ACFODE Takes The Gospel Of Peace To Primary Schools

From September 21st to October 22nd, Action for Development (ACFODE), an indigenous, voluntary, non-governmental women’s organization with support from EIRENE conducted a number of activities in commemoration of the World Peace Day celebrated on the 21st of September annually. Facilitating Awareness Workshops on Peace in Primary Schools was one of the activities.

Art works drawn by pupils from Kawempe Mbogo Primary School

to represent their understanding of peace

The awareness workshops sought to “inculcate a culture of peace among the children.” Ten schools around Kampala namely; Nakivubo Primary School, Kisasa Primary School, Ggaba Model Primary School, Pic Hill Primary School, Kawempe Mbogo Primary School, Police Children Primary School, Cornerstone Primary School, Nakibuvo Settlement Primary School, Kyagwe Road Primary School and, Namirembe Infants Primary School partnered with ACFODE in this initiative.

The workshops particularly targeted pupils from classes 4, 5, and 6 who comprised of the prefect body, class monitors, and abused children who were identified by the teachers. Three hundred and eighty four children in total benefitted from this intervention, which engaged them in a number of creative activities including; Storytelling, creation of own artworks, music, dance and drama, and plenary discussions on peace.

The plenary sessions answered several questions regarding peace, including; the definition of peace, causes of conflict and the process of conflict resolution, among others. Pupils were also encouraged to draw creative art pieces representing peace, an exercise that resulted in explicit works of art that depicted a clear understanding on the pupils’ part, of the concept of peace that they were learning about.

At the end of the trainings, participants were awarded with a Certificates of Completion (Peace Ambassadors). In the near future, ACFODE will be making follow-up visits to find out how the Ambassadors are making use of the acquired knowledge in terms of preaching the gospel of peace in their schools, homes and communities.