Last Thursday, September 21st, was International Day of Peace, a holiday celebrated around the world. The holiday was established by the UN in 1981 and is devoted to “commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples”(1). The 2017 theme was “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety, and Dignity for All”(2).
*The following photos are what the students at our school wrote in response to “What does peace mean?”
Many Peace Corps volunteers around the globe do various activities to celebrate the holiday in their communities and workplaces. My site mate, Amir, and I organized some simple activities to commemorate the day in our school.
After a short assembly with students in 5th through 9th grade, where some 9th grade students read some information about the holiday and this year’s theme, we gathered all of the students and some of the teachers in the courtyard in front of our school. The students formed the shape of a peace sign, which most of the students but few of the teachers were familiar with.
After, during the breaks throughout the day, students wrote what peace means to them on whiteboards and posed for pictures.
It was the first time our school had done something to note the holiday, and the students and teachers alike were interested to learn more (at first, many of the teachers thought it was International Peace Corps Day!).
Sources: (1): International Day of Peace; (2): United Nations: Together
