We must start with them, with children, if we want to spread dialogue and the culture of peace. For this reason it is essential to involve the school community, starting with teachers. Because it is one of the places where children experience social life for the first time. And this is what AMU does in Egypt, with the program I, Ambassador of Peace : inviting school teachers to participate in a series of training meetings on the values of peace, so that they can then pass them on to the younger ones.
Amira is the director of a school that has joined these meetings: “I am very happy that our teachers have lived this experience, because they will be able to share their reflections on values with the students”. After having participated in the “lesson” foreseen by the program, Amira is increasingly convinced that it is necessary to start from school to educate for peace . “What have I learned? That the most important thing to do is to accept others. And this can only happen through love and forgiveness”.
Manar is the vice principal of the same school. She also took part in the training meeting for teachers organized by the project I, Ambassador of Peace. It was an experience of personal growth and rethinking of the methods used to transmit the culture of peace and the values associated with it: “I have decided that from now on I will try to transmit the value of peace through games”. Participating in the program’s meetings also means questioning yourself, coming out of it somehow changed. The words you hear leave their mark. Manar has decided that the first step will be with her children: “It is with them that I will immediately put into practice the teaching I received: love and reconciliation are necessary to be able to give”.
When it comes to values, Mervat, another teacher who took part in the training, shows determination: “For me, this meeting was something really useful. I learned how to talk to children about forgiveness, love, respect and acceptance of others. But the first thing I will do is apply these teachings to myself.”
