Promoting peace through education in Pakistan

July 20 2012: The World Learning Grammar School in from Lyari, a troubled district in Karachi, Pakistan is part of he peace education efforts of the Peace Education Welfare Organization. Insight on Conflict’s local correspondent in Pakistan, Zahid, reports on how PEWO is promoting peace through schools in Pakistan.

The school is a living example of what we can achieve via peace education in conflict zones
To value the work of Peace Education Welfare Organization (PEWO), it is important to be familiar with the context in which this organisation is promoting peace. PEWO, through its projects, in collaboration with Peaceful Schools International, is focusing on promoting peace in a conflict zone within the financial capital of Pakistan – Karachi. In this city, there is an area called Lyari, where PEWO is based. Lyari has been a scene of gang fights and political violence for the past few years. This situation continues to have negative impacts on the welfare of children and youth of Lyari.

I visited a PEWO project called “World Learning Grammar School” in Lyari. This school was opened in 2004. The school is a living example of what we can achieve via peace education in conflict zones by providing children with opportunities to not only express their feelings and experiences but also by making them learn peer mediation skills. It is important to know that, not only the students of this school are victims of direct exposure to violence but most of them are also victims of marginalisation.

I enjoyed and learned a lot by visiting this school – an experience which enriched my hope for peacebuilding in Pakistan. The school is decorated with posters of students’ activities during peace education programmes, including their messages and experiences related to peace and conflict. During my visit, I met with the school principal, Mumtaz Shah, and got to know more about the work of PEWO:

PEWO aims to create a culture of peace in a learning environment, via schools.
Ms. Shah mentioned that they regularly get good feedback from parents. She emphasized on the culture of violence in Lyari, even at home, by mentioning that men in Lyari are abusive towards women. Therefore, there is a predominant culture of violence and it has implications for school going children. However, once these children come to their school, the teachers and parents have seen a change in them. These children have become friendly, cooperative and peaceful, which Ms. Shah has been observing in her classrooms. In a way projects like these are growing seeds of peace at small scales and need to be replicated at bigger levels.

PEWO aims to create a culture of peace in a learning environment, via schools. In its education programmes, the organisation follows the Peaceful Schools International’s holistic approach for promoting peace in communities disturbed by conflicts. PEWO, after successful projects in Karachi, particularly in Lyari, is new spreading its wings to other parts of the country. It is important to mention that in this endeavour of collaborations with other national organisations, Peace Direct has also played its small part because PEWO’s Nadeem Ghazi participated in the Islamabad Peace Exchange.

Comments

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laura simms on July 20, 2012

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Can we read more about the project events and strategies that define the peace education program? Are these conflict resolution and/or arts activities, literature, etc..  I am moved by the blog and would love to know more.  

Insight on Conflict on July 24, 2012

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Hi Laura, You can find out more about Peace Education Welfare Organization, the organisation behind the project, on their website and their profile on Insight on Conflict.

laura simms on July 24, 2012

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Dear Zahid,  thank you for your response.  I was unable to open into the link you sent to me. Is there an error.. or possibly a different link. Also, I have been writing about peace education and storytelling.  Can I send you something I am working on at present?    Laura

musarrat sarwer on August 3, 2012

I am working in community based organisation and wants more about PEWO may be i can do some thing i ama an educationist and working more then 25 yrs in educational field my aim is also provide peace by education.

Anne Farrell on August 7, 2012

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This is great initiatives! Bravo!

 

Precious Ajunwa on August 8, 2012

This is an inspiring blog!! As a peace advocate, i am more passionate in promoting peace education in some Nigerian schools by initating peace clubs in this schools.

Nadeem Ghazi on August 18, 2012

Thank you very much for your kind words and appreciation. We have just initiate our project and completed trainings to some schools in Karachi especially in Lyari Town, an ethnic group’s war zone. The hope is young minds and hearts of our country. We are working teaching them skills to reducing violence through integration with curriculum activities in schools.

I am much looking forward to having possible support and networking with other organizations to extend our work.

Laura, Please visit our website : www.pewopk.com

If you any questions or inquiries regarding our work .Please contact on below address :

Peaceful Schools International-Pakistan(A Project of Peace Education Welfare Organization)

World Learning Grammar School
Paria Street, Near Ali Dina Hospital,
Kharadar
Karachi
Pakistan
0092-21-32313805-0092-21-32540194
Cell: 00923219271806
www.peacefulschoolsinternational.org
www.pewopk.com
www.youtube.com/psipakistan
www.facebook.com/pages/Peace-Education-Welfare-Organization/111247042226374
www.picasaweb.google.com/worldlearninggrammarschool

https://plus.google.com/photos/117040597182538039520/albums?banner=pwa

www.psipk.blogspot.com

Nadeem Ghazi on August 19, 2012

Thank you very much for your kind words and appreciation. We have just initiate our project and completed trainings to some schools in Karachi especially in Lyari Town, an ethnic group’s war zone.

The hope is young minds and hearts of our country.

We are working teaching them skills to reducing violence through integration with curriculum activities in schools. I am much looking forward to having possible support and networking with other organizations to extend our work. Laura, Please visit our website : www.pewopk.com .

If you any questions or inquiries regarding our work .Please contact on below address

Peaceful Schools International-Pakistan(A Project of Peace Education Welfare Organization) World Learning Grammar School Paria Street, Near Ali Dina Hospital, Kharadar Karachi Pakistan 0092-21-32313805-0092-21-32540194 Cell: 00923219271806 www.peacefulschoolsinternational.org www.pewopk.com www.youtube.com/psipakistan www.facebook.com/pages/Peace-Education-Welfare-Organization/111247042226374 www.picasaweb.google.com/worldlearninggrammarschool
https://plus.google.com/photos/117040597182538039520/albums?banner=pwa www.psipk.blogspot.com

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