PLANTING PEACE IN THE MINDS AND HEARTS OF CHILDREN THROUGH EDUCATION IN EMERGENCY
Planting Peace started as a photo exhibition that took place in June 2024 in Cameroon’s capital Yaounde. The exhibition embodies the mission and vision of the Piarist Fathers in Cameroon: to sow seeds of peace, education, compassion, resilience, and progress within our communities.
Planting Peace is a collaboration between the Piarist Fathers in Cameroon and Visual Storyteller Emily Pinna. Thanks to the endorsement, commitment and dedication of the Apostolic Nunzio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, H.E. Jose Bettencourt, the exhibition acclaimed international fame.
The exhibition featured the results of a workshop held earlier this year at one of the Piarist school in the West Region. This workshop emerged from the necessity and belief that peace must be instilled in the minds and hearts of children. Bamendjou, acting as a sanctuary for families displaced by the ongoing conflict in the NW region, faces challenges as many children have been out of school for years due to the conflict, experiencing profound trauma. Sensitizing host community children to their peers’ backgrounds is crucial, as it fosters the collective seeding of peace.
The workshop, involving 8 displaced children and 8 from the host community, aimed to nurture peace, resilience, unity, and joy. In a serene environment, the children envisioned a world of harmony and compassion, planting seeds of peace in their hearts. Their subsequent reflections revealed a remarkable diversity of perspectives, emphasizing the significance of unity and empathy in coexistence:
Absence of War: Some children perceived peace as the absence of war and conflict. They yearned for a world free from violence and the scars it leaves behind, where the gentle breeze of tranquility prevails.
Peace as Love: A profound realization emerged from several pupils, who equated peace with love. They recognized that peace flourishes when love permeates our thoughts, words, and actions, fostering deep connections and nurturing the human spirit.
Turning to God: Many children expressed the need to turn to God in the pursuit of peace. They acknowledged the divine as a source of guidance, solace, and strength, believing that a world grounded in spirituality can foster lasting peace.
The workshop transformed these young souls, giving them a glimpse of a world ruled by peace. Their diverse perspectives highlight the complexity of peace, woven with threads of harmony, unity, love, and spirituality. Let their voices resonate within us, guiding our pursuit of peace. Together, let's nurture the seeds they've planted, fostering a brighter, harmonious future for Cameroon and beyond.
Planting Peace was featured in numerous news outlets:
The Planting Peace exhibition was also featured in October 2024 at the National Museum in Yaounde during an event organized by the US Embassy of Yaounde, inviting diplomats and government officials alike, followed by Peace building workshops for teachers.
