26 teachers and students of Usifya Junior High School in Israel visited South Korea for participating in Peace Education Camp held by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) which is a non-governmental organization under the UN ECOSOC. This camp was organized under the theme of ‘We are one in peace’.
Usifya Junior High School is conducting preventive education on national security and the promotion of religious and cultural harmony in the circumstance of complex religious conflicts. Ms. Magda Mansour, a teacher who has implemented HWPL Peace Education every month since November 2017, says that HWPL Peace Education is helping children realize the dream of peace by applying the value of peace in real life.
Mr. Man Hee Lee, Chairman of HWPL who was appointed as an honorary principal of Usifya Junior High School, said, “If the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) consisting of 10 articles and 38 clauses is enacted, peace will come true. That is why we must all be the messengers of peace with the spirit of justice.”
During this camp, the topics of the peace education were “What is peace”, “Key persons who lead peace”, “Different, you and me” and so on that built the solidarity of the student with the value of peace. In the topic of “Different, you and me”, students learned a meaning of harmony. At that time, they felt what they painted a picture in various colors by understanding each other with group members is more harmonious than what we painted a picture just using only one crayon. Ms. Gyeoung Jeoung Lee, one of 25 Korean students, gave a presentation “I felt we could make beautiful world when we understand and cooperate each other in harmony through this activity.”
Along with the peace education, the students of the two countries including Korean students visited a Korean traditional local institute called ‘Hyanggyo’, which was designated as a Korean cultural heritage asset. They took etiquette lessons of Korea such as ‘wearing Hanbok’, ‘tea ceremony’, and ‘traditional wedding’. On the last day of the camp, they visited a Folk Museum, which displays the traditional Korean culture.
Hussam Abu Roken, Usifya Junior High school student, gave his impression on the camp saying, “We learned the importance of the peace education through this camp. I will do not only learn about peace, but also spread the message of love and peace in Israel. I really appreciate everyone who has supported us for the leaders of peace.”
HWPL Peace Education was first implemented in Lisbet Elementary School in South Africa last February for the students to understand the values of human dignity, equal opportunity, and democracy that needed to build a world of peace.
In the association with HWPL, Usifya Junior High School is planning to introduce the value and the spirit of peace to the members of the Druze community in Haifa. Also, they will sign an MOU with HWPL to provide peace education to the students based on the mutual respect and trust in upcoming September. HWPL has signed MOUs with 140 educational institutions in 10 countries including Israel, the Philippines, the United States, and Kosovo.