country. I loved how all the participants sang the IWPG song and shouted, ‘We are one.’ Everything was perfect.”
Khin Mu Mu Han, the general secretary of Mandalay Young Women’s Christian Association and Branch Manager of Mandalay Branch, Myanmar, said, “Thank you for appointing me as the Branch Manager of Mandalay Branch. The goal of Mandalay Branch is to provide women with the opportunity to be educated. This is because I believe that education can change people’s lives. PLTE is made up of people from various backgrounds, which is needed in Myanmar, where people lack awareness toward peace.”
Parfaite Ntahuba, national coordinator of Friends Women’s Association, was appointed as the new representative of the Bujumbura Peace Committee in Burundi. She said, “I’m honored to be the representative of the Bujumbura Peace Committee. I am happy to work with women around the world to promote peace. I will hold regular meetings with the Peace Committee members to facilitate the committee and make peace activities flourish.”
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Global Region 2, Holds Joint Year-End Meeting with 4 Countries
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On Dec 17th, 30 women from various countries including Ethiopia, Yemen, Armenia, and Tanzania came together for the year-end meeting hosted by Global Region 2. This was an opportunity for the members to reflect on 2022 and its meaning and renew their resolve for 2023.
Yayesh Tesfahuney Kiflay, Ethiopia Director of Child Support Inspection of the Ministry of Gender Equality, said, “I will do my best as an IWPG member to achieve peace in Ethiopia in 2023.”
Gayane Khachatryan, director of Armenia Talin Women’s Resource Center Development Foundation (TWRCF), said, “In 2023, I want to work with IWPG more closely to achieve peace.”
Kaltham Abdulla Yusuf from Bahrain said, “In 2022, I lost my mother, who was everything to me, and was hit hard due to COVID-19. However, I will not lose hope. I am happy to have met IWPG, and I will continue to run towards peace.”
Lillian Masaki, the regional community coordinator of Tanzania Christian Social Service, said, “I am happy to have met IWPG, and next year I will try to work with more women for peace.”
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Global Region 3, Holds International Women’s Peace Network Regular Meeting with 5 Countries
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On Dec 18th, Global Region 3 held the International Women’s Peace Network Regular Meeting online with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Afghanistan. Participants reflected upon the peace activities in 2022, while sharing their ideas for women rights and peace related activities in 2023. Also, awards were given to excellent members who participated actively.
Jansi Leela Packia John, the representative of India Peace Committee and PURA Director, said, “I will cooperate for peace activities even more in 2023 so that we can reap more fruits in 2023. Ms. Rahuma Moosa from Maldives said, “IWPG’s history sets a good example. I also plan to take PLTE in January.”
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