How Schools Promote Peace in Somalia
By Paul Owora, Technical Specialist-Education & Protection - World Vision Somalia
In 2023, the following activities were carried out by World Vision Somalia to support equality, peace, leadership, and dispute resolution to foster peace in schools and the communities where World Vision education projects are currently implemented.
Conflict Resolution
30 (12 female and 18 male) Teachers, Community Education Committees (CECs), and 10 children’s clubs were trained to integrate conflict resolution and management to facilitate positive change within the school community by aligning school mission statements, disciplinary procedures, and team-building efforts with conflict resolution concepts and theories. Since the teaching of peace is not included in the curriculum of schools, emphasis was placed on community awareness, and training on the promotion of peace.
Gender Pedagogy
26 (7 female and 19 males) School teachers, CECs and district education officers were trained in the Gender Pedagogy Approach that recognizes the importance of understanding and addressing gender as a social construct. This approach aims to promote equality, challenge stereotypes, empower individuals of all genders, and contribute to creating a more peaceful society. The Gender Pedagogy approach can contribute significantly to creating a more inclusive, equal, and peaceful society by challenging harmful gender norms, fostering empathy, addressing power imbalances, promoting collaboration, and preventing gender-based violence.
Positive Parenting
Three trainings on positive parenting were conducted in last year and 60 (28 female and 32 males) parents, teachers and school administrations were trained this theme. Positive parenting creates an environment that nurtures the emotional well-being, social skills, and values necessary for peaceful interactions within households By promoting healthy relationships, teaching conflict resolution skills, fostering emotional intelligence, building resilience and self-esteem, and fostering empathy and compassion, positive parenting can significantly contribute to peace within families and society as a whole.
Engaging Children Clubs
11 children reading clubs, 10 debate clubs and 21 hygiene clubs were established in the last year engaging 789 (371 female and 418 males) school children. Establishing and providing training to debate, hygiene, sports, reading, and leadership clubs encourages communication and improves harmony between students and their classmates. To show their leadership and commitment to fostering peace in the community, the clubs are urged to take part in school events and community gatherings. This gives the club members a sense of accountability and inclusion in community leadership and decision-making, preparing them for leadership roles in the future. Children with disabilities have tend to be stigmatized and, in the clubs, we encourage them to fully participate.
“I am one of the students attending Taageer School in Dangoryo. I am part of the Hygiene and the awareness club. On Thursdays we hold lectures and awareness on peace and tranquility. We also participate in school hygiene activities. I enjoy being a part of the school club. I always like to be friends with every student in the school and sometimes I help resolve conflicts when students disagree with each other.”
Please see the video below on disability inclusion:
In addition to the formal school education, we also prioritise fostering peace via communication and understanding amongst parents, teachers, students, the school, and the community at large. We support students' intellectual growth in the area of development, education and peace. I am involved in peacekeeping and conflict resolution in my community as an administrator of the school. We also work closely with the district's committees of education and protection to monitor and prevent problems such as protection incidents and bullying or truancy. This is also a big part of strengthening peace and keeping people together through education. Says - Mohamed Osman Ali, Taageer school principal, Dangoroyo, Puntland state